On 1 January 2026, the French minimum wage, the so-called SMIC (salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance), increased. This is the lowest possible remuneration to which persons working in France are entitled in accordance with the legal provisions. This change results from the annual indexation.
1. Change in the minimum hourly rate
From 1 January 2026, the minimum hourly remuneration for work in France has increased to EUR 12.02, based on a statutory 35-hour working week. This amount is EUR 0.14 higher than the minimum hourly wage for work in 2025 of EUR 11.88.
2. SMIC 2026 – new rates
In 2026, the following gross SMIC rates, i.e. before deductions for social security and payroll tax, are applied:
| gross SMIC | rate until 31/12/2025 | rate from 01/01/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| minimum hourly wage | EUR 11.88 | EUR 12.02 |
| minimum monthly wage | EUR 1 801.80 | EUR 1 823.03 |
| minimum annual wage | EUR 21 621. 60 | EUR 21 876.40 |
On the other hand, lower SMIC rates are applied in Mayotte than in other overseas territories and metropolitan France which results from the local economic situation.
| gross SMIC | rate until 31/12/2025 | rate from 01/01/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| minimum hourly wage | EUR 8.98 | EUR 9.33 |
| minimum monthly wage | EUR 1 361.97 | EUR 1 415.05 |
| minimum annual wage | EUR 16 343. 60 | EUR 16 980.61 |
3. Minimum wage in 2026 and minors and apprentices
Minor employees with less than 6 months of professional experience are entitled to a reduced SMIC rate which depends on their age. From 1 January 2026, these amounts are, respectively, EUR 10.82 gross per hour for persons aged 17 and EUR 9.62 for workers under 17.
On the other hand, amounts constituting an appropriate percentage of SMIC are provided for apprentices. The percentage rates are determined based on the age of the employees and the duration of their apprenticeship contract. For example: persons aged 18-20 in their second year of apprenticeship can expect a salary of 51% of the minimum wage and for the same age group in the third year, 67% of the national minimum wage is provided.
4. SMIC 2026 and collective agreements
As we wrote in our article on the SMIC in 2025, collective agreements often provides for the minimum collective wage SMC (salaire minimum conventionnel). It isn’t equivalent to the national minimum wage SMIC. However, if a collective agreement applies in a given company, this doesn’t mean that the SMIC amount is ignored. Thus, in a situation where the SMC is lower than the SMIC, the employer should pay its workers a suppement thanks to which their salary would reach the current SMIC level. On the other hand, if the collective minimum wage is higher that the national minimum one, the employer should adhere to the rates set in the collective agreement and pay the more favourable SMC amount. The aforementioned principle of favourability also applies in 2026.
5. Legal notice
The study is a work within the meaning of the Act of 4 February 1994 on Copyright and Related Rights (OJ 2006, No. 90, item 631, consolidated text, as amended). Publishing or reproducing this study or its part, quoting opinions, as well as disseminating in any other way the information contained therein without the written consent of Crede sp. z o.o. is prohibited.
