RN Salary in Australia: Where It Sits on the Salary Index
Find out where the RN salary sits on the Australian salary index. Compare award rates and median earnings to the national line of $108,352.
The median full-time RN salary of $2,192 per week gives an index of about 105, above the national line, but award rates start lower.
What is an RN salary?
An RN salary is the pay a registered nurse earns in Australia. It can be set by the Nurses Award 2020, an enterprise agreement, or an individual contract. The keyword "rn salary" covers everything from the minimum award rate to the median market rate. To understand where a specific RN salary sits, we compare it to the national line: full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 a year. That line is set at index 100. A salary above that line has an index above 100; below it, below 100.
Award rates for registered nurses
The Nurses Award 2020 sets minimum weekly pay for RNs in most private and some public settings. As of August 2026, the rates range from $1,219.50 per week for a Level 1 pay point 1 RN to $2,706.90 for a Level 5 grade 6 RN. That's an hourly rate of $32.09 to $71.23. The award also includes penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays. For example, a Level 1 pay point 1 RN on Saturday earns $48.14 per hour, on Sunday $56.16, and on a public holiday $64.18.
These are minimums. Many RNs, especially in public hospitals, are covered by enterprise agreements that pay more. The award also covers enrolled nurses, nursing assistants, and nurse practitioners. The full pay guide lists all classifications.
Median earnings for registered nurses
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for registered nurses is $2,192. That's based on ABS data from May 2025. Annualised, that's about $113,984. On the salary index, that gives a score of 105.2 – meaning the typical RN earns about 5% more than the national line. The median hourly rate is $57, well above the national minimum wage of $26.44.
But note: this median is for full-time non-managerial employees. Part-time RNs (56% of RNs work full-time) earn less per week but may have higher hourly rates with casual loadings. The median age of RNs is 38, and 86% are female.
How RN salary compares to the national line
The national line is $108,352 per year. An RN on the award minimum (Level 1 pay point 1) earns $63,414 per year – that's an index of 58.5, well below the line. An RN at the median earns $113,984 – index 105.2. An RN at the top of the award (Level 5 grade 6) earns $140,759 – index 129.9. So RN salaries span a wide range, from below average to well above.
For context, the national minimum wage is $52,255 per year (index 48.2). Even the lowest RN award rate is above that. The health care and social assistance industry has an index of 97.8, slightly below the national line. But RNs as a group sit above that industry average.
State and industry context
Where you work affects your RN salary. The state indexes vary: ACT 109.9, WA 106.9, NSW 101.2, VIC 98, QLD 97.9, SA 94.6, NT 95.2, TAS 88.6. RNs in the ACT and WA often earn more, while those in Tasmania may earn less. Public hospital RNs in NSW and Victoria typically have enterprise agreements that pay above the award.
The health care industry index is 97.8, but RNs are a skilled subset within that industry, so their pay tends to be higher. Compare to retail trade (75.9) or accommodation and food services (72.5). RNs are in demand, which pushes pay up.
Superannuation and tax considerations
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on top of your salary, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So an RN earning $113,984 gets $13,678 in super. That's not included in the salary index, which uses gross ordinary-time earnings.
For take-home pay, a resident RN earning $113,984 pays about $26,207 in income tax (using 2026–27 rates) plus $2,280 Medicare levy (2%), leaving about $85,497. That's before any HELP repayment, salary sacrifice, or Medicare levy surcharge. The tax-free threshold is $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, etc.
Where to find more
For more on how the salary index works, see how the index works. You can compare RN salaries across states and industries. For award rates and pay guides, visit pay guides. The Salary Index homepage lets you calculate your own index.
Summary
The RN salary in Australia ranges from about $63,000 at the award minimum to over $140,000 at the top classification. The median RN earns around $113,984, which sits at index 105.2 – above the national line. Your actual RN salary depends on your level, experience, location, and employer. Use the salary index to see where any RN pay figure stands against the national benchmark.
Questions people ask
What is the average RN salary in Australia?
The median full-time weekly earnings for registered nurses is $2,192, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (May 2025). That annualises to about $113,984, giving a salary index of roughly 105, meaning RNs earn about 5% above the national line of $108,352. However, award minimums start lower, so actual pay depends on experience, location, and employer.
How does RN salary compare to the national average?
The national line for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year). The median RN salary of $2,192 per week is above that line, with an index of 105.2. But many RNs start at award rates below the line. For example, a Level 1 pay point 1 RN earns $1,219.50 per week, which is only 58.5% of the national line. With experience and higher classifications, RNs can exceed the national average.
What factors affect RN salary in Australia?
RN salary is influenced by classification level (e.g., Level 1 to Level 5), years of experience, location (public vs private, metro vs rural), and shift penalties. The Nurses Award sets minimum rates, but enterprise agreements often pay more. State also matters: for example, the ACT has a state index of 109.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. Superannuation at 12% and tax (including Medicare levy) affect take-home pay.