what's the salary of an accountant in 2026?

what's the median salary of an accountant in France?

According to Apec's 2025 pay study, accounting roles earn €48k gross a year in median pay, against €55k for managers overall. 80% sit between €37k and €67k.

This median covers two different realities: the general accountant who works in-house at a company, and the accounting associate who runs a portfolio of client files at an accounting firm. To hire either, see our accounting page.

general accountant in-house or accounting associate at a firm: what's the pay gap?

A general accountant runs a company's accounting almost single-handed, through to the close. According to Apec, their salary mostly tracks sector: €52k median in manufacturing, €49k in retail and trade, €50k in banking and insurance, €47k in services. To hire this role, see our general accountant page.

An accounting associate runs a portfolio of client files at an accounting firm. According to Apec, managerial accountants in the legal and accounting services sector, where most firms sit, earn a €47k median. Apec does not cross this sector with line management. To hire this role, see our accounting associate page.

does age change an accountant's salary?

Less than on other finance roles. According to Apec, the median is €49k between 35 and 45, then €50k past 45. Apec shows no median for under-35s: fewer than 30 managerial accountants of that age responded. The study only covers managerial staff, not non-managerial accountants.

does company size change an accountant's salary?

Yes, moderately. According to Apec, €4k separates the median for managerial accountants at companies with fewer than 250 staff (€46k) from larger companies (€50k).

At a small company, the general accountant is often alone and must handle everything, from entries to the close. At a larger group, they join an already organised team with set procedures.

do line management or location change an accountant's salary?

Yes, on both counts, by around €4k to €5k. According to Apec, a managerial accountant who manages a team earns €51k gross median a year, against €47k without; €50k in the Paris region, against €45k in the rest of France. These figures apply to all managerial accountants, in-house or at a firm.

what duties and profile justify this salary?

A general accountant runs a company's entire accounting through to the close, often alone at an SME. An accounting associate runs a portfolio of client files at a firm, from data entry to the balance sheet, under a chartered accountant's responsibility.

• General accountant at an SME: runs accounting alone through to the close, working directly with the owner.
• General accountant at a group: joins an organised accounting team with set procedures.
• Junior accounting associate: runs a small portfolio of files under supervision.
• Experienced associate or audit manager: runs a portfolio independently through to the balance sheet, and may manage other associates.

To understand how that rate gets negotiated, see our guide on how much a recruitment agency costs. For finance leadership, see our finance page; for management control, our management control page.

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