An enrolled nurse in the public service earns R19 120.00 a month at entry in 2026, rising to R33 116.00 a month at the top of Grade 3. An enrolled nursing auxiliary, called a nursing assistant in the pay scales, starts at R15 102.50 a month. These are the exact notches published in Annexure B to DPSA Circular No. 15 of 2026, effective 1 April 2026.
One naming point first, because it causes real confusion. The pay scales call your post a staff nurse. The South African Nursing Council calls you an enrolled nurse. They are the same person and the same salary.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Entry, enrolled nurse (staff nurse) | R19 120.00 a month (R229 440 a year) |
| Top of Grade 3 | R33 116.00 a month (R397 392 a year) |
| Entry, nursing assistant (ENA) | R15 102.50 a month (R181 230 a year) |
| Top of nursing assistant Grade 3 | R25 907.50 a month (R310 890 a year) |
| Grade 1 | Under 10 years after SANC registration |
| Grade 2 | 10 to 20 years |
| Grade 3 | 20 years or more |
| 2026 increase | 4.0%, effective 1 April 2026 |
| Source | DPSA Circular 15 of 2026, Annexure B, PERSAL Tables 298 and 299 |
Enrolled nurse (staff nurse) salary scales
| Grade | Monthly (2026) | Annual (2026) | Notches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse Grade 1 | R19 120.00 to R21 710.00 | R229 440 to R260 520 | 10 |
| Staff Nurse Grade 2 | R22 731.50 to R25 907.50 | R272 778 to R310 890 | 10 |
| Staff Nurse Grade 3 | R26 589.25 to R33 116.00 | R319 071 to R397 392 | 16 |
Nursing assistant (enrolled nursing auxiliary) salary scales
| Grade | Monthly (2026) | Annual (2026) | Notches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant Grade 1 | R15 102.50 to R17 268.75 | R181 230 to R207 225 | 10 |
| Nursing Assistant Grade 2 | R17 616.75 to R19 993.50 | R211 401 to R239 922 | 10 |
| Nursing Assistant Grade 3 | R20 761.75 to R25 907.50 | R249 141 to R310 890 | 16 |
How grading works
Your grade is set by time, not by performance or by application.
Grade 1 is less than 10 years of appropriate experience after registering with SANC in your category.
Grade 2 is at least 10 years but less than 20.
Grade 3 is 20 years or more.
Within each grade you move up notches on satisfactory service, roughly one a year. The move between grades happens on your experience alone, which means the step from the top of Grade 1 (R21 710.00 a month) to the bottom of Grade 2 (R22 731.50 a month) arrives without any promotion.
Note how the scales are built to overlap. A nursing assistant at the top of Grade 3 earns R25 907.50 a month, exactly the same as an enrolled nurse at the top of Grade 2. A long-serving auxiliary is paid the same as a mid-career enrolled nurse.
The ceiling, and the case for bridging
Here is the fact that should shape your career planning.
An enrolled nurse at the very top of Grade 3, after 20 or more years of service, earns R33 116.00 a month.
A professional nurse at the top of Grade 1, with under 10 years of experience, earns R33 116.00 a month.
The numbers are identical. Twenty years as an enrolled nurse gets you to the same salary that a professional nurse reaches in her first decade, and the professional nurse then goes on to Grade 2 and Grade 3, topping out at R52 924.00.
The bridging course from enrolled nurse to professional nurse is the highest-return decision available to you in this dispensation. It is worth roughly R20 000 a month at the top end of a career, and considerably more if you go on to a post-basic specialty qualification, where entry alone is R41 285.25 a month.
Sessional and contract rates
If you work sessional shifts in the public sector, you are paid by the hour. The rate is derived from the minimum notch of your full-time post with 37% added in lieu of benefits.
| Experience | Sessional staff nurse | Sessional nursing assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 years | R152 an hour | R120 an hour |
| 10 to 20 years | R180 an hour | R140 an hour |
| 20 years or more | R211 an hour | R165 an hour |
These are a useful benchmark against private agency offers, because the 37% loading means the state has already priced in the benefits you would otherwise forgo.
What sits on top of your notch
The scales above are basic salary only. Public sector enrolled nurses and nursing assistants also receive a 13th cheque worth one month’s salary, paid in their birthday month, a housing allowance for home owners, GEPF membership where you contribute 7.5% and the state contributes 13%, and GEMS medical aid with the state paying a large share. Rural and scarce skills allowances apply in some facilities.
PAYE, UIF, your GEPF contribution and your medical aid share are deducted. Your take-home is meaningfully lower than the notch.
Related tools and reading
- Nurse salary in South Africa: full OSD pay scales
- Professional nurse salary: full grade breakdown
- Student nurse stipend
- Take-home pay calculator
Frequently asked questions
How much does an enrolled nurse earn per month in South Africa? R19 120.00 a month at entry in the public service, rising to R33 116.00 a month at the top of Grade 3.
Is a staff nurse the same as an enrolled nurse? Yes. The OSD pay scales use the term staff nurse. SANC registers you as an enrolled nurse. Same post, same salary.
What does a nursing assistant earn? R15 102.50 a month at entry, rising to R25 907.50 a month at the top of Grade 3. A nursing assistant is an enrolled nursing auxiliary.
How do I move from Grade 1 to Grade 2? On experience. Grade 1 is under 10 years after SANC registration, Grade 2 is 10 to 20 years, and Grade 3 is 20 years or more.
Is it worth bridging to professional nurse? Financially, yes. An enrolled nurse tops out at R33 116.00 a month after 20 years. A professional nurse reaches that same figure in under 10 years and goes on to R52 924.00.
What increase did enrolled nurses get in 2026? 4.0%, effective 1 April 2026, under DPSA Circular No. 15 of 2026.
What is the hourly rate for a sessional staff nurse? R152 an hour under 10 years of experience, R180 from 10 to 20 years, and R211 at 20 years or more.
Methodology and sources
All salary figures come from Annexure B to DPSA Circular No. 15 of 2026, the translation key for PERSAL Tables 298 and 299 covering the OSD for Professional Nurses, Staff Nurses and Nursing Assistants, effective 1 April 2026. Grade criteria and sessional hourly rates come from Annexure J3 to the same circular.
The 4.0% adjustment gives effect to PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2025. Annual figures are the published full-time notches. Monthly figures are the annual notch divided by 12, before deductions.
This page was last reviewed on 12 July 2026.
Disclaimer
These are the published public service salary scales. Your actual placement depends on your grade, notch and recognised experience. Private hospital groups set their own pay and are not bound by the OSD. For your exact notch, ask your departmental human resources office, which can confirm your PERSAL placement.
