🧠 Calquify Intelligence
Despite Ségur reforms, French nurses remain among the worst paid in Western Europe in net terms
A starting French hospital nurse (IDE) earns approximately €28.800 gross after Ségur — netting approximately €1.780/month. A comparable German TVöD nurse starts at €38.000 gross / €2.300 net, and a Dutch CAO nurse at €35.760 / €2.220 net. France's combination of lower gross and high cotisations produces the lowest nursing net income of the three countries — despite the Ségur supplements which added €238 net/month in 2021.
Source: FPH + TVöD-K + CAO Ziekenhuizen + DGFIP comparative 2026
France has a structural nursing shortage of 50.000 — the worst in the EU
France had approximately 50.000 unfilled nursing positions in 2026 — the largest nursing shortage in the EU in absolute terms. Low net salaries are the primary driver: French nurses earn less net than Belgian, Dutch, or German peers while facing similar or higher cost-of-living pressures (particularly in Paris). Nurse emigration to Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Canada has accelerated since 2020, further deepening the shortage.
Source: DREES + Ordre national des infirmiers 2026
Private clinic nurses earn 15-20% more than public FPH nurses
Nurses in private clinics (cliniques privées) covered by FEHAP or CCN51 agreements earn approximately 15-20% above equivalent FPH public sector nurses. A private clinic IDE with 5 years experience can earn €36.000-€40.000 gross versus €32.000-€35.000 in the public sector. However, private sector nurses do not benefit from the same job security or career progression as fonctionnaire-adjacent FPH nurses.
Source: FEHAP CCN51 grille 2026
Nurse Net Monthly — France vs Germany vs Netherlands 2026
FPH + TVöD-K + CAO Ziekenhuizen + DGFIP
📋 Reference Data
French Nurse Salary by FPH Grade — 2026 (Post-Ségur)
FPH grille indiciaire + Ségur supplement — gross annual
| Grade / Experience | Gross Monthly (base) | Ségur Supplement | Total Gross/Month | Annual Gross | Net Monthly (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDE ECH 1 (start) | €2.162 | +€238 | €2.400 | €28.800 | €1.780 |
| IDE ECH 5 (3-5 years) | €2.350 | +€238 | €2.588 | €31.056 | €1.920 |
| IDE ECH 8 (6-8 years) | €2.540 | +€238 | €2.778 | €33.336 | €2.060 |
| IDE ECH 11 (10-12 years) | €2.720 | +€238 | €2.958 | €35.496 | €2.190 |
| IDE ECH 14 (15+ years) | €3.000 | +€238 | €3.238 | €38.856 | €2.380 |
| IDE Spécialisé (IADE/IBODE) | €3.200 | +€238 | €3.438 | €41.256 | €2.540 |
| Cadre de santé | €3.600 | +€238 | €3.838 | €46.056 | €2.800 |
ⓘ FPH = Fonction Publique Hospitalière — covers public hospital nurses. Ségur supplement of €238/month net was added in 2021 and is permanent. Net estimates include standard cotisations (approximately 23%) and IR at single-person standard. Night, weekend, and holiday supplements are additional.
France vs Germany vs Netherlands — Nurse Salary Comparison 2026
FPH + TVöD-K + CAO Ziekenhuizen
| Level | France Gross | France Net/mo | Germany Gross | Germany Net/mo | Netherlands Gross | Netherlands Net/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting nurse | €28.800 | €1.780 | €38.000 | €2.300 | €35.760 | €2.220 |
| 5-year nurse | €33.000 | €2.030 | €42.000 | €2.530 | €39.500 | €2.470 |
| Senior nurse | €38.856 | €2.380 | €48.000 | €2.790 | €45.000 | €2.750 |
| ICU specialist | €41.256 | €2.540 | €50.000 | €2.870 | €47.000 | €2.820 |
ⓘ France consistently pays the lowest nursing net at all career stages. The starting net gap (France €1.780 vs Germany €2.300) of €520/month (€6.240/year) is the primary driver of France's nurse emigration to Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada. Despite Ségur, France has not closed the gap with its neighbours.
🔗 Explore Related Intelligence
→
Salary Data
Average Nurse Salary Germany 2026
Germany TVöD nets €520/month more than France FPH at entry
→
Salary Data
Average Nurse Salary Netherlands 2026
Dutch CAO Ziekenhuizen vs French FPH comparison
→
Salary Data
Average Salary France 2026
Nursing sits 33% below the French national average
→
Tax Data
Income Tax Rates France 2026
French cotisations that compress nursing net income
🔬 Methodology & Sources
French Nursing Pay (FPH Grille + Ségur)
French public hospital nurses are remunerated according to the FPH (Fonction Publique Hospitalière) grille indiciaire, based on index points updated annually by government decree. The Ségur de la santé agreement (July 2020) added €183 net/month for all health workers, extended to a total of €238 net/month in 2021. Private sector nurses are covered by FEHAP (Fédération des Établissements Hospitaliers et d'Aide à la Personne) CCN51 or CCN66 agreements which typically offer 15-20% above FPH rates for equivalent grades.
Formula
Total_gross = Grille_indice + Ségur_supplement (€238 net = approximately €310 gross equivalent) | Net = Total_gross × (1 − cotisations_rate) − IR
CitationFPH Décret no. 88-1073 grille infirmière; Ségur de la Santé protocole 2021; DREES Enquête infirmiers 2026.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
A starting French hospital nurse (IDE in FPH) earns approximately €28.800 gross after the Ségur supplement, netting approximately €1.780/month. After 15 years, gross rises to approximately €38.856 (€2.380 net). Specialised nurses (IADE anaesthesia, IBODE surgical) earn €41.256 gross / €2.540 net. French nursing salaries are the lowest of any major Western European country in net terms.
The Ségur de la santé was a government investment plan (July 2020) triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It added €183 net/month for all hospital staff, later extended to €238 net/month. While this was the largest nursing pay increase in France in 30 years, it did not close the significant gap with Germany, Belgium, or the Netherlands. The Ségur was broadly seen as necessary but insufficient — French nurses remain underpaid relative to European peers.
French nurses leave primarily for Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Canada — where net salaries are 25-50% higher. A starting Belgian hospital nurse (INAMI scale) earns approximately €2.100-€2.300 net versus France's €1.780. Belgium is particularly attractive — French-speaking (for Wallonian positions), 1-3 hours by train from most French cities, and offering significantly higher pay. Approximately 6.000 French nurses emigrate annually — deepening France's 50.000-position shortage.
FPH (Fonction Publique Hospitalière) covers public hospital nurses — with structured grade progression, job security, and post-Ségur supplements. Private clinic nurses are covered by FEHAP CCN51 or CCN66 collective agreements, typically paying 15-20% above FPH for equivalent roles. Private nurses have less job security but better pay — particularly relevant for junior nurses without significant public sector seniority.
In theory yes — France's durée légale is 35 hours. However, hospital nurses typically work 7h30 or 10h30 shifts depending on their schedule, with approximately 37,5 hours actual average per week in the public sector. Night shifts, weekends, and public holiday work attract supplements (majorations) of 14-50% — potentially adding €200-€500 net/month for nurses working irregular hours. These supplements are a significant component of total nursing compensation in practice.
Sources & References
Data sourced from official institutional publications. Results are for informational purposes only. Last reviewed Jan 2026.
Data Disclaimer
Salary figures based on grille indiciaire FPH (Fonction Publique Hospitalière) post-Ségur and FEHAP private sector agreements. Figures are gross annual full-time equivalent. French nurse gross-to-net conversion is approximately 23% cotisations + income tax.
Salary figures based on grille indiciaire FPH (Fonction Publique Hospitalière) post-Ségur and FEHAP private sector agreements. Figures are gross annual full-time equivalent. French nurse gross-to-net conversion is approximately 23% cotisations + income tax.