How much does a nurse earn in 2026?
The official IFIC salary scales for nurses, by degree and seniority — plus additional coverage and where you can start working today.
Source: IFIC salary scales for the private healthcare sectors, index July 1, 2026 · gross per month, full-time · view all salary scales
Gross monthly salary based on seniority
In healthcare, your salary follows at least the IFIC scale: it depends on the category of your position and increases every year with your seniority. This is how the gross monthly salary for a full-time job evolves.
| Seniority | With bachelor¹ | Without a bachelor's degree² | Specialized³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start (0 years) | € 3,447.52 | €3,187.48 | € 3,692.71 |
| 5 years | €4,015.77 | €3,681.96 | €4,296.94 |
| 10 years | €4,447.70 | €4,061.55 | €4,758.33 |
| 15 years | €4,766.97 | € 4,336.31 | € 5,100.30 |
| 20 years | €5,022.97 | € 4,533.27 | € 5,374.51 |
| 25 years | € 5,204.53 | € 4,672.01 | €5,568.99 |
| 35 years (maximum) | € 5,419.17 | €4,835.06 | €5,798.91 |
¹ Category 14: nurse with a bachelor's degree or higher, e.g. in a hospital, a residential care center, or home nursing. ² Category 14B: nurse without a bachelor's degree, e.g. with a Higher Professional Education (HBO5) Nursing diploma. ³ Category 15: specialized positions such as emergency nurse, intensive care nurse, Mobile Emergency Unit (MUG) nurse, or operating room nurse.
The IFIC salary scale increases every year up to 35 years of seniority; the table shows the amount after the stated number of years. You can find the category of your position in the IFIC function guide.
Good to know
- Gross and full-time. The amounts apply to a full-time job; if you work part-time, you receive a proportional share.
- Bonuses on top of your salary scale. Salary elements such as holiday pay, the end-of-year bonus, and premiums for irregular working hours (night, weekend, public holidays) are added to the salary scale.
- Indexing. Wages follow the index; the table shows the level as of July 1, 2026. In the private sector, the cent index applies temporarily since June 2026: above €4,000 gross per month, your salary increases by a maximum of €80 upon indexation.
- For whom? The IFIC salary scale applies to employees who started employment or changed positions since 1 May 2018 (hospitals, home nursing, and the other federal care sectors) or since 1 November 2019 (Flemish care sectors such as residential care centers).
- Private or public. The table shows the scales for private institutions. Public institutions, such as public hospitals or residential care centres of a Public Centre for Social Welfare, use their own IFIC tables for the public sector.
- Net? That depends on your family situation and the withholding tax. With our gross-net calculator calculate an indication immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a newly qualified nurse earn?
With a bachelor's degree, you start at €3,447.52 gross per month (IFIC category 14); without a bachelor's degree, e.g. with HBO5 Nursing, at €3,187.48 (category 14B) — for a full-time job, at the index of July 2026. Holiday pay, the end-of-year bonus, and bonuses for irregular working hours are added to this.
Do you earn more with a bachelor's degree than with an HBO5?
Yes. For nurses, the IFIC salary scale distinguishes between bachelors (category 14) and non-bachelors (category 14B). With a bachelor's degree, you start at €3,447.52 gross per month instead of €3,187.48, and after 35 years, you earn €5,419.17 instead of €4,835.06. If you obtain your bachelor's degree later, you will receive the category 14 salary scale as soon as you submit your diploma to your employer.
What does an emergency nurse or an intensive care nurse earn?
These positions fall under IFIC category 15, just like, among others, Emergency Medical Unit nurse and operating room nurse. You start at €3,692.71 gross per month, and after 35 years of seniority, you earn €5,798.91.
How much does a nurse earn net?
That depends on your family situation and the withholding tax. With our gross-net calculator calculate an indication immediately.
How do I find a job as a nurse?
On JobFunders, you will find vacancies for nurses throughout Flanders. Create one free profile with your qualifications and preferences, and Jobby — your digital career buddy — will invite you as soon as an employer is looking for something that truly suits you. View the vacancies for nurses.
Also interesting: Vacancies for nurses · What does a healthcare assistant earn? · How much does a midwife earn? · Calculate your net salary
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