Two of the best places for foreign nurses to work are the UK and Germany. They both have the best healthcare systems in the world, with universal access to free medical treatment. Where is the best place to work as a nurse, though? What advantages do these nations have to offer overseas workers?

The Primary Differences Between Nursing Work in Germany and the UK

To begin, let's define the distinctions and parallels between nurse positions and employee benefits. The country that is better, worse, or equal in this regard was indicated by the green hue.

Salary

• The UK: £22,128 to £28,746 (25,373 EUR – 32,961 EUR)
• Germany: 27,600 EUR

Nurses in the UK receive on average higher salaries than in Germany. The average ranges from £22,128 to £28,746 (25,373 EUR – 32,961 EUR), and £35,000 – £45,000 for senior nurses, when the very common annual salary for German nurses is 27,600 EUR with an increase to 42,000 EUR for senior professionals.

You can check salaries for all professions in Germany under Gehalt.de. It shows you real numbers, which range with location, experience, and company.

Germany vs UK: Which Is Better for Living?

Language requirements

• The UK: IELTS level 7; OET – B
• Germany: Goethe-Zertifikat level B2; TestDaF – TDN 2; telc – B2

To work in the UK, nurses are not obliged to study a foreign tongue. But if they are not natural speakers, they must pass specific exams.

Germany has German as its official language. To apply for a job and do the job, everyone who wants to work as a nurse in this country must learn a new language and obtain a credential.

Weekend and night work surcharge

• The UK: Sundays/Holidays – 60% of the regular hour fare; Nights and Saturdays – 30%
• Germany: Sundays – 50%, Holidays – 150%, Nights – 25-30%

Nurses who choose to work on weekends, evenings, or bank holidays will receive 60% more pay than those who prefer to work on weekdays, nights, or Saturdays.

In contrast, the night fee in Germany ranges from 25% to 30% of the usual hourly rate, of which 25% is tax-free. As you can see, nurses who prefer to work at night make far more money than those who prefer to work during the day.

In fact, working on Sundays will pay you 50% (tax-free) more than usual, and working on holidays will pay you 150% more than usual. In addition, there is a 40% (tax-free) night fee that applies if you work during the night.

Holidays

• The UK: A minimum of 27 working days plus 8 bank days = 35 per year
• Germany: A minimum of 24 free working days per year

In the UK, nurses are guaranteed a minimum of 27 working days off per year, plus an additional 8 bank holidays for a total of 35 days off. Moreover, holidays rising to 29 days after five years of employment. And the initial 27 days become 33 days after ten years of service.

German nurses are entitled to at least 24 days off from work per year, though this is typically between 25 and 30 days because each firm sets its own rules. Unfortunately, unlike other professions, the health industry does not observe public holidays.

Working hours

• In the UK: 37,5 hours per week, the most common scheme is twelve-hour shifts
• Germany: 40 hours per week, 3 shifts each 8 hours long

In the UK, nurses put in an average of 37,5 hours a week with set shifts. They might last eight, twelve, or even sixteen hours, and they might not adhere to the standard day, evening, and night shift schedule.

Even though 12-hour shifts, which typically begin at 7 p.m. and conclude at 7 a.m., are the most popular schedule, some start at 3 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.

In contrast, nurses in Germany choose to work three 8-hour shifts per day, for a total of 40 hours per week. Each employer is free to design their own shift plan, however, this pattern is frequently used:

1. Morning shift: 6 am to 2:30 pm
2. Evening/late shift: 1:30 pm to 10:00 pm
3. Night shift: 8:30 pm to 6:00 am

Refunds for language courses

• The UK: Foreign nurses get reimbursed costs of the IELTS – £170 and OET £349
• Germany: No refunds, nurses pay 210 EUR for Goethe-Zertifikat and 195 EUR for TestDaF

Future nurses in the UK and Germany will have to pass tests and language exams before they can follow the profession. In contrast to Germany, the UK health system will reimburse their exam fees, including those for the IELTS and OET, which will be paid along with the nurse's first month's pay.

Unfortunately, Germany does not reimburse future nurses for the expense of language exams. For instance, the Goethe-Zertifikat B2 exam costs 210 EUR, and the most popular test, the TestDaF, costs 195 EUR.

Nursing Education

The UK: University degree is required

Germany: No university degree needed yet vocation training

You require a university degree to work as a nurse in the majority of developed nations, including the UK. However, when it comes to apprenticeships or so-called vocational training, Germany is quite advanced.

The most common way to get a nursing qualification in Germany is to complete a 3-year nursing apprenticeship that provides a monthly salary.

Nurses salaries in Germany

Do you want to know what is nurses salary in Germany? this table will give you a complete idea about nurses' salaries in Germany.

Nurses Categories	Nurse Salary (Fresher)	Nurse Salary (Experienced)
Trainee Nurse:-	1st Year-   1050 €                    2nd Year- 1150 €                    3rd year-1 250 €	3000 to 4000 € after the course is complete. Per month.
Trained Nurses in Germany	2500 to 2850 € per month	4150 to 4380 € per month.
Non-EU Nurses	2250 to 2480 € per month.	2850 to 3480 € per month.

Germany vs UK: Which Is Better for Living?

Income Tax

• The UK: Income tax of 20% plus foreign fee 460 EUR per year; 2,099 EUR monthly after-tax
• Germany: Varies between 30% and 42%; 1,610 monthly after-tax

The typical UK nurse makes £1,825 (2,099 EUR) per month after taxes or a gross monthly income of £2,250 (2,587 EUR). You may see that UK income taxes are only about 20% for nurses' typical wages, which vary from £12,501 to £50,000.

In addition to paying income taxes, foreign nurses and other migrant workers entering the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) must also pay a yearly fee of £200 (230 EUR) for each person.

And the bad news is that later this year, the annual charge will be doubled from £200 to £400 (460 EUR), with the discounted rate for students set to increase from £150 to £300.

That must be a significant financial and mental burden for expats who are also caring for their families. For one child and the spouse, they may wind up paying 1,380 EUR annually and 115 EUR each month.

In Germany, foreign nurses are not subject to any additional taxes or fees. Between 30% and 42% of German nurses' monthly gross salaries are paid in taxes.

Income taxes will therefore be about 690 EUR with an average salary of 2,300 EUR. A nurse will therefore receive 1,610 EUR in cash.

Furthermore, a solidarity surcharge of 5% of gross income is required of all German employees. I'm done now. With the remaining funds and different bonuses, employees can still maintain a good standard of living.

Employees Benefits

Benefits for workers varies between the social systems in the UK and Germany.

Income protection is something that Germany lacks. It's an insurance plan that a business buys to safeguard the financial security of its staff in the event that a sickness or injury prevents them from working.

An income protection policy will provide a nurse with monthly payments equal to 65% of their pre-tax income in the event that they are identified as having a health issue and need to take time off work to recover.

If their health is severe enough to prohibit them from returning to work consistently, nurses may be able to collect these benefits for up to two years or until retirement age, depending on the policy options they pick.

Another insurance that Germany lacks is life insurance. It's a group insurance programme run by the firm that guarantees financial help for a worker's family in the event of their demise or terminal illness while working for the business.

The amount of the assistance is typically paid all at once and ranges from 2-4 times the employee's annual salary, however each firm is free to choose how much they would like to spend. This sum of money can be used to cover funeral costs, settle debts, or assist a family with living expenses as they adjust.

The Similarities Between German and British Nursing Work

Despite all the differences, Germany and the UK share a lot of commonalities with regard to the career paths taken by foreign nurses.

Family

• The UK: Nurses can take their spouse with them once the job and visa confirmed
• Germany: Foreign nurses can also invite their family after they receive a German residence permit

Continual training

• The UK: Nurses can do continual training in 4 areas: mental health, adult, child, and learning disability
• Germany: Has an endless range of qualifications and continual training for practicing nurses

In the UK, nurses go through ongoing training, just like in Germany. They thus have numerous options for job advancement.

Despite the fact that UK nurses have the option to specialize in one of four care settings—mental health, adult, child, or learning disability—with further education, they may also choose to work as a midwife, nursing manager, or research nurse.

By concentrating on one of the various professions available in Germany, nurses can increase their knowledge, job prospects, and income potential.

• Anesthesia and intensive care
• Operations and endoscopy service
• Oncology
• Clinical geriatrics
• Rehabilitation and long-term care
• Palliative and hospice care
• Hygiene
• Nephrology
• Psychiatric care
• Orthopedics
• General Internal Medicine
• Geriatric
• Obstetrics (women doctor)
• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatric
• Maternity and newborn care

Sick pay

• The UK: Nurses can get £94.25 per week of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for up to 28 weeks
•  
• Germany: First 6 weeks, nurses get sick pay which is equal to a regular day salary, after – financial support for up to 78 weeks

Employed nurses are paid for sick days in both the UK and Germany. However, after their first four days of sick leave, most UK employees are entitled to £94.25 a week. Statutory Sick Pay is what it's called, and it covers them for up to 28 weeks of missed work.

Additionally, a nurse may purchase Sick Pay Insurance, which offers temporary financial assistance in the event of illness absence. It normally pays out for up to one year's worth of absences and can begin as early as one week.

In Germany, nurses are entitled to the first six weeks of sick pay equal to their usual day salary, and in some cases, the employer is required to continue making payments for up to 12 weeks.

The illness benefit provides you with cash support for up to 78 weeks after the initial six weeks, if necessary (1,6 years). The actual amount fluctuates, but it is undoubtedly greater than the UK's weekly minimum wage of £94.25, which is even insufficient to cover your rent.

Pension

• The UK: A nurse and employer share pension contributions which is between 8% and 9.3% of the monthly salary
• Germany: Fixed pension contribution 19,6% of the gross salary, 9,8% paid by the employer, and 9,8% paid by the nurse

With only minor differences in pension plans, the UK and Germany both provide strong pensions for their nurses.

For nurses, the UK has one of the greatest pension programs in the nation. According to starting pay, new hires will immediately be enrolled with pension payments ranging from 7,1% to 9,3% on their first day of work.

where a regular contribution to the pension account is made by the company and the employee in equal amounts.

Germany, on the other hand, has a uniform set pension contribution that applies to all professions. This payment is 19,6% of gross pay, with 9,8% coming from the employer and 9,8% from the employee.

The following are the primary commonalities I have found in reading numerous reviews, accounts, and articles about health workers in Germany and the UK:

Nurses cannot work autonomously and are underpaid and undervalued. They need permission from the doctor, senior nurse, or department manager for practically every action.

The Best Countries to Work as a Nurse

In fact, statistics show that of every 1,000 nurses in England, 869 are British, 55 are from other EU nations, 44 are Asian, 21 are African, and 11 are from other countries. Germany and the UK have historically been the two most popular countries for international nurses.

Filipino and Indian nurses predominate in the UK. 134,000 foreign nurses were working in German hospitals at the same time (2019).

The simplest places to obtain a job or visa are likely Germany and the UK because of their welcoming attitudes toward outsiders. On our globe, there are, nevertheless, regions that are better for nurses. The top 5 nations to work as a nurse are shown below.

1. the United States

2. Canada 

3. Luxembourg

4. Australia

5. Ireland

The United States

The US is one of the greatest places to work as a nurse with an average yearly pay of about $67,490 for a registered nurse and earned respect and responsibility. Nurses can earn incomes that are virtually as high as those of doctors after pursuing a master's degree.

Qualifications of many foreign nurses are hard to recognize. Thus, they will need to pass exams and get the certifications.

The top five states that have the current highest employment rates for nurses are:

1. California ($274,650)
2. Texas ($207,810)
3. New York ($180,730)
4. Florida ($174,710)
5. Pennsylvania ($139,480)

Canada

The universal health care system in Canada is well-funded, and nurses with training and expertise in a variety of specialties are in high demand. IENs should obtain a license in the same manner as Canadian registered nurses if they wish to work in the nation. They might anticipate earning between $48,000 and $55,000 per year.

Luxembourg

For nurses who want to make a high salary and live in a peaceful, stable nation, Luxembourg is an excellent choice. Surprisingly, Luxembourg is at the top of the list for nurse salaries per month.

The nation has generous wages, tax haven regulations, and a small population.

Salary is well above average. While even entry-level nurses typically earn around $60,000 per year, experienced nurses make an average of $105,749 per year. The income might increase to $125,000 annually.

Luxembourg is one of the places on earth if your goal is to make money and have a safe workplace.

The drawback is how difficult it is to obtain a work visa. It takes years for nursing positions to become available.

However, if the nurse is an EU/EEA citizen, they won't have any trouble finding work in Luxembourg because they won't need a visa in this situation.

Australia

A registered nurse makes an annual income of about $46,720. However, as their level of experience rises, so does their pay. Salary potential reaches $60,000 annually.

Nurses hold a certificate from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) in order to become certified nurses in the event that a foreign degree is not recognized in Australia.

Ireland

Ireland's major benefit is that it is an English-speaking nation and a member of the European Union. So you have an alternative to the UK if you wish to stay in Europe.

The disadvantage is that you must be registered with the NMBI or the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland in order to work and practice as a nurse in Ireland.

In essence, nurses who lack these kinds of credentials will have to go through the certification process again in Ireland. Before applying for a nursing post in the nation, one must first receive a certification from the board.

Additionally greater than in the UK, the average income ($48,00) is complemented by favorable working conditions. However, nurses with some experience will earn this pay; junior sisters will receive a somewhat lesser sum.

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