A person working as Creative Director in France typically earns around 46,400 EUR per year. Salaries range from 21,800 EUR (lowest) to 73,300 EUR (highest).
This is the average yearly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Creative Director salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
![]() 21,800 EUR |
![]() 44,000 EUR |
![]() 73,300 EUR |
Creative Director salaries in France range from 21,800 EUR per year (starting salary) to 73,300 EUR per year (maximum salary). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.
The median salary is 44,000 EUR per year, which means that half (50%) of people working as Creative Director(s) are earning less than 44,000 EUR while the other half are earning more than 44,000 EUR. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Creative Director(s) are earning less than 35,600 EUR while 75% of them are earning more than 35,600 EUR. Also from the diagram, 75% of Creative Director(s) are earning less than 50,500 EUR while 25% are earning more than 50,500 EUR.
We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights on how salaries are actually distributed. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 26,700 EUR to 38,400 EUR. Approximatly 20% fall under the 26,700 EUR cap. Ten percent of wages are from 38,400 EUR to 43,700 EUR. Only 5% of people grossed 43,700 EUR or more.
0 - 2 Years | 25,100 EUR | |
2 - 5 Years | +38% | 34,700 EUR |
5 - 10 Years | +42% | 49,300 EUR |
10 - 15 Years | +22% | 60,200 EUR |
15 - 20 Years | +6% | 63,500 EUR |
20+ Years | +9% | 69,200 EUR |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Creative Director salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience makes approximately 25,100 EUR per year.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 34,700 EUR per year, 38% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 49,300 EUR per year, 42% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Creative Director whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 60,200 EUR per year, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 63,500 EUR per year, 6% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 69,200 EUR per year, 9% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
High School | 31,100 EUR | |
Certificate or Diploma | +17% | 36,200 EUR |
Bachelor's Degree | +45% | 52,700 EUR |
Master's Degree | +31% | 69,200 EUR |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Creative Director salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is High School, the average salary is 31,100 EUR per year.
While someone with a Certificate or Diploma gets a salary of 36,200 EUR per year, 17% more than someone having a High School degree.
People with Bachelor's Degree have an average salary of 52,700 EUR per year, 45% more than someone with a Certificate or Diploma.
Professionals who hold a Master's Degree are rewarded with an average salary of 69,200 EUR per year, 31% more than someone with Bachelor's Degree.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in France costs anywhere from 20,600 Euro(s) to 61,900 Euro(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Creative Director employees in France earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 47,700 EUR | |
Female | -5% | 45,200 EUR |
Creative Director(s) in France are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 12% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 15 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 2% | |
Energy | 4% | |
Information Technology | 6% | |
Healthcare | 8% | |
Travel | 1% | |
Construction | 3% | |
Education | 5% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in France for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
"Creative Director" is considered to be a moderate bonus-based job. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
41% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 59% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 59% | |
No Bonus | 41% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Salary 2019 | 42,300 EUR | |
Average Salary 2020 | +3% | 43,400 EUR |
Average Salary 2021 | +2% | 44,500 EUR |
Average Salary 2022 | +2% | 45,500 EUR |
Creative Director salaries in France are on the rise in the year 2023 based on recent submitted salaries and reports. As displayed in the chart, salaries in 2022 are 2% higher than those of 2021. The trend suggests a slow yet continuous increase in pay in 2024 and future years. These numbers may vary from industry to another.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The minimum pay rate per hour for 'Creative Director' in France is 10 EUR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
The average salary for Creative Director is 1% less than that of Advertising / Grapic Design / Events. Also, Advertising / Grapic Design / Events salaries are 6% less than those of All Jobs.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Advertising Account Executive | 52,000 EUR | ![]() |
Advertising Account Manager | 59,000 EUR | ![]() |
Advertising Account Planner | 30,100 EUR | ![]() |
Advertising Coordinator | 36,700 EUR | ![]() |
Advertising Manager | 79,800 EUR | ![]() |
Advertising Operations Manager | 79,500 EUR | ![]() |
Advertising Strategic Planner | 52,200 EUR | ![]() |
Advertising Team Leader | 45,000 EUR | ![]() |
Animator | 34,000 EUR | ![]() |
Art Director | 45,500 EUR | ![]() |
Artist | 38,800 EUR | ![]() |
Artworker | 30,000 EUR | ![]() |
Assistant Art Director | 38,600 EUR | ![]() |
Audiosual Technician | 26,800 EUR | ![]() |
Broadcast Administrator | 51,800 EUR | ![]() |
Catering Sales | 30,500 EUR | ![]() |
Catering Trainer | 34,500 EUR | ![]() |
Commercial and Industrial Designer | 29,700 EUR | ![]() |
Conference Organiser | 35,600 EUR | ![]() |
Content and Media Production Lead | 55,500 EUR | ![]() |
CopyWriter | 32,500 EUR | ![]() |
Creative Designer | 35,800 EUR | ![]() |
Creative Director | 46,400 EUR | ![]() |
Designer | 27,000 EUR | ![]() |
Desktop Publisher | 24,100 EUR | ![]() |
Director of Graphic Design | 43,100 EUR | ![]() |
Events and Promotions Manager | 79,600 EUR | ![]() |
Exhibit Display Coordinator | 36,600 EUR | ![]() |
Exhibit Display Manager | 47,600 EUR | ![]() |
Finisher | 25,200 EUR | ![]() |
Graphic Artist | 28,800 EUR | ![]() |
Graphic Designer | 31,600 EUR | ![]() |
Graphics Design Supervisor | 40,500 EUR | ![]() |
Imagery Analyst | 29,400 EUR | ![]() |
Imaging Technologist | 28,700 EUR | ![]() |
Interaction Designer | 23,700 EUR | ![]() |
Media Planner | 40,400 EUR | ![]() |
Media Production Coordinator | 36,600 EUR | ![]() |
Media Production Manager | 64,200 EUR | ![]() |
Media Project Manager | 61,700 EUR | ![]() |
Media Relations Representative | 51,800 EUR | ![]() |
Media Sales Executive | 60,400 EUR | ![]() |
Multimedia Specialist | 28,700 EUR | ![]() |
Photographer | 26,500 EUR | ![]() |
PPC Campaign Manager | 46,900 EUR | ![]() |
Print Production Manager | 50,900 EUR | ![]() |
Product and Brand Manager | 78,800 EUR | ![]() |
Sales Promotion Manager | 72,200 EUR | ![]() |
Sketch Artist | 32,400 EUR | ![]() |
Social Media Executive | 58,600 EUR | ![]() |
Technical Typist | 22,100 EUR | ![]() |
User Experience UX Designer | 32,900 EUR | ![]() |
UX Designer | 28,500 EUR | ![]() |
City | Average Salary |
Bordeaux | 46,400 EUR |
Lille | 42,800 EUR |
Lyon | 49,300 EUR |
Marseille | 52,700 EUR |
Montpellier | 46,800 EUR |
Nantes | 48,500 EUR |
Nice | 47,000 EUR |
Paris | 53,200 EUR |
Strasbourg | 47,100 EUR |
Toulouse | 49,900 EUR |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in France earn 5% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 48,200 EUR | |
Public Sector | +5% | 50,700 EUR |
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 44,000 EUR and 50,500 EUR. This is a very rough estimate and your experience and education will play a very huge part into your final earnings.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salart after tax for every career.
The base salary for Creative Director in France is ranges from 35,600 EUR to 50,500 EUR. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range in a grain of salt.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary