Registered nurse salary NSW hourly rate: award minimums and median earnings

Registered nurse salary NSW hourly rate: award minimums and median earnings

When you search for a registered nurse salary NSW hourly rate, you are asking what a nurse gets paid per hour in New South Wales. The answer depends on whether you look at the minimum award rate or the median market rate. Under the Nurses Award 2020, the minimum hourly rate for a registered nurse at Level 1 Pay Point 1 is $32.09 per hour, or $1,219.50 per week for a 38-hour week. That is the legal floor. Most experienced nurses earn more. Jobs and Skills Australia reports the median full-time hourly rate for registered nurses is $57 per hour, based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. That median gives an annualised gross of about $113,984, which puts the registered nurse salary NSW hourly rate at an index of 105 on the Salary Index, where 100 is the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year. That means the typical registered nurse earns 5% above the national line.

Award rates for registered nurses

The Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) sets minimum pay for registered nurses across Australia, including NSW. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the current rates, effective from 1 August 2026. For a registered nurse Level 1, the hourly rate starts at $32.09 (Pay Point 1) and rises to $38.57 (Pay Point 8 and thereafter). Higher classifications pay more: Level 2 Pay Point 1 is $39.59, Level 3 Pay Point 1 is $42.93, Level 4 Grade 1 is $48.99, and Level 5 Grade 1 is $49.44. These are minimums; many nurses are covered by enterprise agreements that pay above award. The award also includes penalty rates: Saturday time-and-a-half, Sunday double-time, and public holidays double-time-and-a-half. For example, a Level 1 Pay Point 1 nurse working Sunday gets $56.16 per hour.

Median earnings for registered nurses

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that registered nurses have median full-time weekly earnings of $2,192 and median hourly earnings of $57. That is well above the award minimum. The median hourly rate of $57 gives an index of 105, meaning the typical nurse earns 5% more than the national average earner. For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (index 48.2), and the average weekly earnings for all full-time adults is $2,083.70 per week (index 100). So a registered nurse at the median earns more than double the minimum wage and slightly above the average.

How NSW compares

NSW has a state index of 101.2, meaning the typical full-time worker in NSW earns about 1.2% above the national line. Registered nurses in NSW are likely to earn at least the national median for the occupation, if not more, given the state's higher cost of living and demand for healthcare workers. The award rates are the same nationally, but many NSW public hospitals have enterprise agreements that lift pay above the award. The states page shows how NSW compares to other states.

Awards versus the national minimum wage

The writing angle here is awards versus the national minimum wage. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, index 48.2. The award minimum for a registered nurse Level 1 is $32.09, which is 21% higher. That gap grows with experience and classification. The median registered nurse earns $57, which is 116% above the national minimum wage. This shows that nursing is a profession where award rates are significantly above the floor, and market rates are even higher. The industries page shows that health care and social assistance has an index of 97.8, slightly below the national line, but nursing is a key part of that industry.

What affects your take-home pay

Your take-home pay depends on tax and super. The 2026–27 tax rates are: nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above. Medicare levy is 2%. Super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a nurse earning the median $113,984, the tax (excluding HELP) would be about $25,438 plus Medicare levy $2,280, leaving take-home around $86,266. That is before salary sacrifice or other deductions. The how the index works page explains how we calculate the index from gross annualised earnings.

Where to find official rates

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides the Nurses Award 2020 and a Pay Guide with all rates. You can also use the pay guides section for more detail on award rates across occupations. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for registered nurses gives median earnings and employment data. Always check the latest award because rates change each year. The award rates in this article are from the Pay Guide published 17 July 2026, effective 1 August 2026.

Summary

The registered nurse salary NSW hourly rate ranges from the award minimum of $32.09 to a median of $57 per hour. The index for the median is 105, above the national line. The award minimum is 21% above the national minimum wage. If you are a nurse in NSW, your actual rate will depend on your classification, experience, and employer. Use the topics page for more on how awards and enterprise agreements affect pay.