More than a salary — a complete package
When people hear "EU career," the first number that comes up is the base salary. And it's impressive: an entry-level AD5 administrator earns €6,152–6,758 per month in basic salary alone.
But the real compensation story is in what comes on top: expatriation allowance, family allowances, health insurance covering 80% of costs, pension rights, and a career track that can reach over €21,000/month at senior grades.
Let's break it all down.
The salary grid
EU institution salaries follow the Staff Regulations, which define a transparent grid based on grade and step. Every official knows exactly what they and their colleagues earn.
Administrator (AD) grades
| Grade | Entry salary | After 10 years | Senior level |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD5 | €6,152 | €7,127 | — |
| AD7 | €7,607 | €8,815 | — |
| AD9 | €9,280 | €10,743 | — |
| AD12 | €12,886 | €14,919 | Head of Unit |
| AD14 | €16,459 | €19,054 | Director |
| AD16 | — | — | Director-General (€21,000+) |
You advance 1 step every 2 years within your grade — automatically. Grade promotions depend on performance and availability.
Assistant (AST) grades
| Grade | Entry salary |
|---|---|
| AST1 | €3,058 |
| AST3 | €3,914 |
| AST5 | €4,991 |
| AST7 | €6,163 |
| AST11 | €9,411 |
Contract agents (CAST)
| Function Group | Entry salary |
|---|---|
| FG I | €2,600 |
| FG II | €2,715 |
| FG III | €3,476 |
| FG IV | €4,449 |
Beyond the base: allowances and benefits
Expatriation allowance (16%)
If you live and work outside your home country (which most EU officials do), you receive an additional 16% of your basic salary — plus family and dependent child allowances.
For an AD5: that's an extra ~€985–1,081/month.
Household allowance
If you have a dependent spouse or registered partner: 2% of basic salary + €241.21/month fixed.
Dependent child allowance
€511.71/month per child + additional education allowances.
Health insurance (JSIS)
The Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme covers approximately 80% of medical costs for you and eligible dependents. Your contribution: ~1.7% of basic salary.
Unlike most national systems, JSIS covers treatment across all EU countries — no restrictions based on where you live.
Pension
After 10 years of service, you are entitled to an EU pension. The pension rate is 1.8% of final basic salary per year of service, up to a maximum of 70%.
A full career (38+ years) means a pension of 70% of your final salary — potentially over €10,000/month.
Other benefits
- Annual leave: 24 days minimum + EU institution holidays
- Parental leave: up to 6 months per child
- Home leave travel: annual contribution to visit your home country
- Language courses: free language training during work hours
- Relocation support: moving expenses covered when relocating for the job
Tax situation: the EU tax regime
EU officials pay a community tax to the EU budget instead of national income tax. This is generally lower than most national tax rates, especially compared to Belgium, France, or Germany.
The community tax is progressive, starting at 8% and reaching approximately 45% at the highest bracket — but the effective rate is typically 15–25% depending on personal situation.
Important: EU officials are exempt from national income tax on their EU salary, but this does NOT apply to other income (rental income, investments, spouse's salary).
The real take-home: an example
AD5, Step 1, expatriated, no children, Brussels:
| Component | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Basic salary | €6,152 |
| Expatriation (16%) | +€984 |
| Community tax (~20% effective) | −€1,427 |
| Pension contribution (~9.7%) | −€597 |
| Health insurance (~1.7%) | −€105 |
| Estimated net | ~€4,989 |
AD5, Step 1, expatriated, married, 2 children, Brussels:
| Component | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Basic salary | €6,152 |
| Expatriation (16%) | +€984 |
| Household allowance | +€315 |
| 2× child allowance | +€852 |
| Community tax (~15% effective) | −€1,246 |
| Pension contribution | −€597 |
| Health insurance | −€105 |
| Estimated net | ~€6,220 |
These are estimates. Actual amounts depend on individual circumstances.
Is it worth it? The comparison
For candidates from Southern and Eastern Europe, the math is compelling:
| Country | Average salary (local) | AD5 net (Brussels) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | €1,800 | €4,872 | +€3,072 |
| Spain | €2,000 | €4,872 | +€2,872 |
| Greece | €1,500 | €4,872 | +€3,372 |
| Romania | €1,200 | €4,872 | +€3,672 |
| Portugal | €1,400 | €4,872 | +€3,472 |
| Germany | €3,500 | €4,872 | +€1,372 |
| France | €3,000 | €4,872 | +€1,872 |
This explains why 45.7% of AD5 2026 applicants came from Italy alone.
But beyond the salary gap, consider:
- Job security: EU officials are essentially civil servants for life
- International environment: work with 27 nationalities daily
- Impact: shape policies that affect 450 million Europeans
- Career ceiling: up to €21,000+/month at Director-General level
- Pension: 70% of final salary after a full career
- Location: Brussels, Luxembourg, or EU agencies across Europe and worldwide
The investment in preparation pays for itself many times over
EPSO preparation typically costs between €65 and €625, depending on the depth of resources. Given that an AD5 career generates €2-3 million in lifetime earnings above comparable national positions, the return on investment is extraordinary.
Even at the highest preparation cost (€625), it represents less than 0.03% of the lifetime salary differential. That makes preparation one of the best investments you can make in your professional future.
You have the qualifications. Now give yourself the preparation to match. Candidates who prepare systematically are 40% more likely to succeed — and that career is well within your reach.
EU·Now helps you build toward this career with adaptive preparation for EPSO AD5, CAST, AST, and specialist competitions — with questions verified against official EPSO sources. Join the waitlist at eu-now.com.
