How much does an interim manager earn?
The average pay of interim managers working with firms is around €120,000. Assignments paying €200,000 or more account for only 2 to 6% of assignments, depending on the year. Contrary to popular belief, you rarely earn more in interim management than on a permanent contract, explains Luc Marot, President of ADN Transition and an interim management professional since 2005.
In short
– Average pay: around €120,000, for assignments that most often last 6 to 7 months.
– Assignments at €200,000 or more are rare: 2 to 6% of assignments depending on the year.
– What you mainly gain by becoming an interim manager is freedom and a meaningful profession.
Key figures on pay in interim management
Here are the orders of magnitude given by Luc Marot, based on the activity of interim management firms in France.
| Indicator | Order of magnitude | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Average pay | Around €120,000 | Managers working with firms |
| Assignments at €200,000 or more | 2 to 6% of assignments | Varies from year to year |
| Length of an assignment | Most often 6 to 7 months | Some last more than a year |
| Number of assignments in France | About 4,000 | Assignments placed by interim management firms |
Do you earn more in interim management than on a permanent contract?
Rarely. It is one of the most widespread myths about the profession. Many senior executives, particularly executive committee members, earned more than €200,000 on a permanent contract. Yet assignments reaching this level are a small minority.
There are exceptions. Some expert profiles, such as chief accountants, were not the best negotiators on their permanent contracts. In interim management, their real expertise is better valued, and they can earn more.
Luc Marot, President of ADN Transition, sums it up:
“Earning more money is extremely rarely the case. It happens, but it is rare.”
Why do people think they will earn more in interim management?
Two lines of reasoning often come up among executives discovering the profession:
1. Gaps between assignments. Between two assignments, there are periods without work. People conclude that they need to earn more during assignments to maintain their annual income.
2. The end-of-contract allowance. On a fixed-term contract in France, a 10% end-of-contract allowance is added to pay. People conclude that a temporary assignment must necessarily pay better.
This reasoning is understandable, but it does not match the market reality described by Luc Marot.
So what do you really gain by becoming an interim manager?
Freedom: choosing your assignments, alternating periods of work and time for yourself. And a meaningful profession: transforming organisations, moving projects forward and leaving a lasting structure behind you.
Luc Marot concludes with a turn of phrase:
“You will not be better paid in interim management, but you will be better off in interim management. You have great freedom there, in a profession that has meaning.”
Becoming an interim manager with ADN Transition
ADN Transition draws on a pool of more than 5,000 interim managers. The firm’s partners, all former senior executives, constantly qualify the managers and choose for each assignment the one who has already led a project of the same kind.
If you are considering this path, discover our dedicated managers’ area.
Read also: Permanent contract or interim management: what changes?
Who is Luc Marot?
Luc Marot is President of ADN Transition. He has worked in interim management since 2005. He began his career as an auditor at Arthur Andersen, then served as CFO at McDonald’s, NRJ and Lagardère. Since September 2026, he has been a board member of France Transition.
ADN Transition in a few facts
– Interim management firm founded in 2013.
– A pool of more than 5,000 interim managers.
– 6 partners and 7 senior advisors, who qualify the managers themselves.
– Offices in Boulogne-Billancourt and Lyon.
– Values: high standards, availability and sincerity.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an interim manager earn on average?
According to Luc Marot, the average pay of interim managers working with firms is around €120,000.
Does an interim manager earn more than an executive on a permanent contract?
Rarely. It is a myth. Only certain expert profiles, who had poorly negotiated their salary on a permanent contract, earn more on assignment.
How many assignments exceed €200,000?
Between 2 and 6% of assignments depending on the year, out of about 4,000 assignments placed by firms in France.
How long does an interim management assignment last?
Most often 6 to 7 months, although some assignments last more than a year.
Are you considering becoming an interim manager?
ADN Transition’s partners, all former senior executives, talk with managers who wish to join the firm’s pool.
Thelma Fratacci joins ADN Transition as a work-study student
Bernard Puraye joins ADN Transition as Partner
How do you choose an umbrella company as an interim manager?
