As an international organisation, established according to the Convention and Protocol on Privileges and Immunities, EUMETSAT is independent of the national system of taxation, employment and social legislation of its Member States.

EUMETSAT´s contractual relationship with Employees is conducted within the framework of international civil service law which provides similar legal safeguards to those found in national legislative systems of Member States.

EUMETSAT Council has decided to follow the remuneration system of the Coordinated Organisations. This is an established forum for discussing and reviewing the remuneration, allowances and pension arrangements for international civil servants of the following international organisations based in Europe: the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Council of Europe, the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the Western European Union (WEU), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

This remuneration system provides:

• levels of remuneration which enable the organisation to recruit and retain Staff from all Member States;
• a methodology and procedure for regular review and adjustment of salaries which ensures stability and predictability;
• clear rules on salary adjustment.

Staff posts are graded on the basis of the duties and responsibilities of each post, as well as the minimum level of formal qualifications normally required to carry out the duties. Administrative support posts are graded from B2 (lowest) to B6 (highest). Management and Technical/Professional posts are graded from A2 (lowest) to A6 (highest). In most cases the assigned grade covers two bands e.g. B2/B3. The grade and basic salary of each post is published on the vacancy notice on the EUMETSAT Internet Page.
Salary scales are reviewed annually on 1 January by the Coordinated Organisations and, subject to approval of the EUMETSAT Council in June each year, applied retroactively to 1 January. Salaries are progressive and increments are paid annually or biannually on the anniversary date of joining EUMETSAT until the end of scale is achieved.

Duration of Contracts

All Staff members are normally appointed for an initial period of four years, subject to a satisfactory probationary period of six months. The appointment may be extended subject to programme requirements and individual performance. Follow-on contracts are up to a maximum of 5 years duration and are also renewable. There is no limit to the amount of contract renewals a staff member can receive up to the age of 63 (EUMETSAT retirement age). A very high percentage of initial contracts are renewed for the maximum of five years and subsequently, and it is certainly possible to establish a long career perspective at EUMETSAT should you desire that and your performance and skills merit it - as the following statistics demonstrate:

Tax Regime

EUMETSAT remuneration is paid after deduction of internal tax and is exempt from national income tax. The EUMETSAT Staff Rules and salary scales are also available in the Basic Documents page of this site.