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Anaesthetic nurse salary: How it compares to the national average

The Fair Work Nurses Award sets minimum rates for registered nurses, but actual anaesthetic nurse pay depends on classification, penalties, and enterprise agreements; typical award rates fall below the national full-time average.

This sits $40,752 under the Australian full-time average, about 37.6% below the line. The closest full-time state average is Tasmania. It is off the left edge of the ruler. This close-up only covers full-time state averages.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$1,300 a week · $34.21 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $55,448 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Anaesthetic nurse salary and the national average

Anaesthetic nurses are registered nurses who assist with anaesthesia in surgical settings. Their pay is typically set by the Fair Work Nurses Award or by enterprise agreements. Because there is no single published figure for an "anaesthetic nurse salary", we look at the award classifications and the national benchmarks to understand where this role sits.

The national full-time average

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 per year. This is the line on this site. For comparison, the full-time median is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week.

Award rates for registered nurses

The Fair Work Nurses Award (MA000034) sets minimum weekly pay for registered nurses. The rates from 1 August 2026 are:

  • Registered nurse Level 1, pay point 1: $1,219.50 per week (about $63,414 per year)
  • Registered nurse Level 1, pay point 8 and thereafter: $1,465.50 per week (about $76,206 per year)
  • Registered nurse Level 2, pay point 1: $1,504.40 per week (about $78,229 per year)
  • Registered nurse Level 3, pay point 4 and thereafter: $1,720.10 per week (about $89,445 per year)

These base rates are all below the national full-time average of $108,352. Even the highest Level 3 rate is about $19,000 short. However, the award includes penalty rates for Saturday (150%), Sunday (175%), and public holidays (200%), plus overtime. An anaesthetic nurse working regular weekends or night shifts could earn significantly more than the base rate.

What moves pay above or below the average

Several factors determine whether an anaesthetic nurse's total pay exceeds the national average:

  • Classification and experience: Higher pay points and Level 3 roles pay more. A nurse with a master's degree or specialist qualification may be classified higher.
  • Penalties and overtime: Shift work, weekends, and public holidays attract loadings. A nurse working every second weekend could add 15–25% to base pay.
  • Enterprise agreements: Many public hospitals and large private hospitals have agreements that pay above the award. Some agreements set rates 10–20% higher.
  • Location: State full-time averages vary. For example, the ACT average is about $119,090, while Tasmania is about $96,008. An anaesthetic nurse in the ACT or Western Australia ($115,825) is more likely to reach or exceed the national average. See state and territory averages.
  • Hours: The award is based on a 38-hour week. Nurses working additional hours at overtime rates boost annual earnings.

How to check your own pay

If you are an anaesthetic nurse, you can place your salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, the median, and the minimum wage. The tool uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings as the benchmark and shows your weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38-hour week.

Sources and methodology

The national full-time average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, May 2026. Medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025. Award rates are from the Fair Work Ombudsman's Nurses Award pay guide, effective from 1 August 2026. The minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026. All figures are before tax. For more detail on how these figures are set, see How the figures are set.

Key takeaway

An anaesthetic nurse on award minimum rates will typically earn below the national full-time average. But with penalties, overtime, experience, and a favourable enterprise agreement, many nurses earn close to or above the average. Location also plays a role. The site's line helps you see exactly where your pay sits.

Questions

What is the national full-time average salary used for comparison?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. This is the benchmark used on this site to show how a salary sits against the average. The full-time median is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

How do the award minimum rates for registered nurses compare to the national average?

Under the Fair Work Nurses Award (MA000034), rates from 1 August 2026 for a registered nurse at Level 1, pay point 8 and thereafter are $1,465.50 per week (about $76,206 per year on a 38-hour week). At Level 3, pay point 4 and thereafter, the rate is $1,720.10 per week (about $89,445 per year). Both are below the national full-time average of $108,352. However, many nurses receive penalty rates, overtime, and allowances that can lift total earnings above the award minimum.

What factors can push an anaesthetic nurse's pay above the national average?

Several factors can increase pay beyond the award minimum: working evening, night, or weekend shifts attracts penalty rates (e.g., Saturday at 150%, Sunday at 175% under the award). Overtime and public holiday rates add further. Experience and higher classification (e.g., Level 2 or 3) increase the base rate. Enterprise agreements often provide higher pay than the award. Location also matters – for example, the full-time average in the Australian Capital Territory is about $119,090, while in Tasmania it is about $96,008. Anaesthetic nurses in high-paying states or with specialised skills may earn above the national average.

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