Nurse Salary Australia 2026: Pay by Role, State & Experience

A registered nurse's salary in Australia starts at $63,414 a year under the general Nurses Award minimum, excluding the separate aged-care schedule. In the public system it rises well above that: in NSW, base pay reaches about $114,379 by the eighth year of service. Where you sit depends on four key factors: your classification and experience, the industrial agreement covering you, your state or territory, and your shift mix. Market data from Indeed puts the average registered nurse rate at around $51 an hour.

The figures in this guide were checked in August 2026 against Fair Work pay guides, state pay schedules, and current market data. Each number is labelled so you know whether it is an award minimum, a public sector base, or a market average.

How much money can a nurse make in Australia?

Annual awards and NSW figures are derived from published weekly rates over 52 weeks; base pay only, before penalties, allowances, and superannuation. Award figures are the general stream; aged care nurses have a separate, higher award schedule.

How nurse pay is set in Australia

Nurse pay can come from several different industrial arrangements. Knowing which one covers you is the single most useful thing you can learn from this article.

The Nurses Award 2020 sets minimum rates where it applies in parts of the private and aged-care sectors. Most public hospital nurses are instead covered by state enterprise agreements or public sector awards, which generally pay above the national award. Some private employers pay market rates above both. Casual, agency, and contractor arrangements each alter the calculation, which will be explained in the following section.

Two 2026 changes matter. General award minimums rose 4.75 % from 1 July 2026 in the annual wage review. Separately, eligible aged care nurses under the Nurses Award received a further increase from 1 August 2026, the latest step in the aged care work value case, and now sit on their own higher classification schedule. If you work in aged care, verify your classification against the current pay guide rather than a generic nurse figure.

Registered nurse salary by experience and classification

These are the national minimums under the Nurses Award for nurses other than aged care employees, current as of August 2026 (general rates applied from 1 July 2026). Public sector nurses are generally paid above these rates under their state instruments. Source: Fair Work pay guide, Nurses Award MA000034.

Progression occurs through pay points based on years of service and through classification levels with responsibilities. That is why two nurses with the same job title can be on meaningfully different pay. They may be at different pay points or under different instruments entirely.

Nurse Pay Rates by State 2026: NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, ACT

State comparisons only work if they compare the same thing. This table shows the entry-level registered nurse rate and the maximum rate of the standard clinical registered nurse scale for each public system's current classification instrument. Classification structures differ between states, so the closest equivalent is named rather than forced into one label.

*TAS figures appear in current Tasmanian Government job listings; confirm against the Department of Health salary rates page at publish. SA's proposed 2026 agreement was rejected by ballot in August 2026, so the 2022 agreement rates plus the January 2026 interim increase remain current.

Two patterns hold everywhere. Public system bases sit well above the national award minimum in every jurisdiction. And the effective dates differ, because each state negotiates its own agreement cycle: several states have further increases already scheduled, including WA from October 2026 and NSW from July 2027.

How penalties, overtime and allowances lift nurse pay

Base salary understates what most nurses actually earn, because nursing runs around the clock and penalty rates apply to unsociable hours.

Under the Nurses Award, the key percentages are Saturday 150%, Sunday 175%, and public holidays 250%. Afternoon shifts add 12.5% and night shifts add 15%. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the base rate. Enterprise agreements and public sector instruments can use different percentages, so verify yours rather than assuming the award numbers.

A worked example under the award. An entry-level registered nurse earning $32.09 an hour earns $48.14 an hour on Saturdays and $56.16 on Sundays. Qualification allowances also lift base earnings: completing a relevant postgraduate certificate or diploma adds an additional 3.5% to 5.5% allowance under most state enterprise agreements. The shift mix on your roster and your qualifications are often the difference between two nurses on identical classifications taking home very different amounts.

What are the highest paid nursing jobs in Australia?

Base pay is generally driven more directly by classification and role than by speciality title alone. The consistently higher-paid group are in senior roles: director of nursing and executive positions, nurse unit managers, senior clinical consultants, and nurse practitioners. Rankings within that group vary by state, employer, and classification.

What about intensive care, emergency, mental health, and remote nursing? A speciality itself does not guarantee a higher base. Total earnings in these areas rise through higher classifications, qualifications and speciality allowances, heavier penalty loads, overtime, and rural and remote incentive packages.

Agency vs Casual vs Independent Nurse Pay (And AHPRA PII Rules)

Higher hourly rates are the headline. The full picture depends on which of three arrangements you are actually in, because they are economically different even at the same rate.

Casual employee: You receive a 25 % loading under the award in place of paid annual and personal leave. Superannuation is still paid by the employer, and award protections still apply. Casual suits nurses who want flexibility and can absorb unpaid leave and quiet fortnights.

Agency employee: The agency is your employer. Market data suggests agency nurses average around $64 an hour, though from a small reported sample. Your rate, penalties, and conditions depend on the agency arrangement, and superannuation is generally still paid by the agency. Higher rates compensate for irregular work and no guaranteed hours, but do not compensate for losing employee status.

Genuine independent contractor: A smaller group, mostly in areas like immunisation programmes, telehealth, and private clinical work. Contractors negotiate their fees and handle their tax and business administration. Two cautions from the regulators. Holding an ABN does not by itself make you a contractor. And superannuation depends on the engagement: contractors paid mainly for their labour can still be owed super by the hirer.

Under Section 129 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) mandates that all practising nurses hold appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII). Public hospital staff are covered by employer vicarious liability whilst working rostered-shifts for the hospital, but agency nurses who work across multiple facilities, or independent contractors (ABN holders), often work beyond standard employer policies. upcover offers individual PII arrangements to ensure full AHPRA compliance and legal defence cover for independent, casual or moonlighting practice.

The practical comparison: $70 an hour as a casual employee includes a loading, employer superannuation, and award protections. Earning $70 an hour as a genuine contractor means you are still responsible for funding your own expenses, including gaps between engagements, business administration, and business costs, while superannuation will depend on the specific engagement. If you are pricing a move into independent work, insurance for nurses arranged through upcover is one of the set-up costs to include.

How we compared nurse salaries

Rates checked August 2026. Award figures are general-stream minimums from the Fair Work pay guide for the Nurses Award 2020; general rates applied from 1 July 2026, and the separate aged care schedule changed again from 1 August 2026. State figures are base rates under each named public sector instrument at the effective date shown. Market averages are from Indeed's salary data for Australia (around 9,900 registered nurse reports at our August 2026 check) and reflect advertised and reported pay rather than a statistical survey. Annual figures marked 'derived' are weekly rates multiplied by 52. All figures are base pay excluding superannuation, penalties, and allowances unless stated otherwise. Aged care award classifications are not merged into the general figures above.

Frequently asked questions

How much do nurses get paid in Australia?

From $30.00 an hour for an enrolled nurse and $32.09 for a registered nurse under the general Nurses Award to around $51 an hour as a market average across all settings. Annually, entry-level registered nurses start at $63,414 at the award minimum and around $77,800 to $87,800 in the public system, depending on the state, with experienced public system nurses earning above $100,000 in every jurisdiction.

Do nurses get paid well in Australia?

Yes, relative to national benchmarks. Entry registered nurse award minimums ($32.09 an hour) sit well above the national minimum wage ($26.44), and public system base rates are higher again in every state, with experienced registered nurses above $100,000 in each jurisdiction. Structured pay-point progression and penalty rates lift real earnings further, which few industries offer as systematically.

What is the highest paid nursing job in Australia?

The highest-paid group is in senior roles rather than one job: director of nursing and executive positions, nurse unit managers (market benchmarks are around $140,000), senior clinical consultants, and nurse practitioners (from a $100,500 award minimum, higher in practice). Rankings vary by state, employer, and classification, and specialities raise earnings through allowances and penalties rather than base rate.

Do nurses earn more working casual or agency shifts?

Usually per hour, yes. Casuals receive a 25 % award loading, and market data puts agency nursing around $64 an hour from a small sample. The trade has no paid leave and no guaranteed hours. Genuine contractors also carry business costs, including arranging their own indemnity cover where other arrangements do not extend to the work. Compare the total annual package, not the hourly headline.

What is a registered nurse paid under the Nurses' Award?

From the current pay guide, a Level 1 registered nurse starts at $1,219.50 a week, or $32.09 an hour, under the general stream. Rates rise through pay points to $1,720.10 a week ($45.27 an hour) at Level 3 pay point 4 and above. These are national minimums; enterprise agreements commonly pay above them, and aged care nurses are on a separate schedule.

How upcover can help

Most nurses reading a salary guide are weighing a career move: taking on agency shifts, moving into private practice, or going independent. upcover arranges tailored Professional Indemnity Insurance for nurses working full-time, casually, or as independent contractors to ensure full AHPRA compliance before you start your next shift. Get an instant online quote for insurance for nurses in under 2 minutes. upcover is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 1299211) of Experience Insurance Services Pty Ltd, ABN 41 657 596 506, AFSL 539078.

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_{This article contains general information about nurse pay in Australia and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Pay rates change: check the current Fair Work pay guide and your own industrial instrument for rates that apply to you. The insurance information in this article is general in nature; before deciding whether a particular insurance product is right for you, read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and consider your circumstances. upcover Pty Ltd ABN 17 628 197 437 is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 1299211) of Experience Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 41 657 596 506, AFSL 539078. upcover arranges insurance products with selected insurers and underwriters. upcover does not compare all general insurers or insurance products available in the market.}