# Contract Agents Function Group FG I salary - Link: https://euemployment.eu/salary-european-commission-contract-agents-fgi/ - Published: 2026-01-11T16:58:23+01:00 - Author: Ben **Updated with figures applicable from July 2025 to June 2026** The monthly **‘basic salary’ **for Contract Agents in [function group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/) I (FG I) in the [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/) ranges from **EUR 2613,72** **to EUR 3783,03**. It depends on which [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/)( 1-3) and [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) in each [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/)( 1-7) the staff member finds herself in. When being hired by EU institutions, new FGI staff usually start out in [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) I [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1 or [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 2 [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1 depending on the length of work experience. Once hired, your pay increases every two years as you advance by one [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) through the salary scales. Your salary can increase faster if you are ‘reclassified’( promoted in EU slang) to a higher [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) as a result of good performance in the annual ‘appraisal exercise’. If you want to be promoted, be sure to not only work hard, but also make your management notice your efforts throughout the year and during the annual ‘appraisal exercise’. ## Basic salary This article covers the topic of salary for **Contract Agents in [Function Group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/) I (FGI) **(‘agent contractuel’ in French) in the [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/). The information about FGI salary also directly applies to staff of the [European Parliament](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-parliament/), [European Council](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-council/), EU agencies and all other EU institutions. **RELATED ARTICLES** **ON [CONTRACT AGENT](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/contract-agent/) SALARIES**: **\* [Salary of Contract Agents FGII](https://euemployment.eu/salary-european-commission-contract-agents-fgii/)\* [Salary of Contract Agents FGIII](https://euemployment.eu/fg-iii-salary/)\* [Salary of Contract Agents FGIV](https://euemployment.eu/fg-iv-salary/) ARTICLES ON [ADMINISTRATORS](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/administrators/) AND [ASSISTANTS](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/assistants/) SALARIES:\* [Salary of Assistants AST4](https://euemployment.eu/assistants-ast4-salary/)\* [Salary of Administrators AD5](https://euemployment.eu/ad-5-salary/)\* [Salary of Administrators AD7](https://euemployment.eu/ad7-temporary-agents-salary/) The highest indicated number of EUR 3081 is for FGI staff that would have spent over 40 years in EU institutions while still staying in [function group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/) I. However, you are almost certain to find a position in a different [function group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/) with higher pay in a few years once you are within the “EU system”, attain work experience and build your network. | **[Grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/)** | **[Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/)** | **Starting [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/)** | | 1 | 1 | EUR 2613,72 | | 2 | 1 | EUR 2956,54 | | 3 | 1 | EUR 3344,35 | Contract agent function group I (FGI): basic salary according to grade and step in the European Commission salary scale ## Complete remuneration package Knowing the monthly ‘basic salary’ does not tell you much about your final take- home pay and the full remuneration package. There are **two reasons **for this. Firstly, the [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) can make up anything between ~85% and 130%+ or more of your total remuneration package depending on whether you are entitled to the various [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/salary-european-commission-contract-agents-fgi/#allowances-benefits). This is especially so if you are an expat or/and have children. Secondly, the country you are employed in has a significant impact on your total salary due to the [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/)‘ [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/correction-coefficient/)‘. Brussels is used as reference, so if you work for EU institutions in Belgium, you get 100% of your salary and [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/). However, if you work for an EU agency in Scandinavia, your salary and [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) will upped by 18-31% to compensate for higher living costs. Conversely, if you will work for the EU in Bulgaria, you will get only 55% of what your Brussels colleague gets due to what [Eurostat](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/eurostat/) considers are lower living costs. More on the impact of the [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/) below. ### Contract agents’ remuneration by family and residence status Below is a **sample calculation of an FG I ([grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1, [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1) take-home pay with [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) for four common scenarios for a [Contract Agent](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/contract-agent/) employed in Brussels, Belgium**. If you are in a higher [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/), you can do a rough estimate of your salary by adding the difference between [basic pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/) in [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1 and your actual [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/). | **Situation 1** | **Situation **2 | **Situation **3 | **Situation **4 | | **Single **_Belgian _national with no children | **Married **_Belgian _national with two children | **Single **_Italian _national with no children | **Married **_Italian _national with two children | | [Contract agent](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/contract-agent/) FGI [step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1 | | | | | | **[Basic Pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/)** **EUR** | **2614** | **2614** | **2614** | **2614** | | **[Household allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/household-allowance/)** | 0 | 282 | 0 | 282 | | **Dependent child allowance** | 0 | 1012 | 0 | 1012 | | **[Expatriation allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/expatriation-allowance/) 16%** | 0 | 0 | 686 | 686 | | **Pension contribution 12.10%** | -304 | -304 | -304 | -304 | | **Sickness insurance contribution** | -43 | -43 | -43 | -43 | | **Accident insurance contribution** | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | | **Unemployment Insurance contribution** | -6 | -6 | -6 | -6 | | **EU tax** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | **Special levy** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | **TOTAL REMUNERATION** | **2258** | **3552** | **2944** | **4238** | Contract Agent FGI salary and allowances: full remuneration package **N.B.** Please treat the above values only as indicative, because only your EU institution can do a precise calculation based on your individual circumstances and the full set of EU rules. On top of the above, children would either be guaranteed a place in the [European School](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/#European-School), or a single [Education Allowance](https://euemployment.eu/european-commission-education-allowance/) per child. The expat family would also get around 1000 EUR annually per family member as a Travel Grant considering the distance to Rome. ## European Commission 2022 salary scale for Contract agents FGI | FG & [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 | [Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 6 | [Step](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 7 | | FGI [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 3 | 3344,35 | 3413,74 | 3484,60 | 3556,91 | 3630,72 | 3706,09 | 3783,03 | | FGI [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 2 | 2956,54 | 3017,89 | 3080,53 | 3144,47 | 3209,74 | 3276,36 | 3344,35 | | FGI [grade](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/grade/) 1 | 2613,72 | 2667,98 | 2723,33 | 2779,84 | 2837,55 | 2896,43 | 2956,54 | _Source: Complete [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) scale for [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/) Contract Agents FGI. Source: [Staff Regulations](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/) Article 93_ ## Impact of Correction Coefficient on FGI step 1 basic pay The below table shows you the actual [Contract Agent](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/contract-agent/) FGI [basic pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/) according to the location of your institution. You can read a dedicated article about the [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/correction-coefficient/). | Country | [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/) | Adjusted [Basic Pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/) | | Austria | 105.4 | 2754.86 | | **Belgium** | **100** | **2613.72** | | Bulgaria | 64.8 | 1693.69 | | Croatia | 82.3 | 2151.09 | | Cyprus | 79.4 | 2075.29 | | Czechia | 91.8 | 2399.39 | | Denmark | 129.8 | 3392.61 | | Estonia | 93.4 | 2441.21 | | Finland | 112 | 2927.37 | | France | 114.2 | 2984.87 | | Germany | 102.2 | 2671.22 | | Greece | 86 | 2247.80 | | Hungary | 75.5 | 1973.36 | | Ireland | 130.7 | 3416.13 | | Italy | 87.6 | 2289.62 | | Latvia | 84.1 | 2198.14 | | Lithuania | 86.7 | 2266.10 | | Luxembourg | 100 | 2613.72 | | Malta | 91.8 | 2399.39 | | Netherlands | 111.4 | 2911.68 | | Poland | 78.8 | 2059.61 | | Portugal | 92.1 | 2407.24 | | Romania | 72.1 | 1884.49 | | Slovakia | 84.2 | 2200.75 | | Slovenia | 85.9 | 2245.19 | | Spain | 92.3 | 2412.46 | | Sweden | 117.7 | 3076.35 | _Source: [Basic Pay](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-pay/) of [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/) Contract Agents in [Function Group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/) I (FGI) adjusted by the [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/)_ Take into account that your [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) will also be adjusted by the [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/). If you will work not in Brussels, but in another EU location, you should multiply the grand total values in the “scenarios table” to get the actual approximate figure. ## Function Groups and corresponding types of duties The below table presents an overview of what kind of tasks each [function group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/) of contract agents is expected to carry out. Note the wording “under the supervision of officials or temporary staff”. In practice, the situation most often is different. Very often there is little difference between the tasks FG III and FG IV carry out, it’s a little bit of a lottery in which [function group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/) your position happens to fall. Also, once you start working in these two grades, you might soon notice that the tasks you carry out differ little from what temporary agents [AD5](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/ad-5/) and [AD6](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/ad-6/) perform. The main reason for this situation is the aftermath of the 2008-9 economic crisis when EU Member States exerted pressure on the [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/) to decrease costs. Someone came up with the “clever” solution to administratively“ devolve” many positions and tasks from AD to CA positions, without much change to the substance of the tasks performed. | **[Function group](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/function-group/)** | **Grades** | **Duties** | | IV | 13 to 18 | Administrative, advisory, linguistic and equivalent technical tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff. | | III | 8 to 12 | Executive tasks, drafting, accountancy and other equivalent technical tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff. | | II | 4 to 7 | Clerical and secretarial tasks, office management and other equivalent tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff. | | I | 1 to 3 | Manual and administrative support service tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff. | Contract Agent Function Groups and corresponding types of duties | Source: Staff Regulations ## Allowances and other benefits for EU institutions staff Several [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) and other benefits can quite significantly boost an EU official’s income. This largely depends on whether the person is an expat and has a spouse and/or children. When considering a job at an EU institution, people too often do not take these benefits into account. Important – these benefits are available to **[Administrators](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/administrators/)** in grades AD 5-16, **[Assistants](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/assistants/) ** in grades AST 1-11, **Secretaries and Clerks** in grades AST/SC 1-6, and **Contract Agents** in grades FG I-IV. * **[Travel costs on taking up duties](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/travel-costs-on-taking-up-duties/)**. * **[Daily subsistence allowance](https://euemployment.eu/daily-subsistence-allowance-for-new-eu-employees/)**. Paid during your initial onboarding period if you must change your residence to take up duties in Vilnius. Staff entitled to the [household allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/household-allowance/)( staff with a spouse or/and dependents) receive **€55.40 per calendar day** for up to 10 months ([probation period](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission-probation-period/) plus one month). Staff without [household allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/household-allowance/) receive **€44.68 per calendar day** for 120 days. * **[Installation allowance](https://euemployment.eu/european-commission-installation-allowance/)** and coverage of removal costs (one-time payments). A lump sum granted upon completing your probationary period when moving your domicile. Single staff receive one month’s [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) (minimum statutory floor of €937.77 for contract agents / €1,577.18 for temporary staff/ officials). Staff relocating with family receive two months’ [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/)( minimum €1,577.18). * [**Expatriation allowance** or **Foreign Residence allowance**](https://euemployment.eu/expatriation-allowance/). Paid under Article 4 of Annex VII to officials who are not nationals of their host country and have not habitually resided or carried out their main occupation there during the five years ending six months before entering the service. It equals 16% of the sum of [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/), [household allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/household-allowance/), and dependent child [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/). Expats who are not entitled to the [expatriation allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/expatriation-allowance/) get a foreign residents allowance that equals 4% of the [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) amount. * **[Household allowance](https://euemployment.eu/european-commission-household-allowance/)**. Calculated as a flat base of €241.21 plus 2% of [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) for married officials, registered non-marital partners, or single parents with dependent children. * **[Dependent child allowance](https://euemployment.eu/dependent-child-allowance-european-commission/)**. A flat payment of €527.06 per month per child, granted automatically up to age 18, or up to age 26 while the child is in full-time educational or vocational training. * **[European School](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-school/) enrollment** for children or **[Education allowance](https://euemployment.eu/european-commission-education-allowance/)**. Children of EU institutions staff enjoy free tuition at local European Schools. Where no [European School](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-school/) is available, or for pre-school and university attendance, staff receive a statutory [Education Allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/education-allowance/) of €357.62 (subject to the [correction coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/)). In certain cases, the [education allowance](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/education-allowance/) is doubled to €715.24 per child per month. * **[Healthcare costs reimbursement](https://euemployment.eu/jsis-joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-guide/)** to a level of 80-85% through the EU’s [Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-jsis/)( [JSIS](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-jsis/)) for the employee and any direct family members and dependents. 100% reimbursement of costs in case of a serious illness. * **Accident insurance**. * **Annual travel grant**. An annual flat-rate payment assisting expatriate staff and family members with travel to their [official](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/official/) [place of origin](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/place-of-origin/). Calculated based on kilometric distance (e.g., €268.04 for distances between 600 km and 1,200 km, and €536.00 for distances exceeding 1,200 km, with additional per-kilometre weighting). * **[Birth & adoption grant](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/#Birth-grant)**. * **Parental leave** **allowance**. Statutory leave grant of €1,289.65 per month( or €1,719.56 per month for single parents) during approved parental leave. * **[Unemployment allowance](https://euemployment.eu/unemployment-allowance-european-commission/)**. * **Removal expenses **when leaving your home country and again when leaving your EU institution. * **[EU pension](https://euemployment.eu/european-commission-pensions/), survivors and orphan’s pensions, invalidity allowance**. * **Lump sum payments in case of permanent invalidity or death**. * Lump sum **funeral expenses**. Costs incurred upon the death of an [official](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/official/), their spouse, or dependent child are reimbursed up to a statutory ceiling of €3,365.18. If death occurs while on [official](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/official/) [mission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/mission/), the costs of repatriating the body to the official’s [place of origin](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/place-of-origin/) are fully covered by the institution. * **Invalidity & Survivor Pensions**: Comprehensive life, [disability](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/disability/), and death social security/coverage. In case of accidental death related to duties, a lump sum of 5 times the annual [basic salary](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/basic-salary/) is paid to eligible beneficiaries, with invalidity and orphan pensions ensuring partial income continuation. ```has-small-font-size This article is based on the European Commission Staff Regulations and other publicly available information such as EU institutions’ vacancy announcements. ``` > 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.Best regards,**Ben**