How much a nurse earns in Chile depends on where they work and their grade: in a public hospital, the professional pay scale runs from CLP 1,275,277 gross a month (grade 17) to CLP 3,522,228 (grade 5) without seniority increments, according to the [Health Ministry's public health pay scale](https://hcv.cl/HCV2/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Escala-de-sueldos-completa-2026.pdf) in force since June 2026. Seniority bonuses, shift allowances and other bonuses come on top.
In the wider market, nursing graduates from the University of Santiago (Usach) earn CLP 1.9 to 2 million four years after graduating, according to data from the government's Mi Futuro portal reported by BioBioChile. This guide brings together the official figures, explains how pay is built and compares it with other health careers.
How much a nurse earns in a Chilean public hospital
Nurses in the public health services are governed by the Administrative Statute (Law 18,834) and belong to the professional staff. Their pay depends on their grade: the lower the number, the higher the salary. This is the gross monthly pay (total haber) for professional posts with no seniority increments, in force since June 2026 with the 1.4% adjustment of Law 21,806:
| Grade | Base salary | Gross monthly total (CLP) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 822,491 | 3,522,228 |
| 7 | 715,163 | 3,039,924 |
| 9 | 613,027 | 2,544,278 |
| 10 | 567,660 | 2,333,878 |
| 11 | 525,644 | 2,144,971 |
| 12 | 486,705 | 1,971,427 |
| 13 | 450,639 | 1,795,022 |
| 14 | 417,191 | 1,647,619 |
| 15 | 386,316 | 1,512,586 |
| 16 | 357,629 | 1,388,719 |
| 17 | 331,147 | 1,275,277 |
The base salary is only one part. The total adds the professional allowance, the substitute allowance and other legal components set by the scale. The table applies to staff in the AFP pension system; those in the old system receive slightly more. Each nurse's entry grade is set by the health service according to the vacancy, so there is no single starting salary.
What is added to a nurse's pay
- Seniority (bienios): pay rises every two years of service, so a nurse with 10 or 20 years earns considerably more than a newcomer in the same grade.
- Shifts: those working rotating shifts (nights, weekends and holidays) receive extra allowances.
- Remote areas: in extreme regions such as Arica, Aysén or Magallanes, a zone allowance is paid.
- Performance and bonuses: there are bonuses for institutional targets and public-sector bonuses for the September national holidays and Christmas.
- Overtime: the scale sets the overtime rate. In grade 15, for example, it is CLP 6,626 at 100% and CLP 9,939 at 150%.
As a result, a hospital nurse's actual take-home pay can be considerably higher than the table, especially in shift-based units. Pension, health contributions and income tax are deducted from the gross amount.
From gross to net: an example
For a grade 15 nurse with a total of CLP 1,512,586, the legal deductions are the AFP pension contribution (10% plus each fund manager's fee), health (7% to Fonasa or the private isapre plan) and, where applicable, income tax. With an AFP fee of about 1.5%, contributions add up to roughly 18.5% of taxable pay, leaving about CLP 1.23 million before tax (our approximate calculation). The exact amount depends on the AFP, the health system and each month's allowances.
| Where a nurse works | Pay system |
|---|---|
| Public hospital (health services) | Law 18,834, Health Ministry grade scale |
| Municipal primary care (Cesfam) | Law 19,378, each municipality's career scale |
| Private clinic | Individual contract; no public scale |
| Armed forces and police | Each institution's own scale |
How much a nurse earns after graduating
For the market as a whole, including private clinics, family health centers and other employers, the official reference is the Mi Futuro portal of the Higher Education Undersecretariat. It calculates income from graduates' tax returns filed with the SII. These are the figures published in the press:
| Indicator (Nursing) | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Income four years after graduating (Usach) | CLP 1.9 to 2 million | BioBioChile, Mi Futuro data |
| Employment rate after one year (Usach) | 98.8% | BioBioChile, Mi Futuro data |
| Employment rate after two years (Usach) | 96.4% | BioBioChile, Mi Futuro data |
| Average income four years after graduating (all institutions) | CLP 1,754,277 | SOS Group, Mi Futuro data (earlier release) |
Mi Futuro figures are averages by program and institution and do not separate public and private employers. They also only include people earning at least the annualized minimum wage. It is worth checking the portal for the specific university, because differences between institutions can be large.
How much a nursing technician (TENS) earns
Higher-level nursing technicians (TENS) are not university professionals and belong to the technical staff, with lower pay. Under the same Health Ministry scale, a technical post in grade 15 has a gross total of CLP 903,770, grade 18 CLP 771,516 and grade 20 CLP 695,774, all without seniority. For comparison, Chile's minimum wage is CLP 553,553 since May 2026.
Nurses compared with other public-sector jobs
| Public-sector job | Gross monthly pay reference (CLP) |
|---|---|
| Doctor (Law 19,664, 44 hours, entry) | 2,502,413 (see how much a doctor earns) |
| Nurse (Law 18,834, grades 17 to 5) | 1,275,277 to 3,522,228 |
| Nursing technician (grades 20 to 15) | 695,774 to 903,770 |
To keep comparing public salaries, see also how much a teacher earns and how much a police officer earns. Scale amounts change every time Congress approves a public-sector pay adjustment, usually in December; we will update this page when the next one comes out.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse earn in a Chilean public hospital?
Between CLP 1,275,277 (grade 17) and CLP 3,522,228 (grade 5) gross a month without seniority, according to the Health Ministry scale in force since June 2026. Seniority, shifts and bonuses raise it.
How much does a newly graduated nurse earn?
It depends on the employer. In the public sector, each health service sets the entry grade. Mi Futuro reports CLP 1.9 to 2 million four years after graduation for Usach.
How much does a TENS earn?
A nursing technician on the technical staff earns between CLP 695,774 (grade 20) and CLP 903,770 (grade 15) gross without seniority, according to the Health Ministry scale.
Why does a nurse's pay vary so much?
Because of grade, years of service, shift work, zone allowances and whether they work in the public sector or a private clinic.
