Nursing salary Australia: what the job ads don't tell you
Compare nursing salary Australia offers using the Salary Index. Median full-time earnings for registered nurses sit at index 105, above the national line of 100.
Registered nurses earn a median full-time salary index of about 105, above the national line of 100.
Nursing salary Australia: reading a job ad and comparing offers
When you search for "nursing salary Australia", you'll see a wide range of figures. A job ad might say "$35–$50 per hour" or "$75,000–$100,000 per year". But how do you know if that's a fair offer? The Salary Index helps by putting every pay figure against the national line, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. For nursing, the median sits at about 105 – above average, but the details matter.
What the data says
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that registered nurses earn a median full-time weekly salary of $2,192. That's $57 per hour, compared to $47 for all occupations. Annualised, that's roughly $113,984, giving a salary index of 105.2. But only 56% of nurses work full-time; the rest work part-time or casually, which affects take-home pay.
Award rates vs market rates
The Nurses Award 2020 sets legal minimums. A registered nurse at Level 1 Pay Point 1 must get at least $1,219.50 per week ($32.09/hr). At the top of the award, a Level 5 Grade 6 nurse gets $2,706.90 ($71.23/hr). Most nurses earn above these minimums, especially in public hospitals where enterprise agreements often pay more. For example, a graduate nurse in a NSW public hospital might start around $35–$38 per hour, while an experienced clinical nurse specialist can earn over $60 per hour.
How the index works
The Salary Index divides a yearly gross salary by the national line of $108,352 (based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026) and multiplies by 100. So a nurse earning $113,984 has an index of 105.2. A nurse on the award minimum of $1,219.50 per week ($63,414 annualised) would have an index of 58.5 – well below the line. That's why it's important to compare offers using the index, not just the dollar figure.
Comparing offers across states and industries
Nursing salaries vary by state. The states page shows that Western Australia has an index of 106.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. A nurse in WA might earn more than one in TAS for the same role. The industries page shows health care and social assistance at 97.8, but nursing itself is above that. If you're comparing a job in a private hospital vs a public one, check the enterprise agreement or award coverage.
Super and tax considerations
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%. On a $113,984 salary, that's an extra $13,678 into your super fund. Tax for 2026–27 (resident, with tax-free threshold) is: nil on the first $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. So a nurse on $113,984 would pay about $24,467 in tax and Medicare, leaving a take-home of $89,517. Salary packaging (common in public hospitals) can reduce taxable income further.
Reading a job ad
When you see a nursing job ad, look for:
- The classification (e.g., Registered Nurse Level 1, Year 2)
- Whether it's full-time, part-time, or casual
- The award or enterprise agreement that applies
- Any allowances (e.g., shift penalties, on-call)
Use the pay guides from Fair Work Ombudsman to check minimum rates. Then compare the offered salary against the median index of 105. If the ad says $80,000, that's an index of 73.8 – below average. If it says $120,000, that's 110.8 – above average. But also consider location, hours, and benefits.
Caveats
The median figure of $2,192 per week is for full-time non-managerial employees. It doesn't include casual loadings (25% on top of award rates) or overtime. Part-time nurses earn proportionally less. Also, the data is from May 2025; wages may have increased since then. Award rates rose 4.75% from 1 July 2026, so current minimums are higher than shown in older pay guides.
Final thoughts
"Nursing salary Australia" isn't a single number. It's a range from award minimums to experienced specialist pay. The Salary Index helps you see where an offer sits relative to the national line. For most registered nurses, the index is around 105 – solidly above average. But always check the award, the state, and the employer's agreement. Use our how the index works page to calculate your own index, and explore topics for more occupation comparisons.
Questions people ask
What is the average nursing salary in Australia?
The median full-time weekly earnings for registered nurses are $2,192, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That annualises to about $113,984, giving a salary index of 105.2 – above the national line of 100. However, actual pay depends on experience, location, and whether you work in a public hospital, private practice, or aged care.
How does the Nurses Award set minimum pay?
The Nurses Award 2020 from the Fair Work Ombudsman sets minimum weekly rates for registered nurses. For example, a Level 1 Pay Point 1 nurse gets at least $1,219.50 per week ($32.09/hr), while a Level 5 Grade 6 nurse gets $2,706.90 ($71.23/hr). These are legal minimums; many nurses earn above award through enterprise agreements or individual contracts.
What is the salary index for nurses?
Using the median full-time earnings of $2,192 per week, the salary index for registered nurses is about 105.2. That means the typical nurse earns 5.2% more than the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark of $2,083.70 per week. Compare this to the health care industry index of 97.8 – nursing as an occupation outperforms its industry average.