Veterinary nurse salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index
See where the veterinary nurse salary lands on the Australian salary index, using award minima from the Fair Work Ombudsman and comparing to national benchmarks.
The minimum award rate for an introductory-level veterinary nurse annualises to about $50,860, giving an index of 47, well below the national line of 100.
What is a veterinary nurse salary?
When we talk about a **veterinary nurse salary, we mean the pay for someone who works in animal care, typically in a veterinary clinic or hospital. Most veterinary nurses in Australia are covered by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 (MA000118), which sets minimum pay rates for classifications from introductory level through to Level 4, plus a separate Level 5 for practice managers.
Where the award minima sit on the salary index
The salary index compares a person's yearly gross pay against the national line of 100, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, which annualises to $52,255 and gives an index of 48.2.
For a veterinary nurse at the introductory level, the award minimum is $25.74 per hour, $978.10 per week. Annualising that weekly rate ($978.10 × 52) gives $50,861. That yields an index of 47.0 – well below the national line. Even a Level 4 veterinary nurse ($1,221.10 per week) annualises to $63,497, index 58.6. Both are below the national average, reflecting the typical industry norms for this occupation.
How the award rates in detail
The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide (published 24 June 2026) shows the following full-time weekly rates for veterinary nurses:
- Introductory: $25.74/hr, $978.10/week
- Level 1: $26.44/hr, $1,004.90/week
- Level 2: $28.24/hr, $1,073.10
- Level 3: $29.45/hr, $1,119.10
- Level 4: $32.13/hr, $1,221.10
- Practice manager Level 5: $33.77/hr, $1,283.10
Receptionists have similar rates same as veterinary nurses at the same levels. For example, a Level 1 receptionist also $26.44/hr.
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate. For introductory level casual rate is $32.18/hr. Junior rates apply for employees under 21, with percentages of the adult rate; for example, under 17 years old the hourly rate for introductory level is $12.87 per hour.
Penalty rates apply for Sunday, public holiday, and overtime work, as detailed in the award.
Where the pay sits on the salary index
Using the index method, we can compare each classification to the national line:
- Introductory: $50,861 annualised → index 47.0
- Level 1: $52,255 annualised → index 48.2 (same as national minimum wage)
- Level 2: $55,801 annualised → index 51.5
- Level 3: $58,193 annualised → index 53.7
- Level 4: $63,497 annualised → index 58.6
- Practice manager Level 5: $66,721 annualised → index 61.6
All these are below the national average of 100. They are also below the industry average for health care and social assistance (index 97.8) and far below mining (154.7). However, they are above the retail trade index (75.9) and accommodation and food services (72.5).
Factors that can push pay above award
Many veterinary nurses are paid above the award minimum, especially those with experience, additional qualifications, or working in specialist or emergency hospitals. Location also matters: states like Western Australia (index 106.9) and ACT (109.9) have higher overall earnings, while Tasmania (88.6) is lower. Some practices offer enterprise agreements or individual contracts with higher rates.
How the index works
The salary index is a simple way to see where a pay figure sits against the national line. You take the yearly gross salary (including super? No, the index uses ordinary-time earnings before super). Then divide by the national line ($108,352) and multiply by 100. For example, a veterinary nurse earning $60,000 would have an index of 55.4. The index helps compare across jobs and industries.
Super 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 a veterinary nurse earning $60,000 would receive $7,200 in super. Tax-wise, a resident earning $60,000 would pay about $9,967 in tax (including 2% Medicare levy) based on 2026–27 rates, leaving a take-home of about $50,033. But these are estimates and ignore HELP, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.
Summary
In summary, a veterinary nurse salary sits well below the national line, but the award minima are around index 47 to 62. Actual earnings can be higher, but no official average is published. The Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission provide the award rates, which are the legal floor.
For more context, see Salary Index for the national benchmarks, pay guides for other award summaries, and industries for industry comparisons.
Questions people ask
What is the average veterinary nurse salary in Australia?
There is no official average published by the ABS for veterinary nurses. The minimum award rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman range from $25.74 per hour (introductory) to $32.13 per hour (Level 4). Many veterinary nurses are paid above award, but actual averages are not publicly available.
How does the veterinary nurse salary compare to the national average?
The national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings are $108,352 per year (index 100). An introductory veterinary nurse at award minimum earns about $50,860 (index 47), while a Level 4 veterinary nurse earns about $63,497 (index 59). Both are well below the national average, reflecting the lower skill classification and typical industry norms.
What factors can increase a veterinary nurse salary above the award?
Experience, additional qualifications, working in a specialist or emergency hospital, and location (e.g., remote areas or higher-cost cities) can push pay above award. Some practices offer enterprise agreements or individual contracts with higher rates. The award itself provides higher rates for higher classification levels (e.g., Level 4) and for casual or overtime work.