Nurse Salaries in Ireland: NHS vs HSE Compared

Ireland continues to face a significant shortage of registered nurses, making it one of the easiest European destinations for internationally trained nurses to secure employment and residency.

HSE Pay Scales 2025

The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates standardised pay scales. A staff nurse (Grade IV) starts at €35,419 and progresses to €49,329 at the top of the scale, usually reached after 11 years. Clinical Nurse Managers earn €52,000–€68,000.

Allowances

In addition to base pay, nurses receive Sunday Premium (double time), public holiday allowance, night duty premium (€1.50–€2.50/hour), and on-call allowance. These can add €5,000–€12,000 to annual earnings depending on shift patterns.

Compared to UK NHS

UK NHS Band 5 nurses start at £28,407 (≈€33,500) and reach £34,581 after progression. While headline Irish rates are similar, the Irish allowances system can result in higher total earnings for shift workers, especially those working nights and weekends.

Relocation Support

Most Irish hospitals offer relocation packages covering flights, one month's accommodation, NMBI registration support (around €200), and a welcome bonus of €1,000–€3,000 for qualifying candidates.