Nurse Salaries in Italy and Europe: What to Expect in 2024

Understanding Nurse Salaries in Italy

If you’re curious about how much nurses earn in Italy, it may be because you are considering a career in this field, or perhaps you’ve noticed, after a hospital visit, the critical importance of the work performed by these professionals and want to know if their salary is fair.

Nurse salaries in Italy are governed by the National Labor Collective Agreement (Ccnl Sanità) for those working in public hospitals and healthcare structures, while private institutions refer to different collective agreements.
Nurses can also work as freelancers, which requires them to register for a VAT number and enroll in the specific pension fund (Enpapi).

Overall, it’s evident that nurses in Italy earn less than their counterparts in other European countries.
For instance, in Switzerland, the salary can reach €5,500 gross per month, whereas in Italy, the average stands around €2,000 gross monthly.

How Much Do Nurses Earn?

Public Sector Nurse Salary

To understand nurse salaries in Italy, we can reference the Ccnl Sanità 2019-2021 agreement, with updates for 2022-2024 expected soon.
The annual gross salary varies significantly by experience level.

Newly hired nurses (D level) can expect a gross annual salary ranging from €24,157 to €26,553, which includes benefits.
This equates to an entry-level salary of approximately €1,858 gross monthly, resulting in around €1,573 net after taxes.

Additional pay for night shifts (about €4/hour) and holidays (around €2.55 gross) can enhance earnings, along with a significant nursing specificity allowance of €430 annually, increasing to €764 for more experienced nurses.

Private Sector Nurse Salary

Nurse salaries in the private sector often align closely with public salaries, averaging about €1,500 net per month depending on the employer and job type.
Entry-level positions in day hospitals may start at €1,000 monthly, while critical care positions can reach €2,000.
Experienced nurses in organizational roles might earn between €2,500 and €3,000 monthly.

Freelance Nurse Salary

Nurses can also practice as freelancers, which involves setting fees according to the rates established in Italy.
However, gross revenues are subject to taxes and contributions to Enpapi, including a mandatory 16% professional income contribution.

Comparison to Other European Countries

Despite recent wage increases, Italian nurses’ salaries remain below the European average.
For example, according to Nursing Up, German nurses earn around €3,500 net per month, while Dutch nurses receive €2,800 net.
In Switzerland, salaries are approximately €4,500 net, and in Norway, nurses can make around €60,000 annually, with accommodations and utilities paid.

In summary, while the nursing profession is critically essential in Italy, the wages do not adequately reflect their hard work and commitment, especially when compared to the salaries of their peers elsewhere in Europe.