Nursing Pay Scales Explained – Ireland – 2025
Introduction
Understanding nursing pay in Ireland can feel overwhelming, especially with frequent national updates, public service agreements, allowances, and incremental rules. This guide explains how nursing pay scales work in 2025, including increments, Long Service Increments (LSIs), allowances, pension considerations, and what the August 2025 pay adjustments mean for every nurse working in the HSE or Section 38 organisations.
What Are Nursing Pay Scales?
Nursing pay scales are nationally approved salary bands used across the Health Service Executive (HSE) and most publicly funded healthcare organisations. Every grade—whether Staff Nurse, Clinical Nurse Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, or Director of Nursing—has a structured scale with fixed incremental points.
These scales are set by the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure, and they apply uniformly nationwide.
The 2025 Pay Adjustments
Under the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026, the following changes took effect on 1 August 2025:
• A 1% increase to basic annual salary
• A 1% increase to allowances in the nature of pay
This follows earlier increases applied during 2024 and early 2025, meaning nurses continue to see steady annual progress in pay rates nationwide.
Understanding Incremental Points
Most nursing grades contain between 6 and 12 incremental points. Nurses typically progress upward every 12 months until reaching the maximum point.
Example (illustrative):
A Staff Nurse might start at Point 1 and progress annually until Point 12, with each point representing a higher salary.
Increment delays or adjustments may apply in cases such as extended unpaid leave, career breaks, or part-time employment, depending on HSE policy.
Long Service Increments (LSIs)
After reaching the final standard point on a scale, some nursing grades offer LSIs.
• LSI 1 – awarded after 3 years on the maximum point
• LSI 2 – awarded 3 years after LSI 1
• LSI 3 – awarded 3 years after LSI 2 (for certain senior grades)
LSIs reward long-term service and significantly increase lifetime earnings for nurses who remain in clinical roles.
Allowances Explained
Only nationally approved allowances may be paid. These include:
• Location allowances (e.g., Dublin allowance where applicable)
• Qualification allowances
• Specialist duty allowances
• On-call allowances (for eligible grades)
• Team leader or shift allowances in relevant services
The Department of Health states clearly: no unapproved allowances may be paid, and all allowances must match those listed on the Consolidated Salary Scales.
Part-Time and Reduced Hours Pay
Pay for part-time, job-share, or reduced-hours nurses is calculated based on the full-time rate.
Formula used:
Annual full-time rate ÷ 52.18 = weekly rate
Weekly rate adjusted pro-rata depending on contracted hours
This ensures fairness and consistency across all working arrangements.
Pension and Superannuation Considerations
Public service pension schemes calculate retirement benefits using the approved salary scale and any sanctioned pensionable allowances.
Key points:
• Pension is based on substantive grade
• Only approved pensionable allowances are included
• Unapproved allowances cannot be used for pension calculations
LSIs also typically count toward pensionable remuneration.
Acting-Up, Temporary Promotions and Higher Grade Posts
Nurses acting into a higher grade (such as CNM1 or CNM2) may receive higher-rate remuneration only after meeting specific criteria, including:
• Holding the acting position beyond a set threshold (e.g., day 84)
• Appropriate sanction where required
• Performance of the full duties of the higher grade
This policy ensures fairness and prevents inappropriate use of acting allowances.
Why Pay Scales Are Important for Career Planning
Understanding nursing pay structures helps you:
• Compare roles and grades
• Plan career progression
• Understand the financial impact of moving to CNM, CNS, or ANP roles
• Estimate long-term pension benefits
• Negotiate acting-up or cross-cover duties appropriately
Whether you are newly qualified or considering senior leadership, the 2025 scales provide clear, structured pay expectations.
Looking Ahead
With further public service agreement adjustments expected during 2026, and ongoing national workforce reform under Sláintecare, nursing pay in Ireland will continue to evolve. Staying informed ensures nurses can make empowered decisions about their careers and professional development.
