Are you considering a BTS apprenticeship and wondering how much you could earn? It’s a question many people rightly ask. A work-study program is a bit like a big leap into professional life. You’re no longer just a student: you’re taking on the role of an employee, with a contract, obligations, and a salary. But this amount can vary depending on a host of criteria, not always obvious at first glance. Age, experience, type of contract, collective bargaining agreements… all of this is important, and we’re going to take the time to clarify it all together. The idea is to provide you with a comprehensive and clear overview so you really know what to expect, without any surprises. Whether you’re still at the CFA (training center) or already immersed in a company, knowing these basics will help you better prepare and negotiate.
As you explore this, you’ll see that the salary of a BTS apprentice is never set in stone. It depends on a legal framework, but also on your personal situation and the specific rules that may apply. And believe me, these rules have sometimes changed significantly in recent years. Between remuneration under an apprenticeship contract or a professionalization contract, not to mention the impacts of collective bargaining agreements and the recovery of charges, we have plenty to consider. So, let’s dive into this world together to understand everything about the amount of your work-study compensation.
How is the salary of a BTS student on a work-study program calculated?
Let’s start with the basics: how your pay is calculated when you’re on an apprenticeship or professional training contract. Generally speaking, remember that your minimum wage is always a percentage of the gross minimum wage. For 2025, the hourly minimum wage is set at €11.88, which makes a gross monthly minimum wage of €1,801.80 for a full-time employee. But this percentage varies according to various criteria, including your age, the year of your contract, and your level of experience. Generally speaking, here’s how it works:✅ You’re paid a percentage of this gross minimum wage. This percentage increases with your age and the progress you make in your contract. ✅ If you’re under 18, your pay rate will be lower than that of an apprentice aged 21 to 25, for example. ✅ You don’t have to pay employee social security contributions on your salary, so your gross salary is closer to your net salary. ✅ For certain contracts, particularly professionalization contracts, the level of qualification can also influence the percentage applied.
The fact that work-study compensation is regulated is based on the principle of protecting young learners. This guarantees both their access to a salary and the ability for employers to integrate these young people into their teams under reasonable conditions. Beyond gross and net compensation, this base serves to define your minimum compensation, but it doesn’t prevent you from negotiating a better salary if your company so desires. Student Age
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
- Under 18
27% of the minimum wage
| €486.49 🟢 | 39% of the minimum wage | €702.70 🟠 | 55% of the minimum wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| €990.99 🔴 | 18-20 years old 43% of the minimum wage |
€774.77 🟢 51% of the minimum wage |
€918.92 🟠 67% of the minimum wage |
| €1,207.21 🔴 | 21-25 years old 53% of the minimum wage |
€954.95 🟢 61% of the minimum wage |
€1,099.10 🟠 78% of the minimum wage |
| €1,405.40 🔴 | 26 years old and over 100% of the Minimum wage |
€1,801.80 🟣 If you’d like to learn more about the mechanics of work-study contracts and training programs, you can take a look at this very useful article on work-study programs and BTS training. |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYBUtB63I1Y What impact do age and experience have on work-study compensation? |
| Oh, let’s talk about it: age and experience really matter. Why? Because work-study salary isn’t based solely on the work performed, but also on the student’s progress in their training and career path. For example, an apprentice under 18 will earn less than a 23-year-old, even if they’re in their first year. This may seem like a penalty, but the law sets these thresholds to protect young, entry-level employees. As for experience, successive years of contract entitle them to a raise, the famous seniority bonus. Here are some important points to keep in mind: | 🛠 The length of your contract influences the percentage of the minimum wage you’ll receive each year. 🎂 The young apprentice’s age determines the minimum wage scale. |
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📜 Your level of education and previous qualifications may offer an increase. 🏢 Collective bargaining agreements sometimes apply more favorable rules.⏳ Repeating a year doesn’t increase your salary; it remains stable.
1st year
2nd year
3rd year
- Under 18
- 27% 🐣
- 39% 🐥
- 55% 🦅
- 18-20 years
43% 🐤
| 51% 🐦 | 67% 🦉 | 21-25 years | 53% 🕊 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61% 🦜 | 78% 🦩 | 26 years and over | 100% |
| 🦅 | 100% | 🦅 | 100% |
| 🦅 | For those who want to learn more about the process and practical advice for a work-study BTS program, there’s this excellent article on the BTS Bac+2 program with multiple options. | Discover how compensation can improve work-life balance, boost productivity, and strengthen employee motivation. Learn about the different types of compensation and their impact on your business. | Apprenticeship contracts versus professionalization contracts: what’s the difference in pay? |
| You’ve probably heard of these two types of contracts widely used by BTS and vocational training students: the apprenticeship contract and the professionalization contract. While both involve a split between training at a vocational training center and work in a company, their pricing rules are not entirely identical. Hence the importance of knowing where you’re going! | • The apprenticeship contract calculates pay primarily based on your age and the year the contract was completed. The salary is a rate applied to the minimum wage (SMIC) or to a conventional minimum wage when this is more favorable. • The | professionalization contract also takes into account your level of qualification at the time of signing the contract. In other words, a young person already holding a Baccalaureate can expect a higher salary than someone without a diploma, even if they are the same age. Furthermore, certain deductions due to benefits in kind (such as accommodation or meals) are possible within this framework, to the detriment of gross salary, but are regulated. Here is a comparative table of minimum wages in 2025 based on age and educational level: | Age Diploma below the Baccalaureate |
Diploma higher than or equal to the Baccalaureate Under 21 55% of the minimum wage
65% of the minimum wage
€1,171.17 🟢
Ages 21 to 25 70% of the minimum wage €1,261.26 🟠
80% of the minimum wage €1,441.44 🟢 Ages 26 and over
100% of the minimum wage
| €1,801.80 🟣 | In short, the pay under a professionalization contract tends to be more advantageous if you have a higher level of education before starting this training. To better understand all the ins and outs of the apprenticeship or professionalization contract, discovering the | BTS in building and construction |
|---|---|---|
| in work-study is a comprehensive guide that also covers finance. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tvKn9K-CKc What collective bargaining agreements can influence work-study compensation? |
Excellent question, because often, the company where you are completing your apprenticeship has a specific collective bargaining agreement that can modify the mandatory minimum wage. These agreements are negotiated between the social partners in the sector. They can provide for: 💼 A minimum wage higher than the legal minimum wage scale. |
| 🛎️ Specific bonuses linked to seniority or specific assignments. 📆 Provisions on overtime or on-call hours. | 🏥 Benefits recovered from expenses or company health insurance. For example, a BTS student in the banking sector may see their salary increase according to the banking collective bargaining agreement, which is often more favorable. Another example is in the international trade sector, where an agreement may guarantee certain bonuses or conditions related to hours. |
Sector of Activity Type of Collective Bargaining Agreement |
| Effects on Compensation | Banking and Insurance Banking Collective Bargaining Agreement |
|
End-of-Year Bonuses, Increased Salaries 🏦 Construction and Construction Construction Collective Bargaining Agreement
International Trade
Commerce Collective Bargaining Agreement
- Hourly Bonuses, Recoveries of Expenses 💼
- Hospitality & Catering
- MHR Collective Bargaining Agreement
- Meal Benefits, Enhanced Health Insurance 🍽️
It’s important to consult your employer’s collective bargaining agreement before signing your contract. And out of curiosity or preparation, you can find relevant articles on sectors and agreements, particularly on
| the BTS in Accounting and Management | or | international trade after the BTS. |
|---|---|---|
| Discover the different types of compensation, their mechanisms, and their impact on individuals and organizations. Learn how to manage effective compensation to motivate and retain talent while complying with standards and regulations. | How does the recovery of social security contributions impact your salary in a BTS work-study program? | To your advantage, when you have an apprenticeship contract, you benefit from significant exemptions on employer and employee social security contributions. This means that your gross salary is almost equal to your net salary, which is quite rare in the working world. However, be careful not to confuse: |
| 📌 Regulatory social security contributions, exempt for apprentices under the age of 26. 📌 The famous “benefits” that the employer can deduct from your salary, such as health insurance or meal vouchers. | 📌 Non-mandatory deductions that may appear depending on the company’s internal agreements. | If you are on a professional training contract, there are sometimes deductions related to benefits in kind, particularly for meals or accommodation, but these are regulated by law and collective bargaining agreements. These deductions can be as low as 75% of the normal deductions taken into account for traditional staff, which still offers you significant protection. Therefore, you should read your payslip carefully and find out before accepting. |
| Type of expenses | Apprenticeship contract | Professional training contract |
| Employee social security contributions | Exempt (up to age 25) ✅ | Exempt or partially taxed depending on age and situation |
Employer social security contributions Exempt ✅ Sometimes exempt depending on company policy Benefits in kind (housing, meals)Nonetheless potentially deductible
More information on this topic is available in an article dedicated to
BTS Managerial Action Support (SAM) work-study programs
- , which covers compensation and benefits management.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1PpsuYaYes
- Salary increases for BTS work-study students
Sometimes, your salary can benefit from a small boost, these are the famous increases. They are not automatic, but you can really take advantage of them in certain situations:
| ♿ If you are a disabled worker, you can extend the duration of your apprenticeship contract by one year. Your minimum salary for this period is then increased by 15%. 🕒 If your contract is extended for other reasons, you are also entitled to a 15% increase. | 📜 If you already have a higher education or technology diploma before starting, a 15% increase will be applied to your salary. | 📃 If the collective agreement for your sector provides for a salary higher than the legal minimum, you will be paid accordingly. |
|---|---|---|
| 🤝 If you have several apprenticeship contracts with the same employer, your salary must not be lower than the last one you received. | 🤝 If your contracts are with different employers, your salary must be at least equal to the minimum possible based on your last year. Situation | Possible Increases |
| Disabled Worker | +15% of the minimum wage percentage during extension ♿ | Contract Extension |
| +15% on salary ⚠️ | Holder of a Higher Education Diploma | +15% on salary 🎓 |
Clause in a Collective Bargaining Agreement Higher salary provided for by agreement 🏛️Succession of Contracts – Same Employer
Successive Contracts – Different Employers
Salary at least equal to the previous year’s 🔄
- You should also know that if you have to repeat a year, no raise is expected for that year. Your salary will remain the same as the previous year’s. This is an important thing to keep in mind when managing your budget.
- For more information, read this dedicated article, especially after a
- BTS in Insurance
- which clearly explains the possible impacts on salary.
- Overtime for a BTS student on a work-study program: how does it work?
- Why increase salary if you can work more? Rest assured, the law also provides rules for overtime compensation during an apprenticeship contract. Nothing complicated, but sometimes students aren’t aware of them and miss out on opportunities to earn a little more.
| Here’s what you need to remember: | ⏰ Overtime is paid according to the same rules that apply to other employees of the company. 📈 They are increased according to current regulations (e.g., 25% for the 36th hour, 50% beyond). |
|---|---|
| 📋 The employer must have you sign an amendment to the contract or record these hours so that everything is declared. | ❌ The number of hours must not exceed the legal weekly ceilings. |
| 💡 These hours can really improve your final salary and help you finance your studies or equipment. | If you want to know all the details, here’s an article that answers the question of |
| overtime for apprentices, a subject that is too often misunderstood. | A handy little table on overtime |
| Hours worked | Overtime applied |
| Hours 36 to 43 | + 25% |
| Hours 44 and over | + 50% |
What career opportunities are there after a BTS (Higher National Diploma) in a work-study program?
We’ve talked about money, but if we look at what comes next, pay isn’t everything. A work-study BTS (Higher National Diploma) is a gateway to employment, especially since the professional world recognizes this training method. It’s often the key to success: more than just hours of class, you’re taking some of your professional time right away. Here’s why a work-study BTS is a real asset: 🚀 Gives you solid experience recognized by companies
🤝 Facilitates the transition to sustainable employment
🎓 Generally allows you to pursue a specialization or another diploma in vocational training
📚 Offers a better understanding of the field than other study formats
- 🌐 In some sectors, mastering international environments thanks to a BTS in International Trade further expands the hiring opportunities
- A few links to help you think about what’s next after a BTS:
- After a BTS in International Trade
- What to do after a BTS in Accounting and Management? After a BTS in Hospitality and Restaurant Management
- Frequently Asked Questions: Salary and Work-Study Programs for BTS Students
1. Can my BTS apprenticeship salary be lower than the minimum wage? No, the salary under an apprenticeship or professionalization contract can never be lower than a set percentage of the minimum wage. This percentage depends on your age and the year of the contract, but always corresponds to the legal minimum.2. What is the difference between gross and net salary in a work-study program?
In a work-study program, if you are under 26, you are completely exempt from employee social security contributions, so your gross salary is very close to your net salary. However, be careful of deductions related to benefits such as health insurance or meal vouchers.
| 3. Is it possible to get a raise if I stay on a work-study program for several years? | Yes, the minimum wage generally increases each year of the contract. There may also be increases if you move up a level or if your contract is extended. |
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| 4. Can I hold multiple apprenticeship contracts with different employers? | Yes, but your pay cannot be lower than what you were receiving at the end of the previous contract, depending on age and education level. |
| 5. Are apprentices paid overtime? | Yes, they are paid according to the same regulations as other employees, with increases based on the number of hours worked. |