# Salary of Assistants in grade AST 3 - Link: https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast3-european-commission/ - Published: 2026-10-12T19:30:26+02:00 - Author: Ben _Last updated on 12 October 2026._ * **Basic Monthly Salary Range**: Statutory monthly [basic pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/) for [Assistants](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/assistants/) in [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/)** AST 3** ranges from **€4,806.17** ([Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1) to **€5,437.91** ([Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 5). * **Take-Home Remuneration Exceeds Base Pay**: Expatriation (16%) and family [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) routinely increase net take-home pay to between **€3,818** and **€6,297** per month in Brussels. * **Automatic Seniority Progression**: Officials advance automatically by one [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) every **two years** under Article 44 of the [Staff Regulations](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/), while advancement to AST 4 occurs via the annual **[promotion](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/reclassification/) exercise**. * **Purchasing Power Indexing**: Your net earnings are adjusted by local Correction Coefficients, ranging from **66.1%** in Sofia to **130.7%** in Dublin relative to Brussels. [Assistants](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/assistants/) in [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) AST 3 carry out technical, administrative, financial, and project management responsibilities across all 79 European Union institutions, bodies, and decentralized agencies. Your total monthly compensation as an AST 3 assistant is determined by three factors: your seniority [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) (1 through 5), your personal family situation, and your [duty station](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/place-of-employment/). Under the [official](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/official/) salary scales established in Article 66 of the [Staff Regulations](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/), basic monthly gross pay begins at **€4,806.17** for entry-level AST 3 [Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1 and rises to **€5,437.91** at [Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 5. On top of base pay, eligible staff can receive several statutory [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/), including [expatriation allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/expatriation-allowance/)( 16%), [household allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/household-allowance/), and dependent child [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) ( €527.06 per child). This guide provides the [official](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/official/) salary scale for AST 3 [assistants](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/assistants/), a detailed breakdown of statutory [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) and deductions, sample net pay calculations for typical Brussels scenarios, and the [basic pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/) calculations according to country-by-country Correction Coefficients. ## Basic salary vs. full remuneration package A frequent mistake among candidates applying for [EPSO](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/epso/) assistant competitions is confusing nominal [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) with final net bank deposits. Basic monthly salary acts solely as the statutory calculation baseline before compulsory additions and deductions are applied. Depending on whether you qualify for the [expatriation allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/expatriation-allowance/) and family benefits, your net salary can range from roughly 80% to over 130% of your nominal [basic pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/). Furthermore, staff stationed outside Brussels or Luxembourg have their pay weighted by an [official](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/official/) purchasing power index called the [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/). Unlike Contract Agents, permanent officials (_fonctionnaires_) enjoy statutory tenure under the [Staff Regulations](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/) and do not pay unemployment insurance contributions. **RELATED ARTICLES:** **\* [Salary of Assistants AST 1](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast1-european-commission/)***** [Salary of Assistants AST 2](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast2-european-commission/)\* [Salary of Assistants AST 4](https://euemployment.eu/assistants-ast4-salary/)\* [Salary of Assistants AST 5](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast5-european-commission/)\* [Salary of Assistants AST 6](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast6-european-commission/)\* [Salary of Assistants AST 7](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast7-european-commission/)\* [Salary of Assistants AST 8](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast8-european-commission/)\* [Salary of Assistants AST 9](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast9-european-commission/)\* [Salary of Assistants AST 10](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast10-european-commission/)\* [Salary of Assistants AST 11](https://euemployment.eu/salary-assistants-ast11-european-commission/) ## Official Salary Scale for Assistants AST 3 (Compared to AST 1–AST 5) Under Article 66 of the [Staff Regulations](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/), basic monthly salaries are uniform across all EU institutions. The table below sets out the [official](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/official/) monthly basic gross salary scale for AST grades 1 through 5 across all five steps: | **[Grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/)** | **[Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1** | **[Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 2** | **[Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 3** | **[Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 4** | **[Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 5** | | **AST 5** | €6,152.64 | €6,411.17 | €6,680.58 | €6,866.46 | €6,961.29 | | **AST 4** | €5,437.91 | €5,666.40 | €5,904.51 | €6,068.80 | €6,152.64 | | **AST 3** | **€4,806.17** | **€5,008.16** | **€5,218.60** | **€5,363.78** | **€5,437.91** | | **AST 2** | €4,247.86 | €4,426.36 | €4,612.36 | €4,740.70 | €4,806.17 | | **AST 1** | €3,754.39 | €3,912.16 | €4,076.54 | €4,190.01 | €4,247.86 | ## Allowances and Benefits Staff of EU institutions can be entitled to several [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) and other benefits: * **[Expatriation Allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/expatriation-allowance/)( 16%)**: Granted under Article 4 of Annex VII to staff who are not nationals of the host country and have not resided or carried out their main work there during the five years prior to recruitment. It equals **16%** of the total of [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) plus [household allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/household-allowance/) and dependent child allowance (with a statutory minimum of **€714.89** per month). * **[Foreign Residence Allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/foreign-residence-allowance/)( 4%)**: Granted if you do not qualify for the full [expatriation allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/expatriation-allowance/) but lived or worked outside your country of origin. * **[Household Allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/household-allowance/)**: Calculated as a flat amount of **€241.21 plus 2% of [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/)** for married staff, registered civil partners, or single staff with dependent children. * **Dependent Child Allowance**: A flat rate of **€527.06 per month per child**, payable up to age 18 (or up to age 26 if in full-time education or vocational training). * **[Education Allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/education-allowance/)& European Schooling**: Children of EU staff are guaranteed free enrollment in a [European School](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-school/), or receive an [education allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/education-allowance/) where no [European School](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-school/) is located near the [duty station](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/place-of-employment/). * **Annual Travel Grant**: A flat-rate annual allowance based on the geographical distance between your [duty station](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/place-of-employment/) and your recognised [place of origin](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/place-of-origin/). * **Installation and Daily Subsistence [Allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/)**: Newly recruited staff relocating to take up duties receive a [daily subsistence allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/daily-subsistence-allowance/) during probation, plus an [installation allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/installation-allowance/) of one to two months’ [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) upon settling. ### Sample Calculations: AST 3 Step 1 Net Take-Home Pay Most new staff will enter EU institutions at [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) AST 3 start at **[Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1**, where the gross [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) is **€4,806.17**. However, this is not your take-home pay. Below is a breakdown of estimated monthly net take-home pay across four standard scenarios in Brussels (without an applied [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/)): | | **Situation 1: Single Belgian (No Children)** | **Situation 2: Married Belgian (2 Children)** | **Situation 3: Single Expat (No Children)** | **Situation 4: Married Expat (2 Children)** | | **[Basic Salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/)** | €4,806.17 | €4,806.17 | €4,806.17 | €4,806.17 | | **[Household Allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/household-allowance/)** | €0.00 | €337.33 | €0.00 | €337.33 | | **Dependent Child Allowance (2 kids)** | €0.00 | €1,054.12 | €0.00 | €1,054.12 | | **[Expatriation Allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/expatriation-allowance/) (16%)** | €0.00 | €0.00 | €768.99 | €991.62 | | **Pension Contribution (13.1%)** | -€629.61 | -€629.61 | -€629.61 | -€629.61 | | **Sickness Insurance ([JSIS](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-jsis/), 1.7%)** | -€81.70 | -€81.70 | -€81.70 | -€81.70 | | **Accident Insurance (0.1%)** | -€4.81 | -€4.81 | -€4.81 | -€4.81 | | **EU [Community Tax](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/community-tax/) (Indicative)** | -€260.00 | -€95.00 | -€345.00 | -€150.00 | | **Special [Solidarity Levy](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/solidarity-levy/) (6%)** | -€12.00 | -€12.00 | -€25.00 | -€25.00 | | **ESTIMATED NET TAKE-HOME PAY** | **~€3,818** | **~€5,374** | **~€4,489** | **~€6,298** | **N.B.** These calculations are only indicative as they are based on public sources. Only your institution’s HR department will be able to calculate a 100% accurate figure once you provide all necessary documents. ## Impact of the Correction Coefficient Across EU Duty Stations To guarantee equal purchasing power across the European Union, basic salaries and [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) are adjusted by a statutory** [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/)** under Article 64 of the [Staff Regulations](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/). Brussels and Luxembourg serve as the reference base at **100.0%**. The table below illustrates how the nominal [basic pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/) of an **AST 3 [Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1 (€4,806.17)** is adjusted across major EU duty stations, including EU agency headquarters: | **[Duty Station](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/place-of-employment/) / Country** | **Host EU Institution or Agency** | **[Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/)** | **Adjusted AST 3 [Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1 [Basic Pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/)** | | **Dublin, Ireland** | EUROFOUND | 130.7% | €6,281.66 | | **Copenhagen, Denmark** | EEA | 130.5% | €6,272.05 | | **Stockholm, Sweden** | ECDC | 119.5% | €5,743.37 | | **Paris, France** | EBA, ESMA | 113.6% | €5,459.81 | | **The Hague / Amsterdam, Netherlands** | Eurojust, Europol, EMA | 113.2% | €5,440.58 | | **Munich, Germany** | European Patent Office / JRC | 112.0% | €5,382.91 | | **Helsinki, Finland** | ECHA | 110.8% | €5,325.24 | | **Vienna, Austria** | FRA | 106.7% | €5,128.18 | | **Berlin / Frankfurt / Cologne, Germany** | [ECB](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-central-bank/), EIOPA, EASA | 102.7% | €4,935.94 | | **Brussels, Belgium** | [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/), EP, Council, EDA, SRB | 100.0% | €4,806.17 | | **Luxembourg City, Luxembourg** | CJEU, ECA, [Eurostat](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/eurostat/), CdT, EPPO | 100.0% | €4,806.17 | | **Tallinn, Estonia** | eu-LISA | 95.0% | €4,565.86 | | **Madrid / Alicante / Bilbao / Vigo, Spain** | EUIPO, EU-OSHA, EFCA | 92.4% | €4,440.90 | | **Lisbon, Portugal** | EMSA, EUDA (EMCDDA) | 92.4% | €4,440.90 | | **Valletta, Malta** | EUAA | 92.4% | €4,440.90 | | **Prague, Czechia** | EUSPA | 91.2% | €4,383.23 | | **Rome / Parma / Turin / Ispra, Italy** | EFSA, ETF, JRC | 87.5% | €4,205.40 | | **Vilnius, Lithuania** | EIGE | 87.4% | €4,200.59 | | **Athens / Thessaloniki, Greece** | ENISA, CEDEFOP | 87.0% | €4,181.37 | | **Ljubljana, Slovenia** | ACER | 86.6% | €4,162.14 | | **Bratislava, Slovakia** | ELA | 85.1% | €4,090.05 | | **Riga, Latvia** | BEREC | 84.3% | €4,051.60 | | **Zagreb, Croatia** | EU Representation / Delegation | 84.3% | €4,051.60 | | **Warsaw, Poland** | [Frontex](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/frontex/) | 82.3% | €3,955.48 | | **Nicosia, Cyprus** | EU Representation / Delegation | 79.0% | €3,796.87 | | **Budapest, Hungary** | CEPOL, EIT | 76.6% | €3,681.53 | | **Bucharest, Romania** | ECCC, EU Delegation | 72.9% | €3,503.70 | | **Sofia, Bulgaria** | EU Representation / Delegation | 66.1% | €3,176.88 | ### Required work experience * AST1 requires 0 years of previous professional experience. * AST3 requires 6 years of previous professional experience. * AST4 requires 9 years of previous professional experience. ### Required Qualifications and Professional Experience for AST Positions [EPSO](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/epso/) competitions and EU agency recruitment procedures establish strict entry criteria for each assistant [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/): * **AST 1**: Post-secondary education attested by a diploma, or secondary education plus 3 years of relevant professional experience. * **AST 2**: Post-secondary education plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience (or secondary schooling plus 6 years). * **AST 3**: Post-secondary education plus a minimum of **3 to 6 years** of relevant professional experience, depending on whether the competition targets generalist or technical profiles. * **AST 4**: Post-secondary education plus a minimum of **9 years** of proven specialist experience. ### Career Progression: Step Advancement vs reclassification Navigating career progression in the Assistant [function group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/) requires understanding two distinct statutory mechanisms: [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) advancement and [reclassification](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/reclassification/). Under Article 44 of the [Staff Regulations](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/), you advance automatically by **one [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) every two years** within your current [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/), provided your performance is not evaluated as unsatisfactory. Because each AST [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) contains five steps, an assistant reaching [Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 5 (€5,437.91) can no longer progress in pay through seniority alone. Advancing from AST 3 to AST 4 requires securing a **[reclassification](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/reclassification/)( sometimes also a call “promotion”) **under Article 45 of the [Staff Regulations](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/) during the annual appraisal exercise. #### Sources This article is based on the [European Commission Staff Regulations](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A01962R0031-20210101) and other publicly available information such as EU institutions’ vacancy announcements. As the EU legal documents and even information on the various websites is hard to understand, this article is one from a series that tries to make information about employment in the [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/) and other EU institutions more accessible. > I wrote this article to make it easier to understand the sometimes complex EU > HR and administrative rules. However, your individual case might have unique angles > due to prior work experience, family situation, or other factors. > **Where to ask > questions?**Rather than leaving a comment below, please bring your questions to > our [**Jobs in EU Institutions Facebook Group**](https://www.facebook.com/groups/jobs.in.eu.institutions). > We have nearly 10,000 members there, including EU ‘insiders’, so you will receive > a much faster and more thorough reply from me and the community.**Looking for > weekly ‘Zero EPSO’ vacancies across EU institutions** **and daily tips?**Follow > the [**Jobs in EU Institutions Facebook Page**](https://www.facebook.com/people/Jobs-in-EU-Institutions/61556372262919/) > and join alongside over 6,000 other followers.⌊Ben Vandervelde - profile image⌉ > Best regards, **Ben**