Salary of a Nurse in Australia: State and Industry Differences Explained

What is the salary of a nurse in Australia?

The salary of a nurse in Australia depends on experience, classification, state, and whether you work in public or private health. Two key sources give us the picture: the Nurses Award 2020 from the Fair Work Ombudsman sets legal minimums, while the Australian Bureau of Statistics (via Jobs and Skills Australia) reports what nurses actually earn. This guide explains both, using the Salary Index to show where nurse pay sits against the national line.

Award minimum rates for nurses

The Nurses Award 2020 covers most nurses in Australia. For a full-time registered nurse (38 hours per week), the minimum weekly rate ranges from $1,219.50 (Level 1, Pay Point 1) to $2,706.90 (Level 5, Grade 6). That annualises to roughly $63,414 to $140,759. These are floors, not typical pay. For example, an entry-level registered nurse at Level 1 Pay Point 1 earns $32.09 per hour, giving a salary index of about 58.5 – well below the national line of 100. By contrast, an experienced nurse at Level 5 Grade 6 earns $71.23 per hour, index around 130.

Award rates rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026, consistent with the national minimum wage increase. The pay guides from Fair Work Ombudsman list all current rates.

Median earnings: what nurses actually take home

Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time weekly earnings for registered nurses at $2,192 (before tax). Annualised, that’s $113,984. Against the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 (index 100), this gives a salary index of 105.2. So the typical nurse earns about 5% above the national average. Median hourly earnings are $57, compared to $47 for all occupations.

Only 56% of nurses work full-time; many work part-time or casual. Average full-time hours are 41 per week, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44.

State differences in nurse pay

While the Nurses Award is national, actual pay varies by state due to enterprise agreements, public sector wages, and cost of living. The states page shows overall earnings indices for each state. States with higher indices tend to have higher nurse salaries:

• ACT (index 109.9) – likely highest nurse pay.
• Western Australia (106.9) – strong mining economy lifts all wages.
• New South Wales (101.2) – close to national average.
• Victoria (98.0) – slightly below.
• Queensland (97.9) – similar to Victoria.
• South Australia (94.6) – lower.
• Tasmania (88.6) – lowest overall earnings.

No state-specific nurse median is published, but the pattern suggests nurses in ACT and WA earn more than those in Tasmania or SA. For example, a nurse in WA might earn 10–15% more than a nurse in Tasmania for the same classification.

Industry context

Nurses work almost exclusively in Health Care and Social Assistance, an industry with a salary index of 97.8 – slightly below the national line. However, nurses are a skilled subset within that industry, so their median (105.2) is higher than the industry average. Other industries like Mining (index 154.7) pay more, but that’s not relevant for nurses.

Superannuation and tax

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of salary (from 1 July 2026). For the median nurse earning $113,984, that’s an extra $13,678 into super. The maximum contribution base is $270,830.

For tax (2026–27, excluding Medicare levy), a nurse earning $113,984 falls in the 30% bracket ($45,001–$135,000). After the tax-free threshold and 2% Medicare levy, take-home pay is roughly $84,000–$86,000 depending on deductions. Higher earners (e.g., Level 5 nurses) may hit the 37% bracket.

Summary

The salary of a nurse in Australia ranges from award minimums around $63,000 to a median of $114,000. State and industry differences matter: nurses in high-wage states like WA and ACT earn more, while those in Tasmania earn less. For a personalised estimate, use the how the index works page to compare your pay to the national line.

FAQs

What is the minimum salary for a nurse in Australia?

Under the Nurses Award 2020, the minimum weekly rate for a registered nurse at Level 1 Pay Point 1 is $1,219.50, which annualises to about $63,414 for a full-time employee (38 hours per week). Higher classifications pay more, up to $2,706.90 per week for Level 5 Grade 6. These are legal minimums; many nurses earn above these rates.

How does the salary of a nurse compare to the national average?

The median full-time salary of a registered nurse is about $114,000 per year, which gives a salary index of approximately 105.2 (where 100 is the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352). This means the typical nurse earns about 5% above the national average. Entry-level award rates are below the national line, around index 58.

Does the salary of a nurse vary by state?

Yes, state differences affect nurse pay indirectly. While the Nurses Award is national, enterprise agreements and public sector wages vary. States with higher overall earnings indices, such as the ACT (109.9) and Western Australia (106.9), likely offer higher nurse salaries. Conversely, Tasmania (88.6) and South Australia (94.6) have lower overall earnings, which may reflect in nurse pay. However, no state-specific nurse median data is published.