in short
In France, a business developer earns €63,000 gross a year in median pay (base and bonus), according to Apec, and 80% of the role earn between €40,000 and €115,000. Experience, management responsibility and company size drive this figure the most: our headhunters help you set a realistic offer.
what is the median salary for a business developer in France?
The business developer title covers quite different roles, from a first prospecting job to a head of business development. Apec groups these profiles under business development roles (business developer, business manager, head of business development, franchise or network development manager), with median pay of €63,000 gross a year, base and bonus included, against €55,000 for all executives.
€63,000
median gross annual pay (base and bonus); 80% of the role earn between €40,000 and €115,000
67%
have a bonus, with a median of €9,000 a year (50% for all executives)
€63,000 is a median, not an average: half of the role earn more, half earn less. The sections below break down what pushes this figure up or down for a given role.
does pay rise with experience?
Yes, markedly. The gap between a junior and a senior profile is the single biggest driver of pay on this role, ahead of management responsibility or company size.
| age | 1st decile | median | 9th decile |
|---|---|---|---|
| under 35 | €38,000 | €50,000 | €74,000 |
| 35 to 45 | €40,000 | €63,000 | €98,000 |
| over 45 | €45,000 | €69,000 | €118,000 |
do location and company size change the salary?
A business developer in the Paris region earns more than one working elsewhere in France, and a large company pays more than a small one, but both gaps are smaller than the one tied to experience.
| category | median |
|---|---|
| Paris region (Île-de-France) | €66,000 |
| rest of France | €60,000 |
| under 250 staff | €58,000 |
| 250 staff or more | €67,000 |
does managing a team or a budget change the salary?
Yes. Moving from an individual business developer role to a head of business development position, with a team to manage, lifts the median by close to a quarter.
| responsibility | with | without |
|---|---|---|
| managing a team | €75,000 | €60,000 |
| managing a budget | €68,000 | €60,000 |
what does a business developer do, and what profile is expected?
The core of the job is prospecting: finding accounts, booking a first meeting, then running (or handing over) the sales cycle through to signature. Depending on the company and its stage, the role ranges from pure cold outreach (business development representative) to a full cycle, prospecting and closing, for a senior business developer.
- a high tolerance for rejection and discipline around prospecting (calls, follow-ups, pipeline tracking)
- the ability to argue a price and negotiate with a buyer
- depending on the role, sector knowledge (industry, software, services) or a foreign language for international development
- for a head of business development, some first experience managing a small prospecting team
what drives a business developer's salary the most?
- Experience: the biggest gap, from €50,000 median under 35 to €69,000 over 45.
- Managing a team: €75,000 median with management responsibility, against €60,000 without.
- Company size: €67,000 at a company with 250 staff or more, against €58,000 below that threshold.
- Region: €66,000 in the Paris region, against €60,000 in the rest of France.
To set an offer, start from the role's median, then adjust for these four factors rather than a single figure. Our guide what commission rate to set by role explains how a rare profile also shows up in the cost of hiring.
frequently asked questions
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median splits the role into two equal halves: 50% earn more, 50% earn less. It is the measure Apec publishes, less sensitive than an average to a handful of very high salaries.
What salary for an entry-level business developer?
According to Apec, business development executives under 35 earn a median of €50,000 gross a year, between €38,000 and €74,000.
Does a business developer earn more in Paris?
Yes. The median in the Paris region is €66,000, against €60,000 in the rest of France, according to Apec.
Is a business developer's bonus guaranteed?
No, it depends on meeting targets set out in the contract. According to Apec, 67% of the role have a bonus, with a median of €9,000 a year.
How much does hiring a business developer with Muzzo cost?
You set the fee yourself, between 5 and 30% of annual pay, paid only when you hire. The detail is in our guide [how much does a recruitment agency cost](/guides/combien-coute-un-cabinet-de-recrutement).