# Contract agent

- Link: https://euemployment.eu/glossary/contract-agent/
- Published: 2024-02-24T18:43:17+01:00
- Author: Ben

**Contract agents, also known as ‘contract staff’, are employees of EU institutions
in grades**[** ****FGI to FGIV**](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/#FGI-FGII-FGIII-FGIV).
This is a separate category of employees of EU institutions that are usually hired
for time-limited contracts of up to six years to address the lack of officials in
[ AD](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/#Administrators) and[ AST](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/#Assistants)
positions and save EU budget funds.

Contract agents can perform a wide variety of tasks at an EU institution, ranging
from administrative and manual support to involvement in support to policy making
and implementation. FGI – Manual and administrative support service tasks, performed
under the supervision of officials or temporary staff; FGII – Clerical and secretarial
tasks, office management and other equivalent tasks, performed under the supervision
of officials or temporary staff; FGIII – Executive tasks, drafting, accountancy 
and other equivalent technical tasks, performed under the supervision of officials
or temporary staff; FGIV – Administrative, advisory, linguistic and equivalent technical
tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff.

Becoming a ‘Contract agent’ is a common career path to attaining an AD or AST contract,
as it gives a possibility to learn about an institution and later effectively participate
in competitions for better-paid vacancies.

Read more about[ Contract agents](https://euemployment.eu/how-much-do-eu-officials-earn/#Salary-for-contract-agents).
Articles about salaries of EU staff in grades[ FGI](https://euemployment.eu/salary-european-commission-contract-agents-fgi/),
[ FGII](https://euemployment.eu/salary-european-commission-contract-agents-fgii/),
[ FGIII](https://euemployment.eu/fg-iii-salary/) and[ FGIV](https://euemployment.eu/fg-iv-salary/).