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bien rémunéré

B1 adjective 12 min read

bien rémunéré

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips bien rémunéré in 30 Seconds

Explanation bien rémunéré in your Level:

At the A1 level, you might not use 'bien rémunéré' yet, as it is a formal term. Instead, you learn 'un bon travail' (a good job) or 'gagner beaucoup d'argent' (to earn a lot of money). You are just beginning to talk about jobs and money. You might say 'Mon père a un bon travail' or 'C'est un travail pour l'argent'. The focus is on simple nouns and verbs. However, knowing that 'bien' means 'well' is a great start. You can think of 'bien rémunéré' as a more 'grown-up' way of saying a job is good because it pays well. It is important to realize that in French, we often use an adverb like 'bien' before an adjective to add emphasis. Even at A1, you can start to recognize the word 'rémunéré' on job posters or in the news, even if you don't use it in your own speech. It helps to associate 'rémunéré' with 'argent' (money).

At the A2 level, you are starting to describe your professional life and your desires for the future. You know the word 'payé' (paid) and can say 'Je suis bien payé'. 'Bien rémunéré' is the formal version of this. You should start to recognize it in simple texts about work. You can use it to describe a job you want: 'Je cherche un travail bien rémunéré'. You also learn about adjective agreement, so you know that if you talk about 'une place' (a position), you say 'bien rémunérée'. You are beginning to understand that French has different ways of saying the same thing depending on who you are talking to. Using 'bien rémunéré' instead of 'bien payé' in a mock interview at this level would show great progress. You might also encounter the opposite, 'mal rémunéré' (badly paid), when talking about difficult jobs.

At the B1 level, you are expected to handle more professional situations and give your opinion on social issues. 'Bien rémunéré' is a core vocabulary item for this level. You should use it when discussing careers, the economy, or your own professional ambitions. You understand that it refers to the whole compensation package, not just the monthly check. You can form complex sentences like 'Bien que ce poste soit bien rémunéré, je préfère garder mon temps libre'. You also start to use the comparative 'mieux rémunéré' (better paid) to compare different career paths. You are aware of the formal register and use this term in written applications or professional emails. You can also discuss the 'rémunération' (remuneration) of different sectors in France, such as 'le secteur bancaire' or 'le secteur public'. Agreement of the past participle is something you are practicing, so you are careful to write 'des missions bien rémunérées'.

At the B2 level, you have a solid grasp of register and nuance. You use 'bien rémunéré' fluently in debates about social justice, labor laws, and corporate ethics. You can distinguish between 'rémunéré', 'salarié', and 'gratifié'. You might discuss 'la rémunération à la performance' or 'les postes hautement rémunérés'. You are comfortable using the term in a variety of grammatical structures, including the passive voice: 'Ces efforts doivent être mieux rémunérés'. You understand the cultural context in France where talking about being 'bien rémunéré' is a way to signal social status without being too direct. You can read complex articles in 'Le Monde' or 'Le Figaro' about salary trends and understand the implications of 'rémunération variable' versus 'rémunération fixe'. Your spelling is accurate, including the accents, and you never confuse it with 'rembourser'.

At the C1 level, 'bien rémunéré' is part of your sophisticated vocabulary. You use it to discuss subtle economic concepts like 'le travail non rémunéré' (shadow work/unpaid labor) or 'l'équité salariale'. You can use it in a rhetorical way to critique society: 'Dans une société où seul le travail bien rémunéré est valorisé, qu'advient-il des artistes ?'. You are familiar with synonyms like 'lucratif', 'substantiel', or 'avantageux' and choose the one that fits the exact nuance you need. You can write formal reports or legal summaries where 'la structure de rémunération' is a key topic. You understand the historical and Latin roots of the word, which helps you understand related terms in other Romance languages. You can follow fast-paced professional discussions or podcasts where experts talk about 'les métiers les mieux rémunérés du futur' without any difficulty.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of the term and its connotations. You can use 'bien rémunéré' with irony, precision, or technical expertise. You might engage in high-level academic research or professional negotiation where the distinction between 'rémunération' and other forms of 'revenus' is critical. You understand the legal intricacies of what constitutes a 'travail rémunéré' in French law versus 'le bénévolat'. You can appreciate literary uses of the term where it might be used to describe someone's 'worth' in a cynical society. You are also aware of very rare or archaic related terms. Your use of the word is perfectly integrated into a wide range of complex sentence structures, and you can switch between registers (e.g., from 'bien rémunéré' in a meeting to 'un bon salaire' at the bar) effortlessly. You can advise others on the subtle differences between 'une profession bien rémunérée' and 'une affaire rentable'.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

bien rémunéré in 30 Seconds

A formal adjective meaning 'well-paid', used primarily in professional and administrative contexts to describe high-earning positions or tasks.
Requires gender and number agreement with the noun it modifies (e.g., 'poste bien rémunéré' vs 'carrière bien rémunérée').
Derived from the verb 'rémunérer', it sounds more sophisticated than the common everyday phrase 'bien payé'.
Commonly found in job advertisements, legal contracts, and economic news to discuss compensation packages and salary trends.

The French expression bien rémunéré is a sophisticated and professional way to describe a job, position, or task that offers a high or satisfactory salary. While the more common phrase bien payé is used in everyday conversation, bien rémunéré belongs to the administrative, corporate, and formal registers of the French language. It is derived from the verb rémunérer, which encompasses not just the base salary but often the entire compensation package, including bonuses and benefits. In the French labor market, using this term signals a level of professional maturity and awareness of corporate terminology. It is frequently found in job advertisements, legal contracts, and economic reports. Understanding this term is crucial for anyone navigating the French professional world, as it appears in discussions regarding labor laws, salary negotiations, and career development. Unlike 'payé', which can sometimes sound a bit blunt or informal when discussing high-level positions, 'rémunéré' carries a connotation of value and respect for the work performed. It suggests a fair and generous exchange between the employer's capital and the employee's expertise.

Etymological Root: Coming from the Latin 'remunerari', meaning to give a gift or reward in return for service, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of the payment.

Il a enfin trouvé un poste de cadre qui est extrêmement bien rémunéré dans le secteur de la finance.

In French culture, discussing money can be sensitive; using 'bien rémunéré' allows for a discussion about wealth or income without sounding overly materialistic or 'gros' (crass). It focuses on the professional recognition of skills rather than just the cash value. This distinction is vital for B1 learners moving into B2 and C1 levels, where register shifts become more important. Furthermore, the term is often used in the context of 'stage' (internship) versus 'emploi' (employment). While many internships are 'gratifiés' (given a small stipend), a 'bien rémunéré' position implies a full, competitive salary.

Les professions libérales sont souvent perçues comme étant très bien rémunérées.

Professional Context: Used primarily in HR documentation and career coaching to describe upper-tier income brackets.

Historically, the term has evolved from simple 'payment' to a comprehensive term for 'compensation' in the modern era of complex benefits packages. It is also used in legal contexts to differentiate between volunteer work (non rémunéré) and professional work (rémunéré). This distinction is critical in French labor law, where any activity that is 'rémunérée' implies the existence of a labor contract and specific social protections.

Ce travail est bien rémunéré, mais il demande beaucoup de sacrifices personnels.

Register: Formal to highly formal. Common in written French and professional speech.

Elle cherche une mission bien rémunérée pour financer ses études.

Les experts en cybersécurité sont généralement très bien rémunérés.

Using bien rémunéré requires attention to grammatical agreement and placement within the sentence. As a compound adjective phrase consisting of an adverb (bien) and a past participle used as an adjective (rémunéré), it follows the standard rules of French adjective agreement. If you are describing a masculine singular noun like un poste or un emploi, it remains bien rémunéré. For a feminine singular noun like une profession or une carrière, you must add an 'e' to make it bien rémunérée. In the plural, add an 's' for masculine (bien rémunérés) or 'es' for feminine (bien rémunérées).

Agreement Rule: The participle 'rémunéré' must match the gender and number of the noun it modifies, while 'bien' remains invariable as it is an adverb.

Les avocats d'affaires ont des carrières très bien rémunérées.

It is almost always placed after the noun it modifies. For example, you would say 'un travail bien rémunéré' rather than 'un bien rémunéré travail'. This follows the general French rule for longer adjectives and those that provide specific objective qualities. You can also use it with the verb être (to be) to form a passive-style description: 'Ce métier est bien rémunéré'. In this case, 'bien rémunéré' acts as a subject complement.

Est-ce que ton nouveau poste est bien rémunéré ?

Comparative and Superlative: To compare, use 'mieux rémunéré' (better paid) or 'le mieux rémunéré' (the best paid). Avoid saying 'plus bien rémunéré'.

In professional writing, such as a cover letter, you might express interest in a 'poste à responsabilités bien rémunéré'. This shows that you value your skills and expect a corresponding level of compensation. It is also common in discussions about social inequality, where one might contrast 'les emplois précaires' with 'les emplois bien rémunérés'.

Malgré ses diplômes, il n'arrive pas à trouver un emploi bien rémunéré.

Les stages dans cette entreprise sont bien rémunérés, ce qui est rare.

Negation: To express the opposite, you can say 'mal rémunéré' or 'faiblement rémunéré'.

Certaines professions essentielles sont malheureusement très mal rémunérées.

You will encounter bien rémunéré in several specific contexts in French-speaking countries. First and foremost is the world of HR (Ressources Humaines) and recruitment. When browsing job boards like LinkedIn (France), APEC, or Pôle Emploi, descriptions of high-level positions often highlight a 'système de rémunération attractif' or specify that the 'poste est bien rémunéré'. This is a polite way of saying 'the salary is high' without being overly specific before the negotiation phase. Secondly, in news broadcasts and financial journalism (like on BFM Business or in Les Échos), commentators use this term to discuss labor trends, the gender pay gap, or the emergence of new, lucrative industries like AI or green energy. You might hear: 'Le secteur de la tech reste l'un des plus bien rémunérés en France'.

Media Usage: Common in economic podcasts and TV segments discussing 'le pouvoir d'achat' (purchasing power).

Selon cette étude, les métiers du numérique sont les plus bien rémunérés pour les jeunes diplômés.

In academic and legal settings, the term is used to define the nature of work. For instance, in a university lecture on sociology, a professor might discuss 'le travail non rémunéré des femmes au foyer' (unpaid domestic work) in contrast to 'le travail salarié bien rémunéré'. In legal documents, such as a 'contrat de prestation de services', the term ensures that the service provider will be compensated. You will also hear it in political debates, especially during discussions about 'le SMIC' (minimum wage) and whether certain 'pénible' (arduous) jobs are 'suffisamment rémunérés'.

Il est anormal que ces responsabilités ne soient pas plus bien rémunérées.

Social Context: Used in dinner party conversations among professionals when discussing career changes or 'chasseurs de têtes' (headhunters).

Finally, in literature and cinema, particularly in 'films de société' (social dramas), characters might struggle between taking a 'job alimentaire' (a job just for food/money) that is 'bien rémunéré' and pursuing a passion that doesn't pay. This tension is a common trope in French storytelling, reflecting the societal value placed on intellectual fulfillment versus financial stability.

Elle a quitté son poste bien rémunéré pour devenir artiste.

Le gouvernement promet que ces nouveaux contrats seront bien rémunérés.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with bien rémunéré is confusing it with the English word 'remunerated' and spelling it with an 'm' after the 'u' (e.g., 'remunéré' instead of 'rémunéré'). In French, the first vowel is an 'é' (e-acute), and the spelling is strictly r-é-m-u-n-é-r-é. Another common error is a lack of gender and number agreement. Because 'bien' is an adverb, it never changes, but 'rémunéré' is a participle acting as an adjective and must reflect the noun it describes.

Spelling Trap: Mistake: 'remunéré' (missing first accent). Correct: 'rémunéré'.

Faux: Une profession bien rémunéré. Correct: Une profession bien rémunérée.

Another mistake is using 'bien payé' in a high-level professional context where 'bien rémunéré' would be more appropriate. While not grammatically 'wrong', it can make the speaker sound less sophisticated. Conversely, using 'bien rémunéré' when talking about a teenager's babysitting job might sound overly formal or even sarcastic. Register matching is key. There is also a confusion between 'rémunérer' and 'rembourser' (to reimburse). 'Rémunérer' is for work or services, while 'rembourser' is for paying back money that was borrowed or spent on someone's behalf.

Vocabulary Confusion: Rémunérer = To pay for work. Rembourser = To pay back expenses.

Learners often forget that 'rémunéré' implies a legal or formal transaction. You wouldn't usually use it for illegal or 'under the table' work (travail au noir); for that, 'payé' is the standard. Finally, be careful with the preposition. We say 'rémunéré pour un travail' (paid for a job) or 'rémunéré par une entreprise' (paid by a company). Using the wrong preposition is a common B1-level slip.

Faux: Il est bien rémunéré de son travail. Correct: Il est bien rémunéré pour son travail.

Attention: Ne confondez pas 'rémunéré' avec 'renommé' (famous).

Il est mieux rémunéré que son prédécesseur.

To enrich your French vocabulary, it is helpful to know synonyms and related terms for bien rémunéré, each carrying a slightly different nuance. The most common alternative is bien payé, which is neutral and used in daily life. If you want to emphasize that a job is very profitable or lucrative, you can use lucratif. This is often used for businesses or investments as well as professions. Another professional term is avantageux, which suggests that the position has many 'avantages' (perks) beyond just the salary.

Comparison: Rémunéré vs. Payé: 'Rémunéré' is formal and technical, often used in contracts. 'Payé' is general and conversational.

C'est une activité très lucrative pour ceux qui n'ont pas peur de prendre des risques.

For very high salaries, especially in the context of top executives, you might hear the term doré (golden), as in 'une retraite dorée' (a golden retirement/pension) or 'un parachute doré' (a golden parachute). If a job is well-paid relative to the effort required, people might call it planqué (slang for a 'cushy' job), though this is informal and can be pejorative. In a formal context, you could use gratifiant, which usually means 'rewarding' in an emotional or intellectual sense, but can sometimes imply financial reward as well.

Register Levels: Formal: Bien rémunéré. Neutral: Bien payé. Informal: Un bon filon (a good deal/source of money).

Il bénéficie d'un contrat très avantageux avec de nombreux bonus.

Understanding these alternatives allows you to tailor your speech to the situation. If you are talking to a banker, 'bien rémunéré' is perfect. If you are talking to a friend about their weekend gig, 'bien payé' is better. If you are discussing a business strategy, 'lucratif' or 'rentable' are the go-to terms.

Ce secteur est devenu moins rentable à cause de la nouvelle réglementation.

Elle a accepté un poste moins bien rémunéré mais plus proche de chez elle.

Les métiers d'art sont rarement bien rémunérés au début.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'munus' in Latin also gives us 'municipal' and 'munificent'. So, 'rémunérer' is literally about the exchange of duties and gifts within a social structure.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /bjɛ̃ ʁe.my.ne.ʁe/

US /bjɛ̃ ʁe.mju.ne.ʁe/

In French, the stress is generally on the last syllable: ré-mu-né-RÉ.

Rhymes With

honoré adoré préparé déclaré inspiré assuré considéré tempéré

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'bien' like the English 'bean'. It should be nasal.
Mispronouncing the 'u' in 'rémunéré' like 'oo'. It should be the French /y/.
Missing the accents, leading to a flat 'e' sound.
Adding an 'm' sound after the 'u' (English influence).
Failing to pronounce the final 'é' clearly.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'remuneration' in English, but watch for the accents.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct placement of two accents and gender/number agreement.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward but requires good nasal 'en' and uvular 'r'.

Listening 3/5

Clear syllables make it easy to hear in professional speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

bien argent travail payé gagner

Learn Next

rémunération salarié dividendes pouvoir d'achat fiscalité

Advanced

émoluments rétribution honoraires indemnités primes

Grammar to Know

Adjective Agreement

Un poste (m) bien rémunéré / Une mission (f) bien rémunérée.

Adverbial Placement

The adverb 'bien' always precedes the participle 'rémunéré'.

Comparative of Bien

Use 'mieux' instead of 'plus bien'. Example: 'mieux rémunéré'.

Passive Voice with Être

Le travail est bien rémunéré par l'entreprise.

Subjunctive after 'Bien que'

Bien que ce soit bien rémunéré, je refuse.

Examples by Level

C'est un bon travail, bien rémunéré.

It is a good job, well-paid.

Simple adjective use after the noun.

Mon frère est bien rémunéré.

My brother is well-paid.

Subject complement after 'être'.

Elle cherche un job bien rémunéré.

She is looking for a well-paid job.

'Job' is masculine, so 'rémunéré' is masculine.

Est-ce que c'est bien rémunéré ?

Is it well-paid?

Question form using 'est-ce que'.

Le travail est bien rémunéré ici.

The work is well-paid here.

'Le travail' is the subject.

Je veux un emploi bien rémunéré.

I want a well-paid job.

'Emploi' is masculine singular.

Ce n'est pas bien rémunéré.

It is not well-paid.

Negative form 'ne... pas'.

Un poste bien rémunéré est important.

A well-paid position is important.

Adjective modifying 'un poste'.

Elle a trouvé une place bien rémunérée dans une banque.

She found a well-paid position in a bank.

'Place' is feminine, so 'rémunérée' ends in 'e'.

Les ingénieurs sont souvent bien rémunérés.

Engineers are often well-paid.

Plural agreement: 'ingénieurs' (masc. pl.) -> 'rémunérés'.

Je ne pense pas que ce soit bien rémunéré.

I don't think it's well-paid.

Use of subjunctive after 'ne pas penser que'.

C'est une activité bien rémunérée pendant l'été.

It is a well-paid activity during the summer.

'Activité' is feminine singular.

Il veut devenir médecin car c'est bien rémunéré.

He wants to become a doctor because it's well-paid.

'C'est' uses the masculine singular default.

Les stages ne sont pas toujours bien rémunérés.

Internships are not always well-paid.

Plural agreement: 'stages' (masc. pl.).

Cherchez-vous un poste bien rémunéré ?

Are you looking for a well-paid position?

Inversion question form.

Elle préfère les métiers bien rémunérés.

She prefers well-paid professions.

'Métiers' is masculine plural.

Bien que ce travail soit bien rémunéré, il est très stressant.

Although this work is well-paid, it is very stressful.

Concession clause with 'bien que' + subjunctive.

Il est difficile de trouver un emploi à la fois passionnant et bien rémunéré.

It is difficult to find a job that is both exciting and well-paid.

Structure 'il est [adjectif] de [infinitif]'.

Les professions libérales sont généralement bien rémunérées en France.

Liberal professions are generally well-paid in France.

Feminine plural agreement: 'professions' -> 'rémunérées'.

Elle a refusé l'offre car elle n'était pas assez bien rémunérée.

She refused the offer because it wasn't well-paid enough.

Use of 'assez' as an intensifier.

Le secteur de l'informatique propose des postes très bien rémunérés.

The IT sector offers very well-paid positions.

'Postes' (masc. pl.) -> 'rémunérés'.

Il espère être mieux rémunéré après sa promotion.

He hopes to be better paid after his promotion.

Comparative 'mieux rémunéré'.

Certaines missions courtes peuvent être très bien rémunérées.

Some short missions can be very well-paid.

Feminine plural agreement: 'missions' -> 'rémunérées'.

Il est important que tout travail soit correctement rémunéré.

It is important that all work be correctly paid.

Subjunctive mood after 'il est important que'.

La question de savoir si les infirmières sont assez bien rémunérées fait débat.

The question of whether nurses are well-paid enough is a matter of debate.

Complex subject with 'la question de savoir si'.

Le candidat a négocié un package global très bien rémunéré.

The candidate negotiated a very well-paid overall package.

Use of 'package' (corporate loanword).

Les expatriés bénéficient souvent de conditions très bien rémunérées.

Expatriates often benefit from very well-paid conditions.

'Conditions' (fem. pl.) -> 'rémunérées'.

Ce n'est pas parce qu'un métier est bien rémunéré qu'il est gratifiant.

Just because a job is well-paid doesn't mean it's rewarding.

Correlative structure 'ce n'est pas parce que... que...'.

Les cadres supérieurs sont les mieux rémunérés de l'entreprise.

Senior managers are the best paid in the company.

Superlative 'les mieux rémunérés'.

Elle a opté pour une carrière moins bien rémunérée mais plus stable.

She opted for a less well-paid but more stable career.

Comparative 'moins bien rémunérée'.

Le travail de nuit doit être plus lourdement rémunéré selon la loi.

Night work must be more heavily compensated according to the law.

Use of adverb 'lourdement' with 'rémunéré'.

Il s'agit d'une fonction hautement rémunérée impliquant de grandes responsabilités.

It is a highly paid function involving great responsibilities.

'Fonction' (fem. sing.) -> 'rémunérée'.

L'écart entre les professions les plus et les moins bien rémunérées s'accroît.

The gap between the highest and lowest-paid professions is widening.

Ellipsis of 'bien rémunérées' in the first part of the comparison.

Il est impératif que les stages de longue durée soient décemment rémunérés.

It is imperative that long-term internships be decently paid.

Subjunctive passive 'soient rémunérés'.

La structure de ce poste, bien que très bien rémunéré, manque de perspectives d'évolution.

The structure of this position, although very well-paid, lacks growth prospects.

Appositive phrase with 'bien que'.

Les dirigeants de multinationales perçoivent des émoluments extrêmement bien rémunérés.

Multinational executives receive extremely well-paid emoluments.

Use of formal term 'émoluments'.

On assiste à une fuite des cerveaux vers des pays où les chercheurs sont mieux rémunérés.

We are witnessing a brain drain to countries where researchers are better paid.

Relative clause 'où les chercheurs sont...'.

Cette mission de conseil, bien rémunérée, exige une expertise pointue.

This consulting mission, well-paid, requires sharp expertise.

Adjective placement as an aside.

Nul ne peut être contraint d'effectuer un travail qui ne soit pas rémunéré.

No one can be forced to perform work that is not paid.

Formal negation 'Nul ne' and subjunctive 'soit'.

Les dividendes ne doivent pas être confondus avec un travail bien rémunéré.

Dividends should not be confused with well-paid work.

Passive voice 'être confondus'.

L'opacité entourant les postes les mieux rémunérés nuit à la cohésion sociale.

The lack of transparency surrounding the best-paid positions harms social cohesion.

Present participle 'entourant' used as an adjective.

Il convient de s'interroger sur la légitimité de fonctions si grassement rémunérées.

It is worth questioning the legitimacy of such fatly paid functions.

Use of 'grassement' (liberally/fatly) for emphasis.

Sous des dehors de bénévolat, cette activité s'avère en réalité fort bien rémunérée.

Under the guise of volunteering, this activity actually turns out to be very well-paid.

Use of 'fort' as an intensive adverb meaning 'very'.

La corrélation entre un travail bien rémunéré et le bonheur individuel est loin d'être établie.

The correlation between a well-paid job and individual happiness is far from established.

Abstract noun phrase as subject.

À mesure que les compétences se raréfient, les postes deviennent plus substantiellement rémunérés.

As skills become scarcer, positions become more substantially paid.

Conjunction 'à mesure que' + indicative.

Un système où seuls les services marchands sont rémunérés occulte la valeur du don.

A system where only market services are paid for hides the value of giving.

Relative clause defining 'un système'.

Il a délaissé les sphères bien rémunérées de la finance pour l'austérité de la recherche.

He left the well-paid spheres of finance for the austerity of research.

Metaphorical use of 'sphères'.

L'équité exige que toute peine, si minime soit-elle, soit justement rémunérée.

Equity requires that every effort, however minimal, be justly compensated.

Concessive subjunctive 'si minime soit-elle'.

Common Collocations

un poste bien rémunéré

un travail bien rémunéré

une profession bien rémunérée

être bien rémunéré pour

un stage bien rémunéré

hautement rémunéré

mieux rémunéré

faiblement rémunéré

correctement rémunéré

un emploi bien rémunéré

Common Phrases

système de rémunération

— The structure or method by which employees are paid.

Notre entreprise a un système de rémunération basé sur la performance.

rémunération globale

— The total value of salary plus all benefits and bonuses.

La rémunération globale inclut les tickets restaurant et la mutuelle.

à titre rémunéré

— Doing something for payment rather than for free.

Il exerce cette activité à titre rémunéré.

contre rémunération

— In exchange for payment.

Le service est fourni contre rémunération.

niveau de rémunération

— The scale or amount of pay for a specific role.

Le niveau de rémunération dépend de votre expérience.

politique de rémunération

— A company's strategy regarding employee pay.

La politique de rémunération a été revue cette année.

rémunération variable

— The part of the pay that changes (like commissions).

Les commerciaux ont une forte part de rémunération variable.

rémunération fixe

— The base salary that does not change.

Sa rémunération fixe est de 3000 euros par mois.

grille de rémunération

— A salary scale or table used in large organizations.

Consultez la grille de rémunération pour connaître votre échelon.

avis de rémunération

— A document stating how much one will be paid (similar to a payslip).

Veuillez signer votre avis de rémunération.

Often Confused With

bien rémunéré vs rembourser

Rembourser means to pay back money spent; rémunérer means to pay for work.

bien rémunéré vs renommé

Renommé means famous or well-known, not well-paid.

bien rémunéré vs gratifié

Gratifié is specifically used for the small stipends given to interns, whereas rémunéré implies a full salary.

Idioms & Expressions

"un parachute doré"

— A large payment given to an executive when they leave a company.

Le PDG est parti avec un parachute doré de plusieurs millions.

Business/Journalistic

"une retraite dorée"

— A retirement supported by high wealth or a large pension.

Après trente ans de carrière, il profite d'une retraite dorée.

General

"être payé au lance-pierre"

— To be paid very little (the opposite of bien rémunéré).

Dans ce secteur, les débutants sont payés au lance-pierre.

Informal

"travailler pour des prunes"

— To work for nothing or for a very small amount.

Je ne vais pas travailler tout le week-end pour des prunes !

Informal

"mettre du beurre dans les épinards"

— To earn extra money to improve one's lifestyle.

Ce petit job bien rémunéré lui permet de mettre du beurre dans les épinards.

Colloquial

"toucher un pactole"

— To receive a large sum of money suddenly.

Grâce à cette mission bien rémunérée, il a touché un véritable pactole.

Informal

"en avoir pour son argent"

— To get good value for the money spent or work paid for.

L'entreprise en a pour son argent avec cet employé bien rémunéré.

General

"l'argent ne fait pas le bonheur"

— Money doesn't buy happiness (often used when discussing high salaries).

Il est bien rémunéré, mais il est triste; comme on dit, l'argent ne fait pas le bonheur.

General

"ne pas avoir un sou en poche"

— To be broke (opposite of having a bien rémunéré job).

Avant d'avoir ce poste bien rémunéré, il n'avait pas un sou en poche.

Informal

"coûter les yeux de la tête"

— To be extremely expensive (often said of highly paid consultants).

Ce consultant est très bien rémunéré, il nous coûte les yeux de la tête.

Colloquial

Easily Confused

bien rémunéré vs Salaire vs Rémunération

Both refer to money from work.

Salaire is the base pay. Rémunération includes everything: salary, bonuses, benefits, and perks.

Son salaire est de 2000€, mais sa rémunération totale est bien plus élevée.

bien rémunéré vs Payé vs Rémunéré

They are synonyms.

Payé is general and informal. Rémunéré is professional and formal.

Je suis bien payé (friends). Je suis bien rémunéré (HR).

bien rémunéré vs Rentable vs Rémunérateur

Both mean 'making money'.

Rentable is for a business or investment. Rémunérateur is for a job or career.

Un investissement rentable. Un métier rémunérateur.

bien rémunéré vs Indemnité vs Rémunération

Both are payments.

Indemnité is a compensation for a loss or specific expense. Rémunération is for work.

Il reçoit des indemnités de déplacement.

bien rémunéré vs Bénévole vs Non rémunéré

Both mean no pay.

Bénévole is the status of the person (a volunteer). Non rémunéré is the status of the work.

Un travail non rémunéré.

Sentence Patterns

C'est un travail [adjectif].

C'est un travail bien rémunéré.

Je cherche un poste qui soit [adjectif].

Je cherche un poste qui soit bien rémunéré.

Il est [adverbe] bien rémunéré.

Il est très bien rémunéré.

Bien que ce soit [adjectif], [phrase].

Bien que ce soit bien rémunéré, c'est fatiguant.

C'est l'un des métiers les [superlatif] rémunérés.

C'est l'un des métiers les mieux rémunérés.

Une fonction [adverbe] rémunérée.

Une fonction grassement rémunérée.

Le fait d'être [adjectif] ne suffit pas.

Le fait d'être bien rémunéré ne suffit pas à mon bonheur.

Nul ne saurait nier que ce poste est [adjectif].

Nul ne saurait nier que ce poste est bien rémunéré.

Word Family

Nouns

la rémunération (payment/compensation)

le rémunérateur (the person who pays)

Verbs

rémunérer (to pay/compensate)

Adjectives

rémunéré (paid)

rémunérateur (profitable/paying well)

non rémunéré (unpaid)

salaire

paye

traitement

honoraires

dividendes

How to Use It

frequency

Common in professional and economic contexts; rare in casual slang.

Common Mistakes

Un poste bien rémunérée → Un poste bien rémunéré
'Poste' is masculine, so the adjective must be masculine singular.
Il est plus bien rémunéré que moi. → Il est mieux rémunéré que moi.
The comparative of 'bien' is always 'mieux'.
Je veux être remunéré. → Je veux être rémunéré.
Missing the first accent on the 'é'.
Un travail bien payé (in a formal contract). → Un travail bien rémunéré.
'Bien payé' is too informal for a legal or formal document.
Des carrières bien rémunérés. → Des carrières bien rémunérées.
'Carrières' is feminine plural, so the adjective needs 'es'.

Tips

Use in Interviews

When discussing salary in an interview, use the word 'rémunération' to sound like a professional who understands corporate language.

Agreement Check

Always check the noun you are describing. 'Un emploi' (m) vs 'Une carrière' (f). Agreement is key for B1+ levels.

Avoid Plus Bien

Remember that 'mieux' is the comparative of 'bien'. Never say 'plus bien rémunéré'.

The First Accent

Pay close attention to the accent on the first 'é' in 'rémunéré'. It's often missed by English speakers.

Social Decorum

Use 'bien rémunéré' to indicate someone is wealthy without being 'gros' (crass) by mentioning specific numbers.

Nasal 'Bien'

Ensure your 'bien' is perfectly nasal. If it sounds like 'bean', the phrase loses its French character.

Business News

Read the 'Economie' section of French newspapers to see this word used in its natural habitat.

Lucratif for Business

Use 'lucratif' for a business venture and 'bien rémunéré' for a job position.

Mal Rémunéré

Use 'mal rémunéré' to talk about social issues like the low pay of essential workers.

The 'Money' Link

Link 'rémunéré' to 'money' in your head to remember it refers to pay.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Remuneration' in English, but add the French 'Bien' (Good). Remember: BIEN = GOOD, RÉMUNÉRÉ = RE-MONEY-RATED. A 'good money rating' for your job!

Visual Association

Imagine a professional in a sharp suit holding a gold-plated paycheck. The word 'BIEN' is written in neon lights above them.

Word Web

Argent Travail Salaire Banque Contrat Succès Carrière Richesse

Challenge

Try to use 'bien rémunéré' in a sentence about your dream job. Then, try to use the feminine plural version 'bien rémunérées' to describe 'des vacances' (if they were paid) or 'des activités'.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'remuneratus', the past participle of 'remunerari'. It is composed of the prefix 're-' (back/again) and 'munus, muneris' (gift, office, or duty).

Original meaning: To give a gift in return for a service or to reward someone.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this around colleagues; it can sound like you are bragging if used about yourself, or prying if used about others.

In the US or UK, 'well-paid' is the standard. 'Remunerated' is very formal and rarely used in speech, whereas 'bien rémunéré' is more common in professional French speech.

The movie 'Le Capital' by Costa-Gavras discusses highly paid executives. The phrase appears frequently in the business section of 'Le Monde'. Economic essays by Thomas Piketty often analyze 'les revenus les mieux rémunérés'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Job Interviews

Quelle est la rémunération prévue ?
Je recherche un poste bien rémunéré.
Le package est-il bien rémunéré ?
Mes compétences méritent d'être bien rémunérées.

Economic News

Les secteurs les mieux rémunérés.
Une hausse de la rémunération.
Les stagiaires sont désormais mieux rémunérés.
L'écart de rémunération hommes-femmes.

Contracts

Le travail sera rémunéré à hauteur de...
Toute heure supplémentaire sera rémunérée.
Activité non rémunérée.
Modalités de rémunération.

Career Planning

Choisir une voie bien rémunérée.
Viser des postes mieux rémunérés.
Sacrifier le salaire pour la passion.
Négocier une meilleure rémunération.

Social Discussions

Il est très bien rémunéré.
C'est une place bien rémunérée.
Est-ce que c'est bien rémunéré ?
Pas assez bien rémunéré pour le stress.

Conversation Starters

"Penses-tu qu'il soit plus important d'avoir un travail passionnant ou un travail bien rémunéré ?"

"Quels sont, selon toi, les métiers les mieux rémunérés dans ton pays actuellement ?"

"Est-ce que tu accepterais un poste moins bien rémunéré si cela signifiait travailler moins d'heures ?"

"Trouves-tu que les enseignants sont suffisamment bien rémunérés pour leur travail ?"

"Si tu gagnais un poste extrêmement bien rémunéré demain, quelle serait la première chose que tu achèterais ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez votre emploi idéal. Est-il bien rémunéré ? Pourquoi la rémunération est-elle importante pour vous ?

Réfléchissez à une époque où vous avez fait un travail non rémunéré. Qu'avez-vous appris de cette expérience ?

Comparez deux carrières différentes : l'une bien rémunérée et l'autre gratifiante sur le plan social. Laquelle choisiriez-vous ?

Pensez-vous que la société accorde trop d'importance aux métiers bien rémunérés ? Développez votre opinion.

Écrivez une lettre imaginaire pour négocier une meilleure rémunération pour votre poste actuel.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It's not 'better', but it is more formal. In a business meeting or on a CV, 'bien rémunéré' or 'rémunération attractive' sounds much more professional than 'bien payé'.

Generally, yes. It implies that the compensation is generous or at least very fair for the level of work required. It's relative to the industry standards.

The feminine plural is 'bien rémunérées'. You add an 'e' for feminine and an 's' for plural. The 'bien' stays the same.

No, that is a common mistake. You should say 'mieux rémunéré' for 'better paid'.

Yes, a freelancer can have a 'mission bien rémunérée'. It's very common in the consulting world.

The most direct opposites are 'mal rémunéré' (badly paid) or 'faiblement rémunéré' (low-paid).

Yes, in French, the final 'é' (accent aigu) is always pronounced as a closed 'e' sound, similar to the 'a' in 'date' but without the 'y' sound at the end.

Yes, although legally interns in France receive a 'gratification', if the amount is high, people will say it's a 'stage bien rémunéré'.

It is 'rémunéré' with an accent on the first 'e'. Many learners forget this first accent.

It comes from the Latin 'remunerari', which means to reward or give back in exchange for a service.