however years service is needed to reach the highest pay steps in france as opposed to an average of years for the oecd countries the average salary in france is still significantly below average for the oecd countries in respect of preprimary and primary education by respectively and however the average actual pay is virtually equal to the oecd average for french teachers employed in lower or upper secondary education where average pay is below the oecd average at and respectively it should be noted however that actual pay for france includes that of college and lyc e teachers holding the countrys highest teaching degree i agregation at the end of their careers with the highest salaries whereas for these levels of education statutory salaries include only the amounts corresponding to certified teachers with years service see table d