Top 5 Highest Paying English-Speaking Countries for Nurses in 2026
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English-speaking countries with highest salary for nurses include the USA, Australia and Canada, among others. See country-wise nurse salaries, taxes, take-home pay, licensing needs, and PR timelines to plan your nursing career abroad.
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If you already speak English fluently, why spend 6 to 12 months learning German or French just to work abroad? Countries like the USA, Australia, Canada and the UK keep hiring nurses who can communicate in English from day one. You can earn USD 2,600 to USD 11,000 monthly in these high paying English-speaking countries for nurses in 2026 without any language barrier. Your existing English skills become your biggest advantage for immediate employment and smooth cultural integration.
Overview of English-Speaking Countries Paying High Salary to Nurses in 2026
Check below what you actually earn in English-speaking countries as a nurse in 2026:
|
Country |
Monthly Salary (USD) |
Annual Salary (USD) |
Entry Level |
5+ Years Experience |
|
United States |
5,000 to 7,800 |
60,000 to 93,600 |
4,200 |
11,000 |
|
Australia |
3,800 to 6,700 |
45,600 to 80,400 |
3,200 |
8,500 |
|
Canada |
3,200 to 6,300 |
38,400 to 75,600 |
2,800 |
7,500 |
|
Ireland |
3,000 to 4,500 |
36,000 to 54,000 |
2,600 |
6,000 |
|
United Kingdom |
2,800 to 4,200 |
33,600 to 50,400 |
2,400 |
5,500 |
|
New Zealand |
2,600 to 4,000 |
31,200 to 48,000 |
2,200 |
5,200 |
Now that you have an idea of the nurse salary abroad per month in these high paying English-speaking countries, let's understand each country in detail, including state-by-state salaries, tax deductions, top employers, licensing requirements, and permanent residency timelines.
United States
The USA leads as the highest paying English-speaking country for nurses, with California nurses earning USD 11,100 monthly average, making it the top destination globally.
Monthly Salary in Top US States for Nurses
- California: USD 9,000 to USD 11,100 (San Francisco USD 14,000, Los Angeles USD 10,500)
- New York: USD 7,000 to USD 8,500 (New York City USD 8,800, Buffalo USD 6,800)
- Texas: USD 5,800 to USD 7,200 (Dallas USD 7,000, Houston USD 6,800, Austin USD 6,500)
- Florida: USD 5,000 to USD 6,200 (Miami USD 6,000, Tampa USD 5,500)
- Massachusetts: USD 7,500 to USD 8,800 (Boston USD 8,500)
Tax and Take-Home Pay
California taxes 13.3% state income tax plus federal 22% to 24% on nurse salaries. On USD 10,000 monthly (USD 120,000 annual), you pay approximately USD 3,500 in taxes monthly, taking home USD 6,500. New York adds 10.9% state tax plus 3.08% NYC tax, totaling 37% deductions. Texas has zero state income tax, which means that you keep USD 7,500 from a USD 10,000 monthly salary.
Top Employers for Nurses in USA
- Mayo Clinic (Minnesota pays USD 7,200 monthly),
- Cleveland Clinic (Ohio USD 6,800),
- Johns Hopkins Hospital (Maryland USD 8,000),
- Kaiser Permanente (California USD 10,500 to USD 11,500),
- Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston USD 8,500)
Requirements
NCLEX RN exam (USD 700 to USD 1,500 cost), CGFNS credential evaluation (USD 425), IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 100, state nursing license (USD 200 to USD 400), VisaScreen certificate (USD 655).
PR Timeline
You can apply for a Green Card after working 2 to 3 years under the EB3 skilled worker category. Usually, the processing time takes 5 to 10 years, depending on your country of origin, making the USA slower for permanent residency.
Australia
Nurse Salary in Australia is excellent making it one of the highest paying English-speaking countries for nurses with 38-hour work weeks, mandatory nurse-patient ratios of 1:4, and coastal cities like Sydney and Melbourne offering USD 5,000 to USD 6,700 monthly.
Monthly Salary in Top Austalian Cities for Nurses
- Sydney: USD 5,200 to USD 6,700 (entry USD 3,500, ICU nurses USD 7,200)
- Melbourne: USD 5,000 to USD 6,500 (entry USD 3,400, ER nurses USD 7,000)
- Brisbane: USD 4,800 to USD 6,200 (entry USD 3,200, specialized USD 6,800)
- Perth: USD 5,500 to USD 7,000 (mining region pays premium)
- Regional NSW/Victoria: USD 4,500 to USD 6,000 (relocation bonuses EUR 5,000 to EUR 8,000)
Tax and Take-Home Pay
Australia has progressive tax rates from 19% to 37%. On USD 5,500 monthly (USD 66,000 annual), you pay 25% total tax (federal plus Medicare levy). Your monthly take-home salary is USD 4,125. Employers contribute 11% superannuation (retirement fund) worth USD 605 monthly on top of salary.
Top Employers
- Royal Melbourne Hospital (USD 5,800 to USD 6,500),
- Royal Prince Alfred Sydney (USD 6,000 to USD 6,800),
- Princess Alexandra Brisbane (USD 5,500 to USD 6,200),
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (USD 6,200 to USD 7,000),
- St Vincent's Hospital (USD 5,800 to USD 6,500).
Eligibility Requirements
AHPRA registration (costs AUD 4,500 or USD 3,000), ANMAC assessment (AUD 875 or USD 585), IELTS 7.0 or OET Grade B in all four components and a minimum 1 year clinical experience is strongly preferred for nurses in Australia.
PR Timeline
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or State Nominated visa (subclass 190) provide PR in 3 to 4 years. You need 85+ points, typically combining age (under 32), English (IELTS 8.0 gives bonus), education (BSc Nursing), and experience.
Check Out- Which Country is Best for Nurses in 2026?
Canada
Canada balances good English-speaking nurse salaries with fastest permanent residency making it ideal for long term family settlement.
Province-Wise Monthly Salary for Nurses
- Ontario (Toronto): USD 5,200 to USD 6,300 (entry USD 3,000, experienced USD 7,500)
- British Columbia (Vancouver): USD 5,000 to USD 6,100 (entry USD 2,900, specialized USD 7,200)
- Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton): USD 5,300 to USD 6,700 (entry USD 3,100, oil region premium)
- Quebec (Montreal): USD 4,800 to USD 5,800 (requires French, lower than English provinces)
- Manitoba (Winnipeg): USD 4,500 to USD 5,500 (lower cost of living, strong PNP)
Tax and Take-Home Pay
If we combine federal and provincial taxes, the total is 20% to 30%. On USD 5,500 monthly (USD 66,000 annual) in Ontario, you pay 28% taxes. Monthly take-home is USD 3,960. Provincial health insurance (OHIP) is free, reducing out-of-pocket medical costs significantly.
Top Employers for Nurses
Toronto General Hospital (pays USD 5,800 to USD 6,300), Vancouver General Hospital (USD 5,500 to USD 6,100), McGill University Health Centre Montreal (USD 5,200 to USD 5,800), Foothills Medical Centre Calgary (USD 6,000 to USD 6,700), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Toronto (USD 5,700 to USD 6,200).
Requirements
NCLEX RN pass (same as USA exam), NNAS credential assessment (CAD 650 or USD 480), IELTS 7.0 or CELBAN (Canadian English Language Benchmark), provincial nursing college registration (CAD 300 to CAD 500).
PR Timeline for Nurses
Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker or Provincial Nominee Programs provide PR in 6 months to 2 years. The healthcare workers get priority processing, so it's a benefit for you. Also, your spouse can work immediately and children can attend free public schools.
United Kingdom
The UK is also one of the highest paying countries for nurses with a guaranteed pension and structured career bands.
NHS Band Salaries (Monthly)
- Band 5 (newly qualified): USD 2,800 to USD 3,300 (GBP 2,150 to GBP 2,530)
- Band 6 (senior staff nurse): USD 3,400 to USD 4,100 (GBP 2,600 to GBP 3,140)
- Band 7 (ward manager/specialist): USD 4,300 to USD 5,100 (GBP 3,290 to GBP 3,910)
- Band 8a (nurse consultant): USD 5,200 to USD 6,100 (GBP 3,980 to GBP 4,680)
- Private hospitals: 20% to 30% more than NHS bands
Tax and Take Home Pay
UK charges 20% basic rate tax plus 12% National Insurance on salaries GBP 12,570 to GBP 50,270. On GBP 2,500 monthly (USD 3,250), you pay 32% total deductions. Monthly take home is GBP 1,700 (USD 2,210). NHS pension contributions add long term retirement value.
Top Employers
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust London (pays Band 6 USD 3,800), Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (Band 6 USD 3,600), King's College Hospital London (Band 6 USD 3,900), BMI Healthcare private (Band equivalent USD 4,500 to USD 5,000).
Requirements
NMC registration requires CBT (Computer-Based Test) costing GBP 83 plus OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) costing GBP 792, IELTS 7.0 in all components, minimum 1 year supervised practice post qualification.
PR Timeline for Nurses in UK
Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years continuous residence on Health and Care Worker Visa. Faster than the USA Green Card but slower than Canada or Australia PR pathways.
Launch Your Global Nursing Journey with GetGIS Support
The top paying English-speaking countries for nurses in 2026 offer USD 2,600 to USD 11,100 monthly without new language barriers. The USA pays the most but has slower PR. Canada offers the fastest PR with good salaries. Australia balances both excellently.
GetGIS is one of the trusted immigration facilitators for all your immigration needs among students and healthcare professionals. Our immigration experts are committed to helping you understand and deliver better guidance in choosing the right country for your nursing career and ensuring efficient processing of your visa.
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