Working as a Student in France - Hour Limits, Salaries, and Unknown Facts

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The first real shock for students coming to France is the high cost of living. Between rent, transportation, groceries, and social life, most students are forced to work sooner rather than later. However, working in France is not like working in Türkiye. The rules are clear, the system is slow, and the consequences of mistakes can be severe.

🎓 What are the rights to work with a student visa?

In France, anyone holding a student visa is legally entitled to work 964 hours per year . This equates to approximately 20 hours per week.

This is the right to work. It applies to university students. It applies to master's and doctoral students. It also applies to language school students.

So the idea that "I can't work because I'm at a language school" is completely wrong. What matters is that your visa type is student status.

Some employers may employ you full-time during public holidays and the summer months. However, the total annual limit should not exceed 964 hours.

💶 Salaries. Are they really enough when you work?

As of 2025, the minimum wage in France will be approximately €11.65 gross per hour. The vast majority of students work for this wage.

Here's a realistic earnings breakdown: Someone working 20 hours a week earns between €800 and €1,000 net per month. Someone working full-time in the summer could earn €1,400 or more.

This money alone won't guarantee a comfortable life. But it will prevent you from going hungry. It will cover part of the rent. It will reduce your dependence on your family.

In France, student work is done to survive, not to make ends meet .

🍽️ The Easiest Fields to Find a Job In and the Facts

Those with a low level of French usually start in the following areas: Restaurant kitchen 🍳 Dishwashing and cleaning 🧽 Warehousing and logistics 📦

These jobs are physically demanding, but the onboarding process is quick. They don't require French language skills and are usually found through connections.

For those with an intermediate level of French, the options expand: Waitressing ☕ Cashiering 🛒 Fast food chains 🍔 Hotel jobs 🏨

The easiest jobs for university students are on-campus jobs. Examples include: Library assistant 📚, Student affairs office 🏫, Exam and event organization.

These jobs are both insured and compatible with the curriculum.

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⚠️ Illegal Employment. Nobody Says It, But the Truth Is Harsh.

Working illegally is very common in France, but that doesn't make it safe. While it may seem to bring in more money in the short term, the cost is high in the long term.

Consequences of working illegally: Risk of refusal to renew residency permit; fines and legal action against the employer; negative track record in future visa applications.

Especially when your prefecture file is being reviewed, insurance records are checked. If it is determined that you were working illegally, a defense of good faith is usually ineffective.

In short, the system in France is slow but has a strong memory.