Vet Nurse Salary Australia: Where It Sits on the National Pay Index

What 'vet nurse salary australia' means on the pay index

When you search for vet nurse salary australia, you're likely trying to work out whether the pay in this field stacks up against other jobs. The Salary Index puts every figure in context by comparing annual gross earnings to the national line of $108,352 (index 100). That line is based on full-time adult ordinary-time earnings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (May 2026). A score below 100 means below-average pay; above 100 means above-average.

This article uses public data from the Fair Work Ombudsman and Jobs and Skills Australia to show where vet nurse pay sits. We'll look at award minimums, median earnings, and how location and experience shift the numbers.

Award minimums: the legal floor

Veterinary nurses are covered by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 (MA000118). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes updated rates each year. From 1 July 2026, the minimum weekly pay for a full-time veterinary nurse at the introductory level is $978.10, or $25.74 per hour. That annualises to about $50,861 – an index of 46.9, well below the national line.

As you move up the classification scale, pay increases:

• Veterinary nurse Level 1: $1,004.90/week ($26.44/hr, index 48.2)
• Veterinary nurse Level 2: $1,073.10/week ($28.24/hr, index 51.5)
• Veterinary nurse Level 3: $1,119.10/week ($29.45/hr, index 53.7)
• Veterinary nurse Level 4: $1,221.10/week ($32.13/hr, index 58.6)
• Practice manager Level 5: $1,283.10/week ($33.77/hr, index 61.6)

These are the minimums. Many clinics pay above award, especially for experienced nurses or those in supervisory roles. Casual employees get a 25% loading – for example, a Level 1 vet nurse on casual rates earns $33.05 per hour.

Median earnings: the real-world picture

Award rates tell you the floor, but what do vet nurses actually earn? Jobs and Skills Australia, using ABS data from May 2025, reports median full-time weekly earnings for Veterinary Nurses (ANZSCO 3613) at $1,667. That's about $86,684 per year. On the Salary Index, that's 80.0 – below the national all-occupations median of $1,852 (index 100), but significantly above the award minimum.

The median hourly rate is $37, compared to $47 for all occupations. Only 58% of vet nurses work full-time, so part-time and casual work is common. The median age is 28, and 96% of vet nurses are female – factors that can influence pay patterns.

Where the index lands

Using the national line of $108,352 (index 100), here's how different vet nurse pay points compare:

• Award introductory level: index 46.9
• Award Level 4: index 58.6
• Median full-time earnings: index 80.0
• National all-occupations median: index 100
• National minimum wage: index 48.2

So a vet nurse earning the median is earning about 80% of the typical full-time worker's pay. That's lower than industries like health care and social assistance (index 97.8) but higher than retail trade (index 75.9).

State and territory differences

Where you work matters. The Salary Index shows state benchmarks:

• ACT: index 109.9 ($119,090 annualised)
• WA: index 106.9 ($115,825)
• NSW: index 101.2 ($109,658)
• VIC: index 98.0 ($106,137)
• QLD: index 97.9 ($106,064)
• SA: index 94.6 ($102,450)
• NT: index 95.2 ($103,173)
• TAS: index 88.6 ($96,008)

Vet nurses in higher-earning states like WA or ACT may command above-median wages, while those in Tasmania or South Australia may be closer to the award floor. Check state-specific guides for more detail.

Superannuation and tax considerations

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on top of your gross pay, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So a vet nurse earning the median of $86,684 would have an additional $10,402 paid into super each year.

For income tax in 2026–27 (resident, with tax-free threshold):

• Nil tax on first $18,200
• 15% on the next $26,800 (to $45,000)
• 30% on the next $90,000 (to $135,000)
• Plus 2% Medicare levy

A vet nurse earning $86,684 would pay roughly $17,338 in tax plus $1,734 Medicare levy, leaving about $67,612 take-home. That's before any HELP repayments or salary sacrifice.

How to use this information

If you're negotiating a salary or choosing between jobs, the pay guides from Fair Work are your starting point. The award classification determines your minimum. But the median data shows what experienced nurses actually earn. Use the how the index works page to convert any offer into an index score and compare it across industries and states.

For more on related roles, see our topics page on animal care and veterinary services.

The bottom line

A vet nurse salary in Australia ranges from about $51,000 at award entry level to $86,000 at the median for full-time workers. On the Salary Index, that's between 47 and 80 – below the national average but above many service industries. Experience, location, and clinic type can push pay higher, especially for practice managers or specialised nurses.