Town halls, ministries, hospitals, regional councils: the public sector is one of the biggest recruiters of work-study students in France, and far too often overlooked by applicants. Yet its contracts can be better paid than in the private sector.
In short: you can prepare your qualification through work-study in all three branches of the public sector (central government, local authorities, hospitals). The contract remains a private-law contract with the same rights as in a company. Pay starts from the same base as in the private sector — a percentage of the SMIC based on age and year — and the public employer may increase it by 10 or 20 points (an optional boost). You apply without a competitive exam, mainly through the choisirleservicepublic.gouv.fr portal.
Which public employers recruit work-study students?
The public sector is split into three branches, all of which recruit apprentices:
- Central government (fonction publique d'État): ministries, education authorities and schools, prefectures, decentralised services, regional health agencies (ARS), national public bodies.
- Local authorities (fonction publique territoriale): municipalities, inter-municipal bodies, departmental and regional councils, CCAS social action centres. This is the largest provider of contracts.
- Hospitals (fonction publique hospitalière): public hospitals, public EHPAD care homes, public social and medico-social establishments.
The jobs go well beyond admin work: IT, human resources, communication, green spaces, early childhood, care, technical roles, accounting, legal… This diversity is one of the sector's great strengths.
How much does a public sector apprentice earn?
This is the least-known advantage. The calculation base is identical to the private sector: a percentage of the SMIC that depends on your age and your contract year. But public employers may also apply a boost of 10 or 20 points (Article D. 6272-2 of the Labour Code). Note: since Decree No. 2020-478 of 24 April 2020, this boost is optional and is no longer linked to the level of the qualification being prepared.
| Situation | Minimum pay (SMIC of €1,867.02 since 1 June 2026) |
|---|---|
| No boost | Statutory scale: from 27% to 100% of the SMIC depending on age and year |
| 10-point boost (optional) | Scale + 10 points, i.e. about €187 gross more per month |
| 20-point boost (optional) | Scale + 20 points, i.e. about €373 gross more per month |
In practice, an apprentice aged 18-20 in their first year earns at least 43% of the SMIC, i.e. €802.82 gross; if their public employer applies the 20-point boost, their pay climbs to 63% of the SMIC, i.e. €1,176.22 gross. To estimate your future salary precisely, use our pay calculator.
When a public employer applies the 20-point boost, the gap with the legal minimum reaches about €373 gross per month: ask about it at the interview.
How do you apply for a public sector apprenticeship?
Good news: no competitive exam is required to become an apprentice. Recruitment is by application, just like in the private sector. Here's where to look:
- The choisirleservicepublic.gouv.fr portal (formerly Place de l'emploi public), which centralises offers from all three branches.
- Employers' own websites: the "recruitment" sections of town halls, departments, regions, ministries, hospitals and ARS.
- Job aggregators: browse the work-study offers and filter by sector or location.
On timing, the logic is the same everywhere: the May-July period is the richest in offers for a September start, and you can sign up to three months after your training begins. Plan ahead, because local authorities often schedule their recruitment several months in advance.
Apprenticeship or professionalisation contract in the public sector?
In the public sector, the apprenticeship contract dominates: the professionalisation contract is rarely used there. If you're still hesitating between the two, our comparison of apprenticeship vs professionalisation sets things out. And to understand every component of your payslip, read understanding your work-study pay.
One last point to remember: the hiring grant paid to employers who recruit an apprentice does not apply to public employers (other than industrial and commercial establishments), as provided by Article L. 6227-12 of the Labour Code. This changes nothing for you, the apprentice — your pay and the funding of your training are guaranteed — but it's useful to know if a public recruiter brings it up. Don't forget the financial aids (housing, mobility, equipment) that top up your salary, whoever your employer is.
The public sector combines useful missions, varied jobs and sometimes advantageous pay: a path well worth exploring seriously for your 2026 apprenticeship.