Government Nurse Salary 2026 — Nurse I to Nurse VII
Nurse salary by position (2026, Step 1)
Government nursing positions run from Nurse I to Nurse VII across Salary Grades 15 to 24. Newly licensed nurses entering public service start as Nurse I.
| Position | Salary Grade | 2026 monthly (Step 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse I (entry) | SG 15 | ₱42,178 |
| Nurse II | SG 16 | ₱45,694 |
| Nurse III | SG 17 | ₱49,562 |
| Nurse IV | SG 19 | ₱59,153 |
| Nurse V | SG 20 | ₱66,052 |
| Nurse VI | SG 22 | ₱81,796 |
| Nurse VII | SG 24 | ₱102,603 |
Third Tranche of the EO 64 salary schedule, effective 1 Jan 2026 (DBM NBC 601). Nurse ladder per DBM Budget Circular No. 2021-2. Nurse I's SG 15 entry is set by Republic Act 9173 (Philippine Nursing Act).
Why Nurse I is Salary Grade 15
For years, government Nurse I positions sat at Salary Grade 11. Section 32 of Republic Act 9173, the Philippine Nursing Act, sets SG 15 as the minimum base pay of nurses in public health institutions, and the Supreme Court upheld that provision in 2019 (Ang Nars Party-List v. Executive Secretary). DBM then upgraded Nurse I to SG 15 from 1 January 2020 (Budget Circular 2020-4) and Nurse II to SG 16 from 1 June 2021 (Budget Circular 2021-2).
In 2026 that means a Nurse I enters at ₱42,178 a month instead of the SG 11 rate of ₱31,705. On 1 January 2027, the fourth EO 64 tranche raises Nurse I Step 1 to ₱44,148.
Allowances and hazard pay
Public-health nurses are covered by the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305), which adds allowances on top of basic pay:
- PERA — ₱2,000/month
- Hazard pay — for those in hazardous assignments
- Subsistence and laundry allowance — for hospital-based staff
- Night-shift differential — for those working night duty
- Mid-year bonus and year-end bonus (one month's basic pay each) plus the ₱5,000 cash gift
The exam behind this job: the Nurse Licensure Exam
Every government nurse item requires a PRC nursing license, which you get by passing the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) — five Nursing Practice tests over two days, with a 75% general average and no test below 60% to pass. PRC held it in February and August 2026 (76.69% passed in August); the 2027 dates aren't announced yet.
Sources & Official References
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a government Nurse I salary in 2026?
A Nurse I earns ₱42,178/month at Step 1 in 2026 (Salary Grade 15), as required by Republic Act 9173. Hazard pay, subsistence allowance and PERA are added on top for public-health nurses.
What is the highest nurse position in government?
The nurse ladder runs to Nurse VII at Salary Grade 24, earning ₱102,603/month at Step 1 in 2026. Beyond that, nurses move into chief-nurse and hospital-management roles.
Do private hospital nurses earn the same?
Not necessarily. The SG 15 entry applies to government nurses. Private-hospital pay is set by each employer and is not covered by the government Salary Grade schedule.
Is Nurse I really Salary Grade 15 now?
Yes. DBM implemented the SG 15 entry from 1 January 2020 after the Supreme Court upheld Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act, so government Nurse I positions pay ₱42,178 at Step 1 in 2026.
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