# EU official salary: the complete guide for those dreaming of Bruxelles
URL: https://eu-now.com/blog/stipendio-funzionario-ue-guida-completa
Published: 2026-06-16
Category: EU Careers
Tags: stipendio UE, funzionario europeo, AD5, AD7, Bruxelles, carriera UE
How much does an EU official earn? Real salaries for AD5, AST and AD7 in Bruxelles: gross, net, allowances and career progression. Official data updated 2026.
## Key takeaways
- An AD5 official at the first grade earns €6,153 gross per month (official table 1 July 2025), which increases progressively with biennial increments
- The actual net salary for an Italian in Bruxelles is approximately €5,500 per month (single, first year), thanks to the 16% expatriation allowance.
- An AD7 specialist official starts at €7,876 gross: a specialist earns approximately 28% more than an AD5
- Family allowances (family, children, schooling) can add approximately 2,150 € per month
- After many years of career, a Head of Unit (AD11-AD12) earns over €13,000-15,000 gross per month
## "How much does an EU official earn?"

This is the most searched question on Google by Italians who have registered for the EPSO 2026 competition. The short answer: **an AD5 at grade 1 earns €6,153 gross per month** (official table in force from 1 July 2025). For a single Italian in Bruxelles, this is approximately **€5,500 net** take-home pay. After a well-managed 20-year career, the same official can earn over **€14,000 gross per month** as a Head of Unit.

But the number alone doesn't tell the whole story. There are allowances, EU taxes (which are very low), the pension system, free European schools, high-level health insurance, and a career stability that is almost impossible to find in Italy today.

This guide covers everything, with figures verified against the official EU staff regulations and the salary table in force from 1 July 2025.

## The AD5 salary in concrete numbers

The **AD5** grade is the entry point for recent graduates who pass the EPSO competition. The salary is structured into **five steps** of 24 months each, after which you become eligible for promotion to grade AD6.

| Grade AD5 | Monthly gross salary (€) | Annual gross equivalent (€) |
|-----------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| AD5 — step 1 | 6,153 | 73,832 |
| AD5 — step 2 | 6,411 | 76,934 |
| AD5 — step 3 | 6,681 | 80,167 |
| AD5 — step 4 | 6,866 | 82,398 |
| AD5 — step 5 | 6,961 | 83,535 |

These figures represent the **basic salary** (official table Art. 66 of the Staff Regulations, in force from 1 July 2025) before allowances and deductions. The structure is the same for all EU officials: no personal negotiation, no discretionary bonuses. Transparency is one of the pillars of the European remuneration system.

And here comes the first surprise: **the basic salary increases automatically every two years** (the seniority step is provided for by Article 44 of the Staff Regulations). You don't have to ask for a raise. You don't have to negotiate. You work, perform well, and every 24 months you move up one step.

## Career structure: where you get and when

The path of a brilliant AD5 typically leads to these grades:

| Grade | Average years of career | Monthly gross salary step 1 (€) | Typical role |
|-------|------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------|
| AD5 | 0-4 years | 6,153 | Junior Administrator, recent graduate |
| AD6 | 4-8 years | 6,961 | Experienced Administrator |
| AD7 | 8-13 years | 7,876 | Senior Administrator, specialist |
| AD8 | 13-18 years | 8,911 | Senior Specialist, Head of Sector |
| AD9 | 18-22 years | 10,083 | Adjoint Head of Unit |
| AD10 | 22-26 years | 11,408 | Junior Head of Unit |
| AD11 | 26-30 years | 12,907 | Confirmed Head of Unit |
| AD12 | 30+ years | 14,604 | Senior Head of Unit |
| AD13 | 30+ years | 16,523 | Director, Head of Large Unit |
| AD14 | Appointment only | 18,695 | Director |
| AD15 | Appointment only | 21,152 | Director-General |
| AD16 | Appointment only | 23,933 | Senior Director-General |

Grades AD14-AD16 are **political appointment positions** or senior management: entry is via internal competition or targeted selection, after an entire career. We are talking about approximately 100-150 people across the entire European Commission.

The **realistic path** for someone entering at AD5 at age 27: AD7 by age 35, AD10 (Head of Unit) around 50, and a possible promotion to Director (AD14) between 55 and 60. A comfortable retirement at 66 with a solid pension fund.

## Allowances: the other half of your salary

The basic salary is only half the picture. **Allowances** can add up to 35% to your monthly gross pay.

### Expatriation allowance (16%)

The most important allowance for Italians is the **expatriation allowance**: 16% of the basic salary (plus family allowance), granted to those living in a country other than their country of citizenship for service reasons. For an AD5 step 1, this is approximately **€984 extra per month**. For an AD10, it exceeds €1,800.

This allowance is maintained throughout your career, unless you voluntarily transfer back to your country of origin.

### Distance allowance (4%)

For those who are expatriates but have recently entered service in the destination country, an **additional 4%** is added for the first 5 years. An Italian who has just arrived in Bruxelles therefore receives **20% more** on their basic salary for the first 60 months.

### Family allowances

Family allowances are one of the most generous aspects of the EU remuneration system. They are cumulative and are added to the basic salary.

| Allowance | Monthly amount (€) | Conditions |
|-----------|----------------------|------------|
| Family allowance (household) | ~364 | 2% of basic salary + 241.21 €; if married or with dependent children |
| For each dependent child | 527.06 | Up to age 18 (26 if a student) |
| Pre-school allowance | 128.76 | For each child up to age 5 |
| School allowance | up to 357.62 | For each school-age child |

An AD5 family with a non-working spouse and two children aged 8 and 12 would therefore receive approximately: 364 + (527.06 × 2) + (357.62 × 2) ≈ **€2,150 per month** in family allowances, in addition to salary and expatriation allowance. *(Amounts effective from 1 July 2025, indexed annually.)*

![Meeting of EU officials of different nationalities in a room at the European Commission in Bruxelles](/photos/blog/carriera-funzionario-ue-bruxelles.webp)
*A typical meeting in EU institutions: Italians, French, Germans, Spaniards, and Irish in the same room. A European career is multinational by definition — and the salary is identical for everyone, given the same grade.*

### Installation and relocation allowances

When entering service for the first time, the EU reimburses **relocation expenses** from the country of origin. You also receive an **installation allowance** equal to two months' gross basic salary (approximately €12,300 for an AD5).

## Net salary: what remains after taxes

Deductions from the gross salary are significantly lower than those in Italy. For an AD5 step 1 in Bruxelles:

| Item | Monthly amount (€) | Rate |
|------|----------------------|----------|
| Gross basic salary | 6,153 | — |
| Expatriation allowance (+16%) | 984 | — |
| **Total gross** | **7,137** | — |
| Pension contribution | -615 | 10% of basic |
| Progressive EU tax | -535 | ~8% effective |
| Solidarity contribution | -393 | ~6% |
| Health insurance | -105 | 1.7% of basic |
| **Total deductions** | **-1,648** | ~23% |
| **Net take-home pay** | **~5,489** | — |

For comparison, an Italian manager with an equivalent gross salary (80,000 € per year = ~6,700 €/month gross) in Italy pays:
- IRPEF + surtaxes: ~30%
- INPS contributions: ~10%
- Total deductions: ~40%
- Net take-home pay: ~4,000 €/month

**The EU tax advantage compared to Italy is approximately 18%**: for the same gross amount, you receive an additional 1,200 € per month in your paycheck.

## The cities where everything changes: correction coefficients

Is the EU salary the same all over the world? Almost. The system applies a **correction coefficient** to officials stationed outside of Bruxelles and Luxembourg (the two historical centers), based on the local cost of living.

| Location | Coefficient | AD5 step 1 local gross (€) |
|------|--------------|-------------------------------|
| Bruxelles | 100.0 | 6,153 |
| Lussemburgo | 100.0 | 6,153 |
| Paris | 113.6 | 6,989 |
| The Hague (Netherlands) | 113.2 | 6,965 |
| Berlin | 102.7 | 6,319 |
| Madrid | 92.4 | 5,685 |
| Rome | 87.5 | 5,384 |
| Athens | 87.0 | 5,353 |

*(Coefficients per place of employment in force from July 1, 2025, source Eurostat. Bruxelles and Lussemburgo are the reference = 100.)*

The coefficients are **updated annually** by Eurostat based on consumer price indices and are linked to the **place of employment** (not the country in general). The idea is that real purchasing power remains similar everywhere.

The **16% expatriation allowance remains unchanged**: it is applied to the basic salary before the coefficient. Therefore, an Italian stationed in Rome still receives a 16% allowance on the base of 6,153 €.

## AD vs AST vs CAST: what are the real differences?

The European Union has three main professional categories:

**AD (Administrator)** — Permanent officials with responsibilities for design, analysis, and management. Requires a bachelor's degree (AD5) or a degree + 6 years of experience (AD7+). AD5 step 1 salary: **6,153 € gross**.

**AST (Assistant)** — Permanent officials with application and specialist support tasks. Requires a diploma + experience (AST1) or a degree + experience. AST1 step 1 salary: **3,754 € gross**, AST6 step 1: **6,961 € gross**.

**CAST (Contract Agent)** — Fixed-term contracts of 3-6 years, renewable. Four Function Groups (FG I-IV), with remuneration from the lowest to the highest grade/step:

| Function Group | Role | Monthly gross salary (€) |
|----------------|----------|------------------------------|
| FG I | Executive tasks | 2,614 - 3,783 |
| FG II | Secretarial | 2,715 - 4,449 |
| FG III | Technical assistance | 3,476 - 6,444 |
| FG IV | Intellectual work (equiv. AD5) | 4,449 - 9,335 |

CAST FG IV receive all allowances (expatriation, family, health). The difference compared to permanent AD is job stability, not the salary.

## What happens upon retirement

The EU pension system is robust. For those entering service **from 1 January 2014** (i.e., all new winners of the 2026 competition), each year of service guarantees **1.8% of the final salary** — the rate was 1.9% for those who joined before the 2014 reform. The maximum of 70% is reached after approximately **39 years** of career.

Concrete example:
- Official ending their career at **AD12** (~14,600 € gross monthly)
- After **30 years** of service
- Pension: 14,604 × 1.8% × 30 = **7,886 € gross monthly** (at 54% of the final salary)

The retirement age is 66, with a minimum seniority of 10 years of service. The pension is taxed by the EU in the same way as salaries (rates 8-12%).

## Is it worth leaving a job in Italy for this?

**Pure numbers:**
- Average Italian manager (10 years experience, multinational in Milan): €50,000-70,000 gross per year, ~€3,000-3,800 net per month
- Entering AD5 in Bruxelles, single Italian: **~€5,500 net per month** from day one
- AD5 with family (spouse + 2 children): **€7,200-7,800 net per month** from day one
- AD7 specialist (6 years experience): **~€7,100 net per month single**, **€8,800+ with family**

**Beyond the numbers:**
- Job stability: the AD contract is permanent, effectively irrevocable except in cases of serious misconduct
- Free European schools for children: 5 campuses in Belgium, high-quality multilingual programs
- EU health insurance: high-level coverage across Europe
- Solid and predictable EU pension
- International career: rotations, secondments, experiences in delegations

**Real sacrifices:**
- Living abroad: means rebuilding your social and professional network
- Partner's compromise: often the spouse must change their job or studies
- Distance from the family of origin in Italy
- Cultural pressure: high-intensity intellectual multinational environment

For those who are young, single, or have a mobile partner, it is one of the best careers available in Europe. For those with deep roots and pre-existing family responsibilities, it is worth evaluating the timing.

![Italian family arrives at Bruxelles station to start a new life in the EU institutions](/photos/blog/famiglia-italiana-trasferimento-bruxelles.webp)
*Every year, hundreds of Italians move to Bruxelles to start an EU career. Free European schools for children and high-level health insurance make the move sustainable even for families.*

## How to reach this salary: the first concrete step

All of this applies to those who **pass the EPSO competition**. Without passing the competition, there is no access to a permanent official role.

The AD5 2026 competition (EPSO/AD/427/26) had 174,922 candidates for 1,490 positions. The pre-selection tests will take place in **autumn 2026**.

If you are among the candidates or are thinking of applying for the next competition, you can find a **complete guide to the EPSO process** on our blog [Concorso EPSO 2026: la guida completa per candidati italiani](/blog/concorso-epso-2026-guida-completa).

To train for the pre-selection tests, we look forward to seeing you in the [EU·Now practice](/practice) section: 12,700+ verified questions on the five types of tests, timed simulations, and AI tutors for your questions.

## Official resources

The data in this guide is based on the following public European Union sources:

- [EU Careers — Working conditions and benefits](https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/working-eu/working-conditions-and-benefits) — official page with salaries and benefits
- [EUR-Lex — Staff Regulations](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A01962R0031-20140101) — full text of the Staff Regulations
- [European Commission — Salary tables](https://commission.europa.eu/about/jobs-european-commission/working-conditions-and-pay_en) — salary tables updated annually
- [EPSO Annual Activity Report 2024](https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/about-epso/annual-reports) — official data and statistics on selections

The figures are updated as of 1 July 2025 (table in force until 30 June 2026). The annual adjustment provided for by Article 65 of the Staff Regulations typically results in increases of 3-4% per year: always check the most recent table before making important decisions.
## FAQ
### How much exactly does an EU official at the AD5 grade earn?
The base salary for AD5 grade 1 is €6,153 gross per month (official table in effect from 1 July 2025). After mandatory deductions (pension contribution 10%, progressive EU tax ~8%, solidarity contribution 6%, health insurance 1.7%), the base net is approximately €4,500. Adding the 16% expatriation allowance (for those living in a country other than their country of origin), the total net for a single person in Bruxelles is approximately €5,500 per month. Over time, biennial increments and grade promotions ensure the salary grows steadily.
### How much extra do you earn with a family?
Family allowances are significant (amounts in effect from 1 July 2025). The family allowance is 2% of the basic salary + 241.21 € (approximately 364 € for an AD5). The allowance for each dependent child is 527.06 € per month. In addition, there is the education allowance (up to 357.62 € per school-age child) and the pre-school allowance (128.76 € up to age 5). An AD5 family with a non-working spouse and two children can receive approximately 2,150 € more per month compared to a single official.
### Does the salary change if you live in Luxembourg, Rome or Luxembourg?
Yes, but less than you think. The correction coefficient only applies to salaries paid in EU countries other than Belgium and Luxembourg. Bruxelles and Luxembourg have a coefficient of 100. Italy is around 87 (the salary is multiplied by 0.87 if you are stationed in Rome). Madrid 95. Paris 117. Athens 81. The 16% expatriation allowance remains intact; it is the basic salary that is proportioned to the local cost of living.
### Are EU taxes really that low?
EU tax is progressive and ranges from approximately 8% to 45% of taxable income (with an initial tax-free allowance and family deductions). For an AD5 grade 1 with a dependent spouse, the effective rate is 10-12% — significantly lower than Italian taxation for an equivalent income (32-35% IRPEF). EU officials do not pay national taxes on EU employment income: this exemption is provided for by Article 12 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union.
### After how many years do you reach the maximum grade AD16?
Almost no one reaches AD16: this is the grade of Directors-General and the most senior Directors within the institutions, reserved for approximately 50-100 people across the entire Commission. The average career of a brilliant AD5 leads to AD12-AD13 (Head of Unit) after 18-25 years of service. Each grade progression takes an average of 4-6 years and depends on performance evaluations, vacancy availability, and participation in internal competitions. The first promotion from AD5 to AD6 typically occurs within 2-4 years.
### How much does a retired EU official earn?
For those entering service from 1 January 2014 (all new successful candidates), the EU pension system guarantees 1.8% of the final salary for each year of service, with a maximum of 70% reached after approximately 39 years (the rate was 1.9% for those who entered before the 2014 reform). An official who ends their career at AD12 (approximately €14,600 gross per month) after 30 years of service receives a pension of approximately €7,886 gross per month (54% of the final salary). The retirement age is 66 with a minimum seniority of 10 years of service. Pensions are taxed by the EU in the same way as salaries.
### Do CAST staff earn as much as permanent officials?
No, CAST (fixed-term contracts of 3-6 years) have a different salary structure. CAST Function Group I (executive tasks) starts at approximately €2,500 gross; Function Group II (secretarial) ~€3,000; Function Group III (technical assistance) ~€3,700; Function Group IV (intellectual work equivalent to AD5) ~€5,000 gross. CAST are still entitled to most allowances (expatriation, family) and EU health insurance.
### Is it worth leaving a job in Italy for the EPSO competition?
It depends on your personal situation. In Italy, a manager with 10 years of corporate experience earns an average of 50,000-70,000 € gross per year (approximately 3,000-3,800 € net per month). An AD7 specialist (which requires 6 years of experience) starts at 7,876 € gross per month — roughly double. Added to this are job stability, family allowances, high-level healthcare, free European schools for children, and an EU pension. The downside: living abroad, rebuilding your social network, and managing the impact on your relationship if your partner has to change jobs.
### How much time passes between winning the competition and receiving the first salary?
It depends on the vacancy. Passing the EPSO competition means being placed on a reserve list (list of eligible candidates) valid for 3-7 years. From that point on, EU institutions looking for profiles like yours will contact you for specific interviews for vacant positions. The average time between being placed on the list and the first appointment is 6-18 months for AD5 and 12-24 months for AD7. Some lists are exhausted within 18 months, while others last until they expire with some winners never being called.
### Where can I find the updated official salary tables?
Official salary tables are published every year by the European Commission on the DG Human Resources website, and by the Court of Justice for its own institutions. They are updated annually based on the adjustment provided for in Article 65 of the Staff Regulations (usually in July). You can find direct links to the official sources at the end of this guide.
## Official sources
- EU Careers — Working conditions and benefits: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/working-eu/working-conditions-and-benefits
- EUR-Lex — Regolamento del personale dell'Unione europea: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A01962R0031-20140101
- Commissione europea — Salary tables 2024: https://commission.europa.eu/about/jobs-european-commission/working-conditions-and-pay_en
- EU Careers — Apply for AD5 Graduate Competition 2026: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/apply-graduate-competition-ad-5
- EPSO Annual Activity Report 2024: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/about-epso/annual-reports

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Source of record: https://eu-now.com/blog/stipendio-funzionario-ue-guida-completa — published by EU-now (eu-now.com), which is not EPSO and not affiliated with the European Commission.