Enrolled Nurse Salary: What to Expect from Job Ads and Award Rates

Understanding the enrolled nurse salary landscape

When you see a job ad for an enrolled nurse, the salary figure can be confusing. Is it above the minimum? Is it competitive? The key is to start with the legal minimums set by the Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034), which covers most enrolled nurses in Australia. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes these rates, and they vary by classification and setting.

Enrolled nurses work under supervision in hospitals, aged care, and community settings. The award splits them into two main groups: other than aged care employees and aged care employees. For the first group, there are pay points based on experience (1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year and thereafter, and an experienced rate for those with a Certificate III). For aged care, from March 2025 there is a single higher rate for enrolled nurses who supervise other direct care workers.

Here are the minimum weekly rates (full-time) as of 1 August 2026, from the Fair Work Ombudsman:

• Other than aged care: 1st year $1,050.70; 2nd year $1,067.30; 3rd year and thereafter $1,084.40; Experienced (Cert III) $1,119.10; Pay point 1 $1,139.90; Pay point 2 $1,155.00; Pay point 3 $1,170.40; Pay point 4 $1,187.20; Pay point 5 $1,199.20.
• Aged care (supervising): $1,542.00 per week.

These are the floors. Many employers pay above award, especially in areas with labour shortages. But if an ad offers less than these, it's likely underpaying.

How to read a job ad for an enrolled nurse

Job ads often list an hourly rate or an annual salary. Compare that to the award hourly rates. For example, an ad offering $30 per hour for an enrolled nurse (other than aged care) is above the pay point 1 minimum of $30.00 but below pay point 5 ($31.56). If the ad says "aged care enrolled nurse" and offers $35 per hour, that's below the $40.58 minimum for supervising roles – but check if the role actually involves supervision.

Look for keywords like "pay point", "classification", or "level". Some ads might say "EN Level 1" or similar. If it's vague, ask the employer for the specific award classification. You can also use the pay guides on our site to find the current award rates.

Another tip: check whether the salary includes superannuation. The award requires employers to pay super (12% from 1 July 2026) on top of the base rate. An ad quoting $75,000 including super is actually about $66,964 base, which may be below award for some classifications.

Comparing offers using the Salary Index

The Salary Index helps you compare any pay figure to the national line of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. The index is your yearly gross divided by $108,352 (the national benchmark from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026), multiplied by 100.

For an enrolled nurse at pay point 1 ($1,139.90/week, annualised $59,275), the index is about 55. That means the pay is 55% of the national average. For an aged care enrolled nurse at $1,542/week ($80,184/year), the index is 74. This is still below the national average but higher than many entry-level roles.

Compare this to the health care and social assistance industry index of 97.8 – that's the average across all roles in the sector, including managers and specialists. An enrolled nurse's index is lower because the role is typically at the lower end of the pay scale.

If you're comparing offers across states, remember that state indices vary (e.g., NSW 101.2, WA 106.9, TAS 88.6). But award rates are national, so the base pay is the same. However, some states have their own public sector awards that may pay more. Check the states page for local context.

What about casual and part-time roles?

Many enrolled nurses work part-time (41% work full-time according to Jobs and Skills Australia). For casual roles, you get a 25% loading on the hourly rate. For example, a casual enrolled nurse at pay point 1 would get $30.00 + 25% = $37.50 per hour. Part-time roles are paid the same hourly rate as full-time but with fewer hours.

Tax and super considerations

Your take-home pay depends on tax. For 2026–27, resident tax rates (excluding Medicare) are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. An enrolled nurse earning $60,000 would pay about $7,717 in tax plus $1,200 Medicare levy, leaving about $51,083 take-home. Super is additional and not accessible until retirement.

Final thoughts on reading job ads

When you see an enrolled nurse salary in a job ad, first check the award minimum for your classification. Then use the Salary Index to see where it sits nationally. Don't forget to factor in super, leave entitlements, and any penalty rates for weekends or nights. The award also has clauses for overtime and allowances. If an offer seems low, you can reference the Fair Work Ombudsman's Nurses Award pay guide to negotiate.

For more detailed comparisons, explore our topics on healthcare pay or use the Salary Index to benchmark any offer.