Childminder (assistante maternelle) salary in France
In France, a registered childminder is called an assistante maternelle (often shortened to assmat). She looks after your child in her own home and you, the parent, are her employer. Her pay follows the national collective agreement for private employers (IDCC 3239) and is "mensualisée": spread evenly over the year so that you pay the same amount every month.
Minimum hourly rate
The minimum gross rate is €4.20 per hour and per child, in force since 1 June 2026. It is a floor: the rate is freely negotiated above it. It is not the general French minimum wage (SMIC): childminders have their own minimum, set per hour of care and per child.
Monthly salary: full year or partial year
- Full year (année complète): your child is cared for all year round (at least 47 weeks plus the childminder's 5 weeks of paid leave). Monthly salary = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 ÷ 12, paid leave included.
- Partial year (année incomplète): fewer than 47 weeks, for example when you keep your child during school holidays. Monthly salary = hourly rate × hours per week × weeks of care ÷ 12; paid leave is paid on top.
- Hours beyond 45 in a week are paid at an increased rate agreed in writing, at least 10 % more.
Example calculated by the GardeZen payroll engine: 40 hours a week all year round at the minimum rate gives 173.33 hours a month, €728.00 gross and €568.71 net per month.
On top of the salary: maintenance and meal allowances
The indemnité d'entretien (maintenance allowance) covers the costs of caring for your child in the childminder's home: heating, electricity, toys and supplies. It is due for each day your child is actually present: at least €3.92 for a 9-hour day, pro rata for shorter or longer days, and never less than €2.65.
Meals are either provided by you or paid through a meal allowance set in the contract. Allowances are not salary: no social contributions are due on them.
Declaring and paying
Every month you declare the hours, days of activity, net salary and allowances on Pajemploi, the Urssaf service for parent employers. Pajemploi calculates the social contributions, triggers the CMG childcare benefit and issues the payslip (bulletin de salaire).
Frequently asked questions
Is a childminder paid the French minimum wage (SMIC)?
No. Her floor is the specific childminder minimum of €4.20 gross per hour and per child, not the general SMIC.
Does the salary change when my child is absent?
As a rule, no: the monthly salary is due even if you keep your child at home for personal reasons. Only some absences defined by the collective agreement, such as a justified illness of the child within strict limits, are deducted.
How many hours a week can a childminder work?
The employer cannot require more than 48 hours a week, calculated as an average over a period of 4 months.