What does a Nurse responsible for general care earn?

Nurses work primarily in the public healthcare system — hospitals, municipalities and psychiatry — and pay is closely tied to collective agreements negotiated by the Danish Nurses' Organisation (DSR). Regional pay gaps are generally limited, but experience, specialisation and management responsibility can raise pay significantly. Night, weekend and on-call supplements are a substantial part of many nurses' total income and are not fully reflected in Statistics Denmark's average monthly figures.

According to Statistics Denmark's latest wage structure survey (2025), average monthly earnings for a Nurse responsible for general care are 51.754 DKK (gross, all sectors). That is close to the national average for all wage earners (approx. 48.000 DKK/month).

There is a pay difference of 4.527 DKK/month between the private and public sector. Private Nurse responsible for general cares earn on average 56.002 DKK/month vs. 51.475 DKK/month in the public sector. The sector you choose can therefore have a major impact on your pay — but remember that public employees typically have better pension terms and greater job security.

This job typically requires knowledge at the highest level (a long higher education), and pay is often negotiated individually on top of a collective-agreement base. Specialisation, changing industry and willingness to negotiate move the needle the most — and the gap between public and private employees in the same profession is often substantial.

Salary figures from Statistics Denmark (LONS20, 2025). Average monthly earnings = gross incl. supplements, excl. holiday pay and pension.