Jobs in France

France is one of the most desirable places in the world to work abroad as an expat. As one of the world’s wealthiest countries with a very high standard of living, France has always been a centrally influential cultural, economic, and political force in European affairs. Not to mention it is one of the most scenically beautiful nations in the world, with sprawling hills and vineyards spanning from the magnificent cliffs of Normandy in the West to the towering Alps in the East. Working in France can truly be the experience of a lifetime whatever your field of interest.

The Timekettle real-time translator earbuds are on sale now!

Featured Provider of the Month

Get TEFL Certified & Explore the World as a Professional English Teacher
with International TEFL Academy

street traffic along Arc de Triomphe in Paris

9.7322 reviews

International TEFL Academy

Top Rated TEFL Courses for Teaching English in France

Want to get paid to live in Europe and teach English abroad in Fr...

00 reviews

Global Work & Travel

Au Pair France – Explore Europe as an Au Pair

France is known for its sophistication and appreciation for the f...

00 reviews

OnTESOL

Teach English Abroad with OnTESOL

There’s no better way to earn income, make an impact on others, a...

8.5511 reviews

World Voyage

Au Pair Abroad with World Voyage

Live, learn, and grow with World Voyage's au pair program! Combin...

9.110 reviews

The Cultural Exchange Project

Become An Au Pair in France

This is your chance to explore and discover the inspiring beauty ...

9.254 reviews

Jobs And Internships Abroad

Hospitality Jobs in France: Paris, Nice, Montpellier

Jobs and Internships Abroad is a premier agency that provides job...

00 reviews

Work Overseas

Hospitality Program in France – Guaranteed Placement

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to intern in France, in...

00 reviews

FEE REVEE Au pair & Demi-pair

Become an Au Pair in France

Do you love children? Does the idea of exploring France fascinate...

00 reviews

Abbey Road Programs

Abbey Road Seeks Summer Abroad Program Staff

We continually screen candidates for all positions: Instructors, ...

812 reviews

Teaching Assistant Program in France

English Language Teaching Assistant in France

Teach English in France! Are you ready to expand your horizons an...

Popular Providers

International TEFL Academy

Get TEFL Certified & Explore the World as a Professional English ...

Premier TEFL

Search + Apply for TEFL Internships & Our 100s of Jobs Online & A...

Latest Program Reviews

Oui, maintenant je suis française,

May 10, 2024by: Nelmerie Reinecke - South AfricaProgram: Au Pair Abroad with World Voyage

After falling in love with France in 2014 I've had the opportunity to come back in 2022 to be an au pair for the absolute best family. I loved every second of my time here and will be trying to get back here as soon as possible to create my life. World voyage gives us the best opportunities to learn about things we don't know like other cultures, languages and see if "the grass is greener on the other side". I am really grateful for thus opportunity that was given to me.

2 years of growing and glowing!

April 20, 2024by: Elizca Calitz - South AfricaProgram: Au Pair Abroad with World Voyage

Coming to Denmark has been the best choice I could make in my time of life. And thanks to Worldvoyage they were able to help me from Day 1 up until now, everything from my paperwork, visa appointment and arriving in Denmark. They really are all about helping and making your dream come true:)

Oui, maintenant je suis française,

May 10, 2024by: Nelmerie Reinecke - South AfricaProgram: Au Pair Abroad with World Voyage

2 years of growing and glowing!

April 20, 2024by: Elizca Calitz - South AfricaProgram: Au Pair Abroad with World Voyage

A Guide to Working Abroad in France

Best Cities for Expats

There are many places to find work in France, including away from the cities. Living in the rural areas of France and working in a small town or in the countryside can be a sublime experience for expats. France is a large and diverse country, so do your research carefully when determining what kind of environment you want to work and live in.

Paris is the obvious place to start when seeking jobs in France. The City of Love is an ideal place to find work in France, however long your stay and whatever your area of employment. Today Paris is one of the most globally connected cities on the planet and one of the most influential in terms of film, fashion, literature, and artistic excellence.

Marseilles, Lyon, and Toulouse, are other popular cities for jobs abroad in France that offer expats a more authentically French experience for working abroad in France, as they are not so iconically global. Lyon is known as the Capital of Lights because of the annual Fête des Lumières festival, Marseilles is France’s largest commercial port city sitting pristinely on the Mediterranean coast, and Toulouse is one of the primary French hubs of education.

Popular Job Types

The types of jobs in France available to foreign workers depend primarily on whether you plan to live in France temporarily or you plan on settling in and pursuing a full time career. For example, there are many opportunities to work in France as a teacher, au pair, or on a vineyard, but these openings tend to be temporary and rarely last more than one year.

Business. With major cities that have a global influence such as Paris, business jobs in France are great opportunities to get to experience the French culture and also gain credible work experience. You may also have the experience while working in France to gain work experience in French.

Hospitality. Working in France bring many opportunities in the field of hospitality, from restaurants to hotels, you can pretend you’re a local Frenchman while helping serve the tourist, and local, community.

Culinary Arts and Cooking. If you are a food lover by day and cuisinier by night, France may be the perfect place for you to stir the pot and add a sprinkle of international flare to your cooking. You will be able to learn and grow personally and professionally, and also enjoy the food!

Estimated Salaries

France has one of the highest performing economies in the world and as such is a fairly expensive place to live and work abroad. General costs of living in big cities, such as Paris, will be significantly higher than in the countryside, so keep this in mind when determining where to pursue job opportunities in France. Foreign workers are often compensated via other means if working in France is only temporarily. This compensation may be room and board, for example. However, full time salaries vary heavily between fields of employment and location.

Accommodations & Visas

The type of accommodation you will have available while working in France depends on the type of employment you are seeking. Temporary workers are often offered the opportunity to live with a local host family if they are, say, au pairing or working as an English tutor.

However, most expats in France end up finding themselves their own apartment or flat to live in to provide a more independent lifestyle while working in France. It will be much cheaper to start by renting out a room, then perhaps moving into your own place once you have saved up the money to do so.

If you wish to work in France more permanently, the situation becomes trickier because you will have to go through the process of obtaining a work and residential visa. If you are from the European Union then you are not required to obtain a work visa to pursue jobs in France. International workers from other countries, on the other hand, face a slightly more difficult situation - work visas have to be endorsed and organized by your host employer, so you will need to find work in France before actually moving to the country. Check your Embassy for the most up-to-date visa information.

GoAbroad's Inside Scoop

Finding work abroad in France is an extremely romantic notion to most, but one well worth pursuing if you are willing to commit to learning the language and immersing yourself fully in this wonderful culture. If you are willing to embrace the culture, the language, and the people, you will gain incredible work experience that will help open doors for you future. Working abroad in France will set you apart from your counterparts in job searches in the future—if you ever end up leaving (visa pending, of course)!

French is the language of business across the country and for most jobs abroad in France you will be expected to have at least basic competency in French. There are some temporary jobs in France which do not require you to be fluent in French, but the locals will be much more welcoming if you are able to speak the language. Many French people do speak English, but it is well worth the effort to learn the language so that you can fully experience French culture.