Salary negotiation is uncomfortable in most languages. In a language you don't speak natively, at a moment of professional pressure, it can feel impossible. The result is often that expats accept the first offer — not because they're happy with it, but because they lack the language to push back.
This article provides the vocabulary and the phrases for a salary negotiation in French: how to state your number, how to respond to an offer, how to counter it, and how to discuss the full package.
The Cultural Context
French salary negotiations are typically more restrained in tone than in the United States but more explicit than in cultures where salary expectations are rarely stated directly. It is entirely normal to state your prétentions salariales (salary expectations) clearly when asked. It is also normal to negotiate.
One important difference from Anglo-American contexts: French employers frequently ask for your current salary (salaire actuel) as a starting point for the offer, and this figure genuinely influences the offer they make. Whether to disclose it (honestly or strategically) is a judgement call, but be aware that it may be used as an anchor.
Stating Your Expectation
"Mes prétentions salariales se situent autour de [chiffre] euros brut annuel." — My salary expectations are around [figure] euros gross annual.
"Je vise un salaire brut annuel de [X] euros." — I am targeting a gross annual salary of [X] euros.
"En tenant compte de mon expérience et du marché, j'attends une rémunération de l'ordre de [X] euros bruts." — Taking my experience and the market into account, I expect compensation in the range of [X] euros gross.
Note: brut (gross) is the standard way salaries are quoted in France. Net (net) amounts are roughly 20-25% lower after social contributions (charges salariales). Always anchor on brut.
Responding to an Offer
"Merci pour cette proposition." — Thank you for this offer.
"C'est une base intéressante, et j'aimerais qu'on puisse discuter du montant." — It's an interesting starting point, and I'd like to discuss the amount.
"Cette proposition est en dessous de mes attentes." — This offer is below my expectations.
"Je m'attendais à quelque chose de l'ordre de [X]." — I was expecting something around [X].
"Est-il possible d'aller jusqu'à [X]?" — Is it possible to go up to [X]?
"Y a-t-il une marge de manœuvre sur le salaire fixe?" — Is there any flexibility on the base salary?
Vocabulary for the Negotiation
Rémunération — total compensation (broader than just salary).
Salaire fixe — base salary.
Salaire variable — variable pay / bonus.
Part variable — the variable portion of compensation.
Objectifs — targets (which trigger the variable pay).
Prime — bonus.
Prime d'objectif — performance bonus.
Prime de bienvenue / bonus de signature — a sign-on bonus.
Avantages en nature — benefits in kind (car, phone, laptop, etc.).
Véhicule de fonction — a company car.
Tickets restaurant — meal vouchers (a common French benefit, heavily subsidised).
Mutuelle d'entreprise — the employer's supplementary health insurance scheme. By law, French employers must offer a mutuelle and contribute at least 50% of the cost.
Prévoyance — income protection / disability insurance (often included in the employer's benefit package).
RTT — Réduction du Temps de Travail. Extra days off given to employees who work more than 35 hours per week under the 35-hour system. Common in French companies; up to 12–15 extra days per year in some cases. Worth negotiating alongside base salary.
Congés payés — paid annual leave. The statutory French entitlement is 5 weeks (25 working days). Check whether your employer's scheme exceeds this.
Télétravail — remote working. Now a standard part of French employment negotiations.
Plan d'épargne entreprise (PEE) — a company savings plan with employer matching contributions.
Intéressement — profit-sharing scheme, paid as a lump sum.
Participation — a mandatory profit-sharing mechanism in companies with more than 50 employees.
Anchoring and Countering
"Mon expérience de [X] ans dans ce secteur justifie selon moi une rémunération supérieure." — My [X] years of experience in this sector justifies a higher compensation, in my view.
"J'ai une autre proposition à [X] euros, mais je préférerais rejoindre votre équipe si nous pouvons nous aligner sur ce niveau." — I have another offer at [X] euros, but I would prefer to join your team if we can align on that level.
"Si vous ne pouvez pas aller plus haut sur le fixe, seriez-vous prêt à augmenter la part variable ou à ajouter des RTT?" — If you can't go higher on the base, would you be willing to increase the variable component or add RTT days?
Closing
"Je suis très intéressé par ce poste, et je pense qu'on peut trouver un accord." — I'm very interested in this position, and I think we can reach an agreement.
"Pouvez-vous me faire parvenir l'offre modifiée par écrit?" — Could you send me the revised offer in writing?
"Je vous confirme ma décision d'ici [date]." — I'll confirm my decision by [date].
Professional French in a negotiation is a specific register that rewards preparation. The vocabulary above is what converts a conversation about money from something you survive into something you conduct. Build it before you need it.
Salary negotiations are too important to improvise. Vokabulo helps you prepare the exact phrases for the conversation you're about to have. Available on iPhone and iPad.
