Nursing Salaries in Germany for Foreign Professionals: 2026 Pay Scales and Take-Home Pay

Nurses' pay in Germany is not a guess: most hospitals pay on published pay scales, and care providers must pay at least a legal minimum wage for care. This guide shows the 2026 figures, what is deducted, how much more you earn after recognition, and how pay grows with experience.

Headline figures: a registered nurse in a public hospital starts at about €3,510 gross a month (TVöD-P, P 7, from 1 May 2026), about €42,100 a year before allowances. Qualified nurses must be paid at least €21.03 an hour in care from 1 July 2026.

Starting salary for nurses in public hospitals

Hospitals run by cities, districts and the federal government pay nurses under TVöD-P. The grade depends on your role (most registered nurses start in P 7; specialised roles such as intensive care often reach P 8 or higher), and the step rises with years of experience.

There is no step 1 in P 7 and P 8: nurses start at step 2. Values are from the published TVöD-P table, valid 1 May 2026 to 31 March 2027, after a 2.8% rise.

The minimum wage in care

Care homes and home-care services (ambulatory and residential care) must pay at least the care minimum wage (Pflegemindestlohn), whatever agreement they use (Federal Government):

Pay before and after recognition

Until your qualification is recognised you cannot work as a registered nurse. Many employers hire you as a nursing or care assistant during the adaptation course or while you prepare for the knowledge test, at assistant pay. Once recognised, you move to the nurse grade. That is why the recognition step matters so much for your income; see our nursing recognition guide.

Check your contract: it should state your pay during recognition and after it, and the date or condition for the change.

Extra pay on top of the base salary

• Shift and night allowances: night work, Sundays and public holidays are paid with supplements.
• On-call and overtime: paid or given as time off under the pay agreement.
• Specialist allowances: intensive care, anaesthesia and operating-theatre roles often have higher grades or allowances.
• Annual special payment in the public sector, and in some private agreements.

Taxes and take-home pay

Tax and social insurance are deducted before your salary is paid. The employee's share in 2026:

Social insurance alone is roughly a fifth of gross pay; income tax depends on your tax class (single or married) and allowances. Use a payslip calculator with your own details for an exact take-home figure rather than a general percentage.

What affects your salary

• Employer type: public hospitals (TVöD-P), church-run hospitals (their own agreements, often similar), private groups (company agreements) and care homes (at least the care minimum wage).
• Region: pay scales are national in the public sector, but private employers in high-cost cities often pay more.
• Experience: recognised previous experience can place you on a higher step from the start; ask for it in your contract.
• Specialisation: intensive care, anaesthesia, operating theatre and dialysis qualifications lead to higher grades.

Salary growth over five years

On the P 7 scale, moving from step 2 to step 6 raises monthly gross pay from about €3,510 to €4,305 (+23%), before any general pay rises agreed between unions and employers. Further training (for example a specialist qualification in intensive care) can move you to a higher grade.

How German level and recognition affect your pay

Your German level decides your job title, and your job title decides your pay. With B2 German and full recognition you are paid as a registered nurse (for example TVöD-P P 7). With a lower level, or while you close recognition gaps, you work as a care assistant at a lower rate, often protected by the care minimum wage. Reaching B2 quickly is the fastest way to raise your income; see German for nurses.

Salary and your visa

Most nurses come on a skilled worker visa, which has no general salary threshold (applicants aged 45 or over must earn a minimum salary or show pension provision). The EU Blue Card requires €50,700 a year in 2026, which is above the starting salary of most nurses, so it is rarely used (Federal Employment Agency). To bring your family you must show enough income to support them; see our visa guide.

Public, church and private employers compared

Cost of living to set against your salary

Rent is the biggest cost and varies most between cities. Health insurance is already deducted from your pay, and a non-working spouse and children are usually covered at no extra cost in statutory insurance. More in our guide to life in Germany.