Nurse salaries abroad compared: UK, Germany, USA, Ireland, Australia, Gulf (2026)

Quick answer: In 2026 a newly registered international nurse starts on about £32,000 a year in England, about €42,000 in German public hospitals, about €38,000 in Ireland, about A$81,700 in NSW, Australia, and much more in the USA, where the median is $97,550. After tax, the gap is smaller than it looks, and rent decides how much you actually save. All figures below come from official pay scales and have a date.

Starting pay for nurses by country (gross, 2026)

Notes on each figure

• UK: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own NHS pay scales. Many employers pay international nurses a lower band until they pass the OSCE and join the NMC register.
• Germany: P7 is a common group for recognised nurses in public hospitals. Before recognition, you often work as an assistant on lower pay. Private hospitals, church employers and care homes use other agreements, and some pay less.
• USA: BLS gives national figures for all RNs, not new arrivals. Pay varies a lot by state and city. Hospitals paid a median of $100,220 and nursing and residential care facilities $84,300 (May 2025).
• Ireland: your starting point can depend on recognised experience. Check this with the employer before you accept.
• Australia: NSW public hospitals can count your previous experience, which may start you above year 1. Other states have their own awards.
• Gulf: we could not find an official public pay scale that applies to foreign nurses in private hospitals, so we do not quote a range. Treat any figure in an advert as a claim until it is in your contract.

Estimated take-home pay for a single nurse

We use the starting figures above, one job, no children, no other income and no student loan. Tax rules are those in force for 2026 or the 2026/27 tax year. "Per month" means the yearly figure divided by 12.

Our assumptions

• UK: 2026/27 personal allowance £12,570, basic rate 20%, employee National Insurance 8% (GOV.UK). NHS pension is 8.3% for pay of £28,855 to £35,155, and NHS Employers says these thresholds did not change for 2026/27 (NHS Employers). Pension is taken before tax.
• Germany: tax class I, no children, no church tax. Employee social insurance is roughly 21–22% of gross, including the extra care insurance charge for people with no children. Your health insurer's extra rate changes the result slightly. This is a rough estimate, not a payslip.
• USA: single filer, 2026 standard deduction and federal brackets (IRS), in a state with no state income tax, such as Texas or Florida. It does not include health insurance premiums or retirement savings, which can be several hundred dollars a month. States with income tax will leave you less.
• Ireland: 2026 single person's standard rate band €44,000, personal and employee tax credits €4,000 in total, USC and PRSI at 2026 rates (Revenue). HSE staff also pay public service pension contributions, which we have not included.
• Australia: Australian tax resident, 2026–27 resident rates, with the 15% rate from A$18,201 to A$45,000 and 30% to A$135,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy (ATO). Employer superannuation is paid on top and is not counted here.

Cost of living: rent is the big one

Gross pay tells you little on its own. Rent usually takes the largest share of a new nurse's pay. Here are official average rents. They are averages for whole homes of all sizes, so a room in a shared house costs much less, and a city centre flat costs more.

Germany: rents differ hugely by city. Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg are expensive, while many towns in eastern and rural Germany are far cheaper. Ask your employer whether it offers staff housing for the first months, and check the local rent index (Mietspiegel) for the city. USA: rent and pay both vary by city, and you must also budget for health insurance and a car in many areas. Gulf: housing or a housing allowance is often part of the package, which is why savings can be high.

How much can you realistically save?

Here is an illustrative example, not a real person. Priya is a single Band 5 nurse in a city in the north of England, taking home about £2,040 a month:

• Room in a shared house, with bills: say £700
• Food, phone, transport: say £450
• Other spending and small costs: say £250
• Left to save or send home: about £640 a month

The same nurse renting a one-bedroom flat alone in London would likely save very little, even with the London supplement. Your own numbers depend on rent, family, and whether you repay relocation costs. If your contract has a repayment clause, add the monthly instalment to your budget.

Things that change the picture

• Family: a partner who also works can double household income. Children add childcare and school costs, which are high in the UK and Ireland.
• Money sent home: exchange rates move. Plan in the local currency.
• First months: deposits, furniture, winter clothes and transport passes come all at once. Arrive with some savings even if your employer pays your flight.
• Pay rises: UK Band 5 rises after 2 and then 4 years. TVöD-P moves you up steps with experience. NSW pays more each year up to year 8.

Overtime, nights and weekends

Extra pay for unsocial hours can add a lot, especially in your first years.

Pay before you are fully registered

Many international nurses earn less for their first months, while they finish the last exam or recognition step. Plan your budget for this.

• UK: until you pass the OSCE and join the NMC register, many employers pay you at a lower band. Ask for the exact pre-registration rate and how quickly it changes once you get your PIN.
• Germany: before recognition, you usually work as a nursing assistant on a lower pay group. Ask the employer what you will earn before and after recognition, and how long they expect recognition to take.
• Ireland: the HSE scale has a separate rate of €33,370 for staff nurses "awaiting registration" and for adaptation placements (from 1 June 2026).
• USA: you normally start work only after you have your licence and green card, so there is no lower "waiting" rate. But you may wait years before you can start.

Six questions to ask about any job offer

1. What is my exact band, pay group or step, and the gross pay in writing?
2. What will I earn before I am registered or recognised, and for how long?
3. How many hours a week is full time, and how are nights, weekends and overtime paid?
4. Do you help with housing, flights, visa fees or exam fees, and what must I repay if I leave early?
5. Does my previous experience count towards a higher starting point?
6. When are the yearly or step pay increases?

Common mistakes when comparing nurse pay

• Converting gross pay into rupees and stopping there. Compare take-home pay minus rent instead.
• Using pay for experienced nurses. Adverts often quote top-of-scale or "with overtime" figures. Ask for the exact band, group or step in writing.
• Forgetting the pay before registration. In the UK and Germany you may earn less for the first months until you pass the OSCE or get recognition.
• Ignoring health insurance in the USA. It can cost much more than in Europe.
• Not asking about repayment clauses. A UK clause must reduce over time under the Code of Practice. Read our fees and scams guide.
• Trusting old figures. Pay scales change every year. The dates in this guide matter.

Where to go next

For exams, visas and timelines, read UK vs Germany vs USA compared. For country detail, see UK Health and Care Worker visa, Germany visa, salary and language and US EB-3 green card. Start your paperwork early with the documents checklist.