Nurse salary: pay levels in 2026
22 January 2026 · 5 min reading time
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See job offersIn 2026, a nurse’s salary depends heavily on the working framework. For the same position, pay is not the same in the public hospital system, private clinics, nursing homes (EHPADs), private practice or temporary work, because calculation rules, pay scales and, above all, bonuses vary from one setting to another. In this article, we provide reliable benchmarks to help you position yourself, identify the pay supplements that really make a difference, and check, line by line, that your payslip accurately reflects what you should be receiving.
What is the average nurse salary in France in 2026?
In France, a nurse’s salary is most often a range rather than a single figure, as it depends on employment status (public, private, self-employed, temporary), seniority, place of work and the bonuses actually received. The key point is that salary is not limited to the base amount: a significant share of pay comes from additional elements (night shifts, Sundays, public holidays, specific bonuses, Ségur increase, allowances), which can noticeably affect net pay from one month to the next. To assess your situation accurately, it is therefore useful to think in two steps: first the base salary (pay scale or collective agreement), then all the variable elements added to your payslip.
Nurse salary in the public hospital sector
In the public hospital system, a nurse’s pay is based on two components. On one side is the basic salary determined by grade and step, which increases with seniority. On the other are bonuses and allowances, which can significantly change the amount received depending on working constraints (night shifts, Sundays, public holidays, etc.) and the schemes in force. For a general care nurse (grade 1), the pay scale starts, for example, at €1,944.50 gross per month at step 1 (excluding bonuses).
Bonuses and salary supplements in the public sector
In addition to the basic salary, a public hospital nurse may receive several bonuses that cause net pay to vary from month to month. The most visible is often the CTI (complementary treatment allowance), amounting to around €238 gross, or approximately €188 net per month, depending on the situation and eligible staff. Other allowances may be added for working constraints, particularly night work, whose rules and amounts depend on the applicable framework, as well as bonuses for Sundays and public holidays.
Nurse salary in the private sector
In the private sector, a nurse’s pay is not governed by a national pay scale as it is in the public sector. It mainly depends on the collective agreement applicable to the establishment (clinic, nursing home, care centre), the position, seniority and internal agreements. On average, a private-sector nurse earns around €2,463 net per month, but this benchmark varies depending on the department, working hours, location and bonuses provided by the employer.
Pay according to collective agreements
Private-sector collective agreements generally set a minimum salary, which serves as a starting point. In practice, many nurses earn more than this minimum, particularly in establishments facing recruitment difficulties. Seniority, specialisation, type of department and geographical location can all lead to noticeable differences compared with the conventional base salary.
Bonuses and overtime pay in the private sector
In the private sector, bonuses and overtime pay play a central role in nurses’ remuneration. Depending on the collective agreement and company-level arrangements, night work, weekends and public holidays give rise to pay increases or specific bonuses, the amounts of which can vary significantly from one establishment to another. Some organisations also provide bonuses linked to staff shortages, continuity of care or specific responsibilities. These supplements explain why, for the same working hours, net pay can differ widely from one nurse to another.
Self-employed nurse salary (IDEL)
The salary of a self-employed nurse cannot be considered like a traditional monthly wage. It is an activity-based income, directly linked to the volume of acts performed, the patient base, the geographical area and work organisation. Two self-employed nurses may therefore have very different incomes, even with the same number of years of experience.
Average income of a self-employed nurse
On average, the monthly turnover of a self-employed nurse is around €4,012. This figure should be interpreted with caution: it does not represent actual take-home income, but a gross amount before deductions for expenses (social contributions, insurance, professional costs, travel, etc.). In other words, comparing this figure with the gross salary of a salaried nurse (public or private) only makes sense if net income after expenses is considered, at a comparable level of activity.
Expenses and actual net income
A self-employed nurse’s net income depends heavily on professional expenses: social contributions, pension contributions, insurance, office costs, travel, equipment and replacement staff. Once these expenses are deducted, net monthly income can vary significantly depending on working rhythm and cost structure. Self-employed status therefore offers attractive earning potential, but at the cost of greater variability and more demanding administrative management.
Junior nurse vs experienced nurse salary
Professional experience plays a decisive role in salary progression. Whether in the public sector, private sector or temporary work, pay increases with seniority, acquired skills and, in some cases, specialisation or mobility.
Junior nurse salary
At the start of a career, a nurse’s salary generally corresponds to the entry level of pay scales or collective agreements. In the public hospital system, this means the first steps of the pay scale, with a relatively structured base salary, to which certain bonuses may already be added. In the private sector, starting pay depends more on the establishment and may be slightly higher than the conventional minimum depending on recruitment conditions.
Salary progression with experience
Over time, salary progression varies depending on status. In the public sector, increases are mainly linked to step advancement and statutory revaluations. In the private sector, seniority, added responsibilities, specialisation or individual negotiation can lead to faster pay increases. Experience also opens access to better-paid forms of practice, such as certain specialties or temporary work, where the scarcity of experienced profiles is often better rewarded.
Temporary nurse salary: what you need to know
A temporary nurse’s salary follows a different logic from public and private employment. You are employed by a temporary staffing agency, and your pay is generally built around an hourly rate, to which specific temporary work allowances are added. As a result, for a comparable number of hours, total earnings may be higher, but they vary depending on assignment length, department type, location and working constraints.
Why pay is often higher in temporary work
Temporary work rewards availability and adaptability. Healthcare facilities rely on temporary nurses to meet immediate needs (replacements, workload peaks, understaffing), which can result in more attractive hourly rates, particularly for certain shifts (night, weekend) or in areas where recruitment is difficult.
Temporary work bonuses and allowances
In temporary work, two allowances are almost always applied: the IFM (end-of-assignment allowance) and the ICCP (paid leave compensation allowance). They are added to the gross salary and directly affect the total paid at the end of the assignment or over the relevant period. Additional bonuses may also apply for night work, Sundays or public holidays, depending on the rules set by the host facility and the assignment contract.
Example of temporary nurse pay
To make this concrete, the difference is most visible when hourly rates and allowances are combined. For example, a 35-hour assignment with an hourly rate higher than that of standard salaried employment, plus IFM and ICCP, often results in a higher total than the same number of hours under a traditional contract, especially if the assignment includes night or weekend shifts.
Pay scales for nurses (grade 1 & 2)
Pay scale: nurse grade 1 (ISGS)
| Step | Gross index | Increased index | Monthly gross salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 444 | 395 | 1944,50€ |
| 2 | 479 | 424 | 2087,26€ |
| 3 | 507 | 447 | 2200,48€ |
| 4 | 533 | 468 | 2303,86€ |
| 5 | 561 | 491 | 2417,08€ |
| 6 | 594 | 518 | 2550€ |
| 7 | 632 | 550 | 2707,53€ |
| 8 | 668 | 580 | 2855,21€ |
| 9 | 704 | 610 | 3002,90€ |
| 10 | 746 | 645 | 3175,19€ |
Pay scale: nurse grade 2 (ISGS)
| Step | Gross index | Increased index | Monthly gross salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 489 | 427 | 2102,03€ |
| 2 | 518 | 450 | 2215,25€ |
| 3 | 558 | 478 | 2353,09€ |
| 4 | 595 | 506 | 2490,93€ |
| 5 | 631 | 534 | 2628,76€ |
| 6 | 669 | 563 | 2771,53€ |
| 7 | 709 | 593 | 2919,21€ |
| 8 | 750 | 624 | 3071,81€ |
| 9 | 792 | 656 | 3229,34€ |
| 10 | 836 | 690 | 3396,72€ |
| 11 | 886 | 727 | 3578,86€ |
Gross index vs increased index: what’s the difference?
In public hospital pay scales, you will often see two columns: gross index and increased index. It is normal to find this confusing at first.
The key point to remember is this: the gross index is mainly used to position you within the scale (your grade and step) and to frame career progression. It is an administrative reference.
To estimate your gross salary, the increased index is what matters. It is used to calculate the base salary by multiplying it by the value of the index point. This is also why comparisons between public-sector positions are often made using indices.
So if you only look at one figure to understand your base pay, look at the increased index. The gross index remains useful, but mainly for tracking progression rather than calculating pay.
How to read a nurse’s payslip
Understanding a payslip is essential to ensure that your pay matches what you are entitled to receive. Whether you work in the public sector, private sector or temporary work, payslips share a common structure, even if certain lines vary depending on status.
Gross pay, net pay and bonuses: understanding the key lines
Gross pay is the amount before social contributions are deducted. It includes the base salary and certain bonuses subject to contributions. Net pay is the amount actually paid into your bank account after deductions.
Between the two are employee contributions, as well as bonus and allowance lines that deserve particular attention: night work, Sundays and public holidays, the CTI, and allowances specific to temporary work. Clearly identifying these elements helps you understand month-to-month variations and quickly spot any discrepancies.
How to increase your nurse salary ?
Increasing your salary as a nurse does not rely solely on seniority. Several levers exist, depending on your situation and professional choices. One of the most common is adjusting working conditions: accepting specific shifts (nights, weekends, public holidays) or more demanding departments often allows access to higher bonuses or pay increases. Geographical or functional mobility can also have a significant impact, as some facilities or regions offer more attractive pay to address recruitment pressures.
Specialisation is another important lever. Training in in-demand skills or moving into technical departments can open the door to better-paid positions. Finally, the type of practice itself plays a key role: moving into temporary work or private practice can offer higher earning potential, provided you accept greater income variability and a different work organisation.
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