The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) negotiates pay on behalf of nurses and midwives employed in the Irish public health service. This guide covers every grade of INMO-represented staff, the 2026 pay increases, and how the INMO scales differ from the wider HSE Consolidated Pay Scales.
What Are the INMO Pay Scales?
The INMO is the largest nursing and midwifery trade union in Ireland, representing over 40,000 members. While INMO members are employed by the HSE (or HSE-funded agencies), their pay scales are negotiated through national pay agreements — most recently the Public Service Pay Agreement (Building Momentum) and its successor framework — and are published in HSE HR Circulars.
The scales you see on the HSE Consolidated Pay Scales document are the INMO-agreed scales. There is no separate INMO pay scale document; the HSE circular is the authoritative source.
2026 Pay Increases for Nurses & Midwives
The February 2026 HSE consolidated pay scales reflect the latest agreed increases under the current public service pay framework. Nurses and midwives received:
- A general round increase applied to all points on their pay scale
- Continuation of Long Service Increments (LSIs) for staff at the top of their scale
- Increases to allowances and premium payments (on-call, unsocial hours, night duty)
Staff Nurse / Staff Midwife Pay Scale 2026
The Staff Nurse and Staff Midwife share the same pay scale. Entry is at Point 1; annual increments apply until the scale maximum is reached.
| Point | Annual Salary (€) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37,788 | Entry / newly qualified |
| 2 | 39,760 | After 1 year |
| 3 | 40,767 | After 2 years |
| 4 | 42,098 | After 3 years |
| 5 | 43,775 | After 4 years |
| 6 | 45,452 | After 5 years |
| 7 | 47,120 | After 6 years |
| 8 | 48,563 | After 7 years |
| 9 | 50,009 | After 8 years |
| 10 | 51,458 | After 9 years |
| 11 | 52,937 | After 10 years |
| 12 | 54,412 | After 11 years |
| LSI | 56,032 | Long Service Increment |
Note: Figures are based on the HSE HR Circular published in February 2026. Always verify against the current circular on hse.ie for the most up-to-date rates.
Graduate Nurse Starting Salary
A newly registered nurse starting in the HSE begins at Point 1: €37,788 per annum (approximately €726/week gross). With annual increments and after reaching the top of the scale, a staff nurse can earn €56,032 (LSI) before additional allowances.
Enhanced Nurse / Enhanced Midwife Pay Scale 2026
The Enhanced Nurse and Enhanced Midwife roles were created to retain clinical staff in bedside roles without requiring them to move into management. These roles attract a premium over the standard staff nurse scale.
| Point | Annual Salary (€) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 48,608 |
| 2 | 50,291 |
| 3 | 52,119 |
| 4 | 53,930 |
| 5 | 55,882 |
| LSI | 57,892 |
Senior Enhanced Nurse
| Point | Annual Salary (€) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 55,882 |
| 2 | 57,892 |
| LSI | 59,968 |
Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM) Pay Scales 2026
CNM Grade 1
CNM1 roles typically involve shift coordination and direct patient care with limited management responsibility.
| Point | Annual Salary (€) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 57,208 |
| 2 | 58,246 |
| 3 | 59,709 |
| 4 | 61,198 |
| 5 | 62,678 |
| 6 | 64,167 |
| 7 | 65,826 |
| 8 | 67,372 |
CNM1 Salary Range: €57,208 – €67,372
CNM Grade 2
CNM2 is the most common management grade — ward managers, unit managers, and specialist nurses often hold this grade.
| Point | Annual Salary (€) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 62,078 |
| 2 | 63,106 |
| 3 | 63,975 |
| 4 | 65,394 |
| 5 | 66,963 |
| 6 | 68,504 |
| 7 | 70,045 |
| 8 | 71,779 |
| 9 | 73,389 |
| 10 | 76,159 |
| LSI | 78,443 |
CNM2 Salary Range: €62,078 – €78,443 (LSI)
CNM Grade 3
CNM3 roles carry significant management responsibility, typically overseeing multiple wards or departments.
| Point | Annual Salary (€) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 71,432 |
| 2 | 72,845 |
| 3 | 76,419 |
| 4 | 77,825 |
| 5 | 79,239 |
| 6 | 80,671 |
CNM3 Salary Range: €71,432 – €80,671
Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) Pay Scale 2026
The ANP grade is for nurses who have completed a Master’s-level programme and have autonomous prescribing and assessment authority. Candidate ANPs (cANPs) work at a lower point while completing their programme.
| Grade | Starting Salary (€) | Scale Maximum (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered ANP (rANP) | 68,493 | 82,015 |
The rANP scale runs for 8 points from €68,493 to €82,015. Candidate ANPs (cANPs) are placed on a lower scale during their development period — exact entry point depends on prior experience. Consult the February 2026 circular for full cANP scale detail.
Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) Pay Scale 2026
| Point | Annual Salary (€) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 74,299 |
| 2 | 76,901 |
| 3 | 79,610 |
| 4 | 82,426 |
| LSI | 85,346 |
Director of Nursing (DON) Pay Scale 2026
Director of Nursing salaries vary by the size of the hospital or service. The scale below is for a standard DON post.
| Point | Annual Salary (€) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 85,346 |
| 2 | 88,393 |
| 3 | 91,559 |
| LSI | 94,862 |
Midwife Pay Scale 2026
Staff Midwives are paid on the same scale as Staff Nurses. For specialist and advanced midwifery roles:
| Grade | Salary Range (€) |
|---|---|
| Staff Midwife | 37,788 – 56,032 (LSI) |
| Enhanced Midwife | See February 2026 circular |
| Senior Enhanced Midwife | See February 2026 circular |
| CNM1 (Midwifery) | 57,208 – 67,372 |
| CNM2 (Midwifery) | 62,078 – 78,443 (LSI) |
| CNM3 (Midwifery) | 71,432 – 80,671 |
Key Allowances for INMO Members in 2026
In addition to basic pay, nurses and midwives may receive:
| Allowance | Rate (2026) |
|---|---|
| Night duty premium | 25% of hourly rate |
| Weekend premium (Saturday) | 25% of hourly rate |
| Weekend premium (Sunday) | 50% of hourly rate |
| Public holiday premium | Double time |
| On-call allowance | Per circular rate |
| Location allowance (Dublin) | Applicable to some grades |
INMO Pay Scales vs HSE Consolidated Pay Scales — What’s the Difference?
There is no separate “INMO pay scale document.” The INMO negotiates on behalf of its members through national collective bargaining, and the agreed rates are published by the HSE in its Consolidated Pay Scales circulars.
When you see someone refer to “INMO pay scales,” they are referring to the nursing and midwifery sections of the HSE Consolidated Pay Scales — specifically the grades that INMO represents.
The INMO does not cover:
- Healthcare Assistants (represented by SIPTU/Forsa)
- Clerical and administrative staff (Forsa)
- Doctors (IMO)
How to Progress Up the Pay Scale
- Annual increment: Nurses receive one increment per year of satisfactory service until they reach the scale maximum.
- Long Service Increment (LSI): After reaching the scale maximum, nurses can earn one or more LSIs at defined service intervals — confirm the number of LSIs for your grade with the current HSE circular.
- Promotion: Moving to a higher grade (e.g., Staff Nurse → CNM1) places you at the appropriate point on the new grade’s scale, usually at a salary not less than your current salary.
When Will the Next Pay Increase Be Applied?
The next general round increase is 1% effective 1 June 2026 — the final increase under the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026. This agreement runs from January 2024 to 30 June 2026 and provides a total basic pay increase of 9.25% over 30 months.
After June 2026, future increases will depend on negotiations for a successor agreement between the INMO, other public sector unions, and the Department of Public Expenditure.
Monitor hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/pay or the INMO website for circular updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the starting salary for a newly qualified nurse in Ireland in 2026?
A: €37,788 per annum at Point 1 of the Staff Nurse scale (February 2026 rates).
Q: How long does it take to reach the top of the nurse pay scale?
A: The scale has 12 incremental points plus a Long Service Increment (LSI). It typically takes 11–12 years of satisfactory service to reach the scale maximum, with the LSI available after that.
Q: Do agency nurses get the same pay as HSE nurses?
A: Agency nurses are not employed by the HSE and their rates are set by their agency. HSE INMO pay scales apply to directly employed HSE staff.
Q: Can previous nursing experience be credited on the pay scale?
A: Yes. Previous relevant experience as a registered nurse is typically credited on appointment. Each year of relevant experience equates to one point on the scale.
Q: Where can I find the official INMO/HSE pay circular?
A: Search “HSE HR Circular” on hse.ie or visit the INMO website (inmo.ie) for the most current published rates.
