Nurse Salary in Melbourne: Award Rates, Super, and Tax in 2026

Nurse Salary in Melbourne: Award Rates, Super, and Tax

When asking about a nurse salary in Melbourne, the starting point is the Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034), which sets minimum pay rates for nurses across Australia. These rates are updated each year and are enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman. For 2026, the award rates took effect from 1 August.

Minimum Rates Under the Nurses Award

The award covers many classifications, from nursing assistants to nurse practitioners. For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1, the minimum weekly rate is $1,219.50, or $32.09 per hour. This is the entry-level rate for a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree. More experienced nurses earn higher rates:

• Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 8: $1,465.50 per week ($38.57/hr)
• Registered Nurse Level 2 Pay Point 4: $1,580.30 per week ($41.59/hr)
• Registered Nurse Level 4 Grade 1: $1,861.70 per week ($48.99/hr)
• Nurse Practitioner 1st year: $1,877.00 per week ($49.39/hr)

These are minimum ordinary-time rates. Many nurses in Melbourne work under enterprise agreements that pay above the award, and shift penalties can add 50% to 100% to the hourly rate for Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday work.

How Does This Compare to the National Line?

The Salary Index uses a baseline of 100, which equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year (from ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). A nurse on the award minimum of $63,414 annualised has an index of about 58.5. That is well below the national average, but it is a floor, not a ceiling. Victoria’s state index is 98, meaning the average Victorian worker earns slightly less than the national line.

Gross Pay, Super, and Tax

When evaluating a nurse salary in Melbourne, it helps to break down the components:

• Gross pay: The weekly rate before any deductions. For a Level 1 Pay Point 1 nurse, that is $1,219.50.
• Superannuation: From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of gross pay. The employer must contribute an extra $146.34 per week into the nurse’s super fund. This is not part of take-home pay but is a key part of total remuneration.
• Tax: For the 2026–27 financial year, a nurse earning $63,414 falls into the 30% marginal tax bracket (income between $45,001 and $135,000). After the tax-free threshold of $18,200 and the 2% Medicare levy, the estimated weekly tax is about $280, leaving a take-home pay of around $939 per week. This is a rough estimate; individual circumstances (HELP loans, private health insurance) can change it.

Beyond the Award: Actual Earnings

The award minimum is just the starting point. Many nurses in Melbourne earn more due to:

• Enterprise agreements: Hospitals and health services often have agreements that set higher base rates.
• Penalty rates: Weekend and public holiday work can boost hourly pay by 50% to 100%.
• Allowances: Shift allowances, on-call allowances, and qualification allowances add to gross pay.

For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 8 working regular weekends could earn well over $1,500 per week. The pay guides from Fair Work Ombudsman list all penalty rates and allowances.

State and Industry Context

Melbourne is in Victoria, where the state salary index is 98 (annualised $106,137). The health care and social assistance industry index is 97.8, slightly below the national average. This means that while nurse award rates are set nationally, the average health worker in Victoria earns close to the state average. You can compare other industries on our industries page.

Key Takeaways

• The minimum nurse salary in Melbourne under the award is $1,219.50 per week for an entry-level registered nurse.
• The salary index for that rate is about 58.5, well below the national line of 100.
• Superannuation (12%) is paid on top, and tax reduces take-home pay to roughly $939 per week.
• Actual earnings are often higher due to penalties, allowances, and enterprise agreements.

For a full list of award rates, visit the states page to see how Victoria compares, or use the how the index works guide to understand the calculations.

FAQs

What is the minimum hourly rate for a registered nurse in Melbourne under the award? Under the Nurses Award 2020, a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 earns a minimum hourly rate of $32.09 as of 1 August 2026. This rate applies nationally, including Melbourne. Higher pay points and classifications attract higher rates, up to $71.23 per hour for a Registered Nurse Level 5 Grade 6.

How does superannuation affect a nurse's total compensation in Melbourne? Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on top of gross wages from 1 July 2026. For a nurse earning the award minimum of $1,219.50 per week, the employer adds about $146.34 per week in super. This is not included in the salary index calculation, which uses ordinary-time earnings before super.

What is the salary index for a nurse earning the award minimum in Melbourne? The salary index compares annualised gross ordinary-time earnings to the national line of 100 ($108,352). For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 earning $1,219.50 per week (annualised $63,414), the index is approximately 58.5. This is well below the national average, but many nurses earn more through penalties and enterprise agreements.