Spanish Nurses Move to Group A1, Boosting Salaries by Nearly 20%

Only nurses move to Group A1: an increase of 15% to 20%

Spanish nursing graduates are moving from Group A2 to Group A1, resulting in a salary increase of 15% to 20% exclusively for them. Other professional categories affected by the Bologna reform receive no additional pay, raising questions about why this specific group is privileged. This change addresses a claim that has gone unaddressed since 2011.

Why do nurses move to Group A1 while other categories do not?

The official argument relies on the Bologna Process. European convergence turned three-year diploma courses into four-year degrees with 240 credits. Nursing meets this requirement, justifying the move to Group A1. However, other degrees, such as Psychology, also hold this classification, creating a comparative grievance that remains unresolved. Some argue that all groups should have been reorganized simultaneously rather than privileging one lobby. If a four-year degree suffices for Group A1, the same logic would apply to all civil servants with degrees, leading to a double mess.

How much does a nurse earn in Spain: 27,000 to 37,000 gross

The data shows a wide range. A nurse in the Sergas system, aged around 50, declared 37,000 euros in 2023. In a private hospital in one of Galicia's two main cities, a professional aged 30 to 35 earned 27,000. In Catalonia, a nurse without a stable post earned 2,200-2,400 net monthly plus two double payments exceeding 3,000, according to another account.

The base salary averages around 33,000 euros across regions. Moving to Group A1 adds approximately 5,000 euros gross annually. Additional factors like supplements, seniority, career pogre, and on-call shifts significantly impact net pay. The difference between having a stable post or not is brutal for any of these figures.

Doctors and nurses: the narrowing wage gap

Spain has the smallest pay gap between doctors and nurses in Europe. In the US, the ratio is 4 to 5 to 1; in France, it ranges from 2.5 to 3 to 1. Here, the move to Group A1 narrows the gap further.

The comparison with working hours and responsibilities is unpopular among some doctors. A physician works 256 mandatory monthly hours, 115 of which are on-call shifts at 11 euros gross per localized hour and double on holidays, without the next day off. In hospital pharmacy, an on-call duty — often not even answered — pays between 600 and 1,000 euros on certain holidays. The full calculation, including shift work and overlap, truly separates the paychecks.

The domino effect: doctors demand Group A1+

The reaction was swift. The State Confederation of Medical Unions (CESM) demands an A1+ (A plus) classification recognizing the difference, along with a specific statute outlining exclusive medical competencies. The underlying antiestéticar is a cascade: if nursing moves up, other diploma holders will also seek higher categories.

Some analyses view this measure as accelerating the brain drain; others note that many professionals work worse shifts in less valued sectors earning under 1,500 euros. The push for equality has precedent: a 1982 PSOE slogan promised not to rest until doctors wore espadrilles.

Emigration and union pressure: the exodus narrative

The narrative of nurses emigrating abroad is smaller than the noise suggests. According to unions, 3.6% of graduates emigrated in 2023, a nearly anecdotal figure. In Norway, a nurse earns between 50,000 and 64,000 euros, but the country's average salary is around 64,000: it remains average or below.

The optimistic calculation looks at absolute salary; the pessimistic one deducts living costs and distance. A 6,000-euro salary far from home competes with 3,000-3,500 in the homeland. Yet, announcing one's departure, even if not taken, works: manual pressure.

Salary increase or more debt?

The big question is who pays. Public health is funded by taxes, and increasing fixed personnel costs is not free. Some see this as a sign of continued indebtedness; others argue the bill is shared among all voters. Part of the analysis views this movement as another chapter in the growth of the civil service structure at the expense of self-employed and private employees.

The exact point where the math gets stuck: no one disputes that nurses meet the 240-credit requirement, but no one explains why this criterion applies to them and not to engineers or physiotherapists with the same degree. Until this figure aligns, each new category will be a patch over the previous one.