An AD grade is a salary and seniority band in the Administrator function group of the EU civil service. AD grades run from AD 5, the entry level for university graduates, up to AD 16, reserved for Director-General level appointments.
Administrators handle policy development, drafting of legislation, economic and legal analysis, programme management, audit, communication and senior management. The minimum diploma requirement is a recognised university degree of at least three years; specialist competitions may require an additional professional qualification or several years of relevant experience. AD 5 corresponds to a generalist concours for recent graduates, AD 6 and AD 7 typically require a few years of relevant experience, and AD 8 and above are filled either by promotion from lower grades or by specialist competitions for experienced professionals. Each grade contains five steps (a step is roughly a two-year automatic salary increment). Basic monthly salaries in 2026 range from around EUR 5,600 at AD 5 step 1 to over EUR 22,000 at AD 16 step 5, before the expatriation allowance, household allowance and country correction coefficient are applied. Promotion between AD grades is merit-based: the appointing authority compares reports across the institution and promotes a set quota each year.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between AD 5 and AD 7 jobs?
- AD 5 is entry level: candidates need a 3-year university degree but no professional experience. AD 7 is mid-level: candidates typically need 6 years of relevant experience after the degree, and the work expected is more autonomous, often involving file ownership or junior team leadership.
- Can I become an AD official without an EPSO competition?
- Permanent AD posts (officials) require a successful EPSO competition. You can, however, work as a temporary agent on an AD-grade contract via a direct selection by an institution or agency, then later sit a competition to convert to permanent status if you wish.