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Nursing & Midwifery · HSE

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Salary in Ireland

Pay scale €62,699–€79,227 a year · registration: NMBI

An expert nurse in a specific clinical area (e.g. diabetes, respiratory, palliative care) delivering specialist assessment and care.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) salary follows the national HSE pay scale — a fixed incremental scale from €62,699 (starting point) to €79,227 (top of scale). You move up one increment for each year of satisfactory service, plus any long-service increments and qualification or location allowances that apply to the post.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) pay scale — point by point

Effective 1 June 2026. Take-home is an estimate for a single PAYE employee at 2026 rates.

PointAnnual salaryTake-home / year/ month
1€62,699€46,372€3,864
2€63,737€46,920€3,910
3€64,615€47,384€3,949
4€66,048€48,141€4,012
5€67,633€48,977€4,081
6€69,189€49,799€4,150
7€70,745€50,585€4,215
8€72,497€51,423€4,285
9€74,123€52,200€4,350
10€76,921€53,538€4,461
11€79,227€54,640€4,553

You start near the bottom and move up one point a year. Top-of-scale points may include long-service increments (LSIs), reached after service at the maximum. See your year-by-year progression →

Estimate your take-home pay

Prefilled at this grade’s scale midpoint — adjust to any point.

€
Paid

Estimated take-home

€4,224 /month

€50,690/year · €1,950/fortnight · €975/week

Gross
€5,914
− Income tax (PAYE)
−€1,299
− USC
−€142
− PRSI
−€248
Net /month
€4,224
Effective deduction rate
28.6%

Estimate for a single PAYE employee at 2026 rates — income tax, USC and PRSI only (marriage, rent/medical and other credits not included). Fortnightly = annual ÷ 26. Not tax advice; check revenue.ie for your exact figures.

Live Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) vacancies 36

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) earn in Ireland?
The HSE Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) pay scale runs from €62,699 to €79,227 a year. You start near the bottom and move up the scale with each year of service.
What is the take-home pay for a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)?
At the scale midpoint (€70,963), a single employee takes home about €50,690 a year (€4,224 a month) after income tax, USC and PRSI. Use the calculator above for the exact figure at any point on the scale.
What qualifications does a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) need?
The role requires registration with NMBI (or eligibility to register). Specific qualification requirements are set in each campaign — always check the listing.