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Nurse Salary: Ireland vs UK vs Australia 2026 — Full Comparison

Last verified 22 Jul 2026· Published 22 Jul 2026

Thinking of moving — or moving home? Nurse pay is one of the biggest factors when Irish nurses weigh Ireland against the UK and Australia. Here is how starting and experienced registered-nurse salaries compare in 2026, with the important caveats on tax, cost of living and currency.

Registered nurse salary at a glance (2026)

CountryStarting (entry)Experienced / top of scale
Ireland — HSE Staff Nurse€38,166€56,592
UK — NHS Band 5 (England)£32,073 (≈ €37,500)£39,043 (≈ €45,700)
Australia — Registered Nurse≈ AUD 72,700 (≈ €43,600)AUD 108,000+ (≈ €65,000+)

Euro conversions are approximate (about £1 = €1.17, AUD 1 = €0.60) and move with exchange rates. Ireland: HSE Staff Nurse consolidated scale, 1 June 2026. UK: NHS Agenda for Change Band 5, 2026/27 (England). Australia: registered nurse market/award rates, 2026 — the average sits around AUD 87,500 (≈ €52,500).

Ireland

The HSE Staff Nurse scale runs €38,166 to €56,592, with long-service increments and premiums for nights, Sundays and public holidays on top. Ireland's headline starting pay is the highest of the three, and progression to the top of scale is relatively quick. See the full HSE nurse salary guide.

United Kingdom (NHS)

NHS nurses in England are paid on Agenda for Change Band 5: £32,073 at entry rising to £39,043, on the 2026/27 scale. Scotland and other UK nations differ slightly. UK headline pay is lower than Ireland's in euro terms, though London and high-cost areas attract a weighting supplement.

Australia

Australian registered nurses have the highest ceiling of the three: graduate pay starts around AUD 72,700 and experienced clinical nurses reach AUD 108,000 or more, with the average about AUD 87,500. Queensland and the Northern Territory often pay more due to workforce shortages. In euro terms the top end is well ahead — but see the caveats.

The caveats that matter more than the headline

  • These are gross figures. Tax, social insurance and pension deductions differ a lot between countries — the take-home gap is smaller than the headline gap. Use our take-home pay calculator for the Irish net figure.
  • Cost of living differs. Housing in Dublin, London and Sydney is expensive in different ways; a higher salary doesn't always mean more left over.
  • Exchange rates move. The euro conversions above are a snapshot, not a fixed rate.
  • Conditions vary. Shift premiums, annual leave, pension terms and relocation packages can matter as much as base pay — Australia's shift loadings and Ireland's public-holiday premiums are both significant.

Working as a nurse in Ireland

If you're returning to Ireland or moving here, registration is through the NMBI, and HSE and Section 38/39 employers recruit year-round. Browse live nursing vacancies, check the Staff Nurse and CNM scales, and see the INMO pay guide for the full picture.

Sources: HSE consolidated pay scales (1 June 2026); NHS Agenda for Change Band 5, 2026/27; Australian registered-nurse award and market rates, 2026. Figures are gross annual base pay; confirm current rates and the exchange rate before making a decision.

Frequently asked questions

Do nurses earn more in Ireland or the UK?
In headline euro terms, Irish HSE staff nurses start higher (€38,166) than NHS Band 5 nurses in England (£32,073, about €37,500) and reach a higher top of scale (€56,592 vs about €45,700). Take-home differs because tax and pension deductions vary between the two countries.
Do nurses earn more in Australia than Ireland?
Australia has the highest ceiling of the three — experienced registered nurses can reach AUD 108,000+ (roughly €65,000+), above Ireland's €56,592 top of scale. But cost of living, tax and exchange rates mean the take-home difference is smaller than the headline gap.
How much does a staff nurse earn in Ireland in 2026?
The HSE Staff Nurse scale runs from €38,166 to €56,592 in 2026, plus long-service increments and premiums for nights, Sundays and public holidays. See our HSE nurse salary guide for the full point-by-point scale.
Is the nurse salary comparison after tax?
No — these are gross (before-tax) figures. Income tax, social insurance and pension deductions differ between Ireland, the UK and Australia, so the take-home gap is smaller than the gross gap. Use a take-home calculator for each country to compare net pay.

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