PA vs PFA vs DGKP in Austria: Salary and Career Comparison
Written by
Azra Mehanic
Founder, Move to Austria
Reviewed by
Azra Mehanic
Editorial and source review · August 11, 2026
Compare training, legal scope, German, gross-pay examples, allowances and progression before choosing an Austrian nursing level.
PA, PFA and DGKP are different regulated professions
PA is nursing assistant level 1, PFA is level 2 with broader delegated diagnostic and therapeutic tasks, and DGKP is graduate nursing with responsibility across the nursing process. Austrian standard education is about 1,600 hours for PA, 3,200 hours for PFA and a three-year 180-ECTS bachelor's degree for DGKP. A foreign title is not automatically mapped to the highest level; the authority compares the actual education.
The language and responsibility gates rise by level
Official register entry requires B1 German for PA and PFA and B2 for DGKP. PFA training admission can require B2 even though its register threshold is B1. Broader competence brings greater accountability, documentation and interprofessional communication. Choose a target based on the recognition decision and safe practice, not salary alone; working beyond the legally granted scope creates risk for patients and staff.
Compare gross pay only under identical assumptions
Austria has no single national nurse salary. Employer, province, collective agreement, weekly hours, credited experience, ward and allowances all matter. Current 2026 examples show why: NÖ LGA lists a PA base of €2,878.60 for 40 hours with no experience, while a Vienna PFA entry range is €3,119.25–€3,567.32 before time-based allowances. These are employer examples, not universal promises.
DGKP usually pays more, but examples need context
A 2026 Wiener Gesundheitsverbund specialist DGKP vacancy listed €4,248 gross plus €150 monthly hardship compensation at 40 hours, while NÖ LGA's example for a DGKP with eight years' experience lists a €3,975.10 base and €4,703.10 total with specified shifts and family allowance. Different experience and duty patterns make the figures non-comparable. Always request the pay group, step and credited prior service in writing.
Career value includes progression, not only first salary
PA can be the fastest Austrian training route and can progress to PFA; PFA adds technical scope and may bridge toward graduate study; DGKP opens wider clinical responsibility, specialisations, education, quality and management paths. For foreign nurses, temporary lower-level work may be legally possible only under a formal decision and register conditions. Use the eligibility assessment to identify your likely level before choosing jobs, courses or a salary target.
Helpful resources
Official sources
Requirements and fees can change. Verify your individual case with the responsible authority before applying.
- PA education, duties and B1 — Nursing in Austria
- PFA education, duties and language — Nursing in Austria
- DGKP education, scope and B2 — Nursing in Austria
- 2026–27 PA and DGKP salary examples — Lower Austria Health Agency
- 2026 Vienna PFA entry salary range — Wiener Gesundheitsverbund
- 2026 specialist DGKP vacancy and gross salary — Wiener Gesundheitsverbund
