SNCF strike: how much does a controller earn on average, whose profession is mobilizing this weekend?

Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Magali Cohen / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 5:26 p.m., February 14, 2024

SNCF controllers are mobilizing this weekend of school holidays to demand salary increases. The opportunity to look at what the captains of the ship really perceive. Different salaries are announced, considering the geographic location and seniority of the employee.

If you are looking for who is behind the strike at the SNCF this winter school vacation weekend, ask a controller. It is indeed the captains who are mobilizing to demand, among other things, salary increases, in view of their difficult working conditions (staggered hours, travel far from home, etc.). But how much does a train controller currently earn?

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More or less important salaries depending on location

In the show

Pascal Praud et vous

, Fabien Villedieu, federal secretary of Sud Rail, affirms that the starting salary is around 2,000 euros gross per month. The trade unionist uses the SNCF Hire website in the “Commercial on board trains” section to put forward this figure. Depending on the job offers available, the salary varies depending on the location of an equivalent contract. For example, for a TER train controller, the announced salary range is wider in Toulouse (between 24,700 and 31,800 euros gross annually) than in Lille (between 26,560 and 29,990 euros gross annually). Remuneration which includes "variable elements", that is to say bonuses and allowances linked to the arduousness of the work.

Some young controllers have higher salaries, like Martin, an auditor for Europe 1 who works in the Paris region. At 23 years old, the latter advances a salary of 38,000 euros gross per year, or a little more than 3,100 euros gross per month. “But only 24,000 euros in retirement contributions,” he explains, referring to the bonus system.

SNCF strike: “Are you on strike with €38,000 per year at 23?!” @PascalPraud responds to Martin, SNCF controller in Paris #PascalPraudEtVous on #Europe1pic.twitter.com/1B1cBL4rfo

— Europe 1 (@Europe1) February 13, 2024

Figures in any case close to those announced by TF1: according to their information, a controller would receive on average 2,900 euros gross per month at the start of their career, and 4,400 euros gross for the most experienced.

“Between 2,000 and 3,000 euros gross per month” according to Hello Work

According to the site specializing in job searches Hello Work, the average salary of a controller "is around 2,300 euros gross per month, or 1,800 euros net. With years of experience, the experienced controller can then earn between 2,000 and 3,000 euros gross per month", adds the site, which does not take into account here the various bonuses and allowances that these employees can receive, "regardless of their seniority".

Note that controllers can also benefit from free train tickets, and those with at least 27 years of seniority (or “length of service”) can retire earlier (57 years), as recalled

Release

 in 2022, a year already marked by a mobilization of controllers.