Clinical Nurse Consultant Salary: Above the National Line
Clinical nurse consultants are senior registered nurses who provide expert clinical advice, leadership, and education within healthcare settings. Their specialised skills and responsibilities are reflected in salaries that typically sit above the national full-time average. Understanding where this role falls on the pay line requires looking at available job advertisements and comparing them to the benchmarks set by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The National Full-Time Average as a Reference
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week, which equates to about $108,352 per year on a 38-hour week. This is the site's line. For context, the full-time median weekly earnings are lower, at about $1,740 per week ($90,532 per year), according to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for August 2025. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year for a 38-hour week.
Clinical nurse consultant salaries, as advertised in the public sector, clearly exceed the full-time average. For example, NSW Health job postings for Clinical Nurse Consultant Grade 1 list a salary of $126,720.88 per year, while Grade 2 positions range from $131,870.90 to $134,500.70 per year. These figures are for permanent full-time roles and include superannuation in some cases, but the base salary is above the national average.
Factors That Move Pay Above or Below the Average
Several factors determine whether a clinical nurse consultant's salary sits above or below the national line.
Grade and Classification: The most significant factor is the grade. Grade 1 is typically for nurses new to the consultant role, while Grade 2 requires more experience and responsibility. The difference between the two grades can be around $5,000 to $8,000 per year.
State and Territory: Public sector salaries vary by state. The on-site notes provide full-time adult averages for each state, ranging from Tasmania's $96,008 to the ACT's $119,090. Clinical nurse consultant salaries in states with higher overall averages, like the ACT and Western Australia, may be higher than in states with lower averages. However, the advertised NSW salaries already exceed the NSW full-time average of $109,658.
Public vs Private Sector: The job postings are from the public health system. Private hospitals and clinics may offer different pay rates, sometimes lower, sometimes higher with bonuses. The ABS data shows that private sector full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings for males are $2,139.50 and for females $1,840.80, but these are broad averages. Clinical nurse consultants in private practice may negotiate individual arrangements.
Experience and Specialisation: Within a grade, additional years of experience or specialised certifications can lead to higher pay points. Some roles may include allowances for on-call, shift work, or location (e.g., remote area allowances).
Method of Setting Pay: According to the ABS Employee Earnings survey, 38.5% of employees have pay set by individual arrangement, and 34.6% by collective agreement. In the public sector, clinical nurse consultant pay is typically set by enterprise agreements or awards, which provide structured increments.
How Clinical Nurse Consultant Pay Compares to Other Nursing Roles
The ABS occupation data for May 2025 shows that the average weekly total cash earnings for all professionals is $2,049.60, or about $106,579 per year. Clinical nurse consultants are a subset of professionals and typically earn more than the average professional. Registered nurses (not consultants) would generally earn less, often around the median for all employees or below. The clinical nurse consultant role is a step up in seniority and pay.
Tax Implications
For the 2026–27 financial year, a clinical nurse consultant earning $126,720 would fall into the 30% tax bracket (income between $45,001 and $135,000). After the 2% Medicare levy, the effective tax rate is around 32%. Those earning $134,500 are still within the 30% bracket. The tax-free threshold is $18,200. This is important for take-home pay calculations.
How Clinical Nurse Consultant Salaries Are Set
Clinical nurse consultant positions in public hospitals are usually covered by state-based enterprise agreements or the relevant award. For example, the NSW Health Service Health Professionals Award outlines the classification structure. The advertised salaries from NSW Health align with the award rates. These rates are negotiated between unions and government and are influenced by the national minimum wage decisions. Fair Work's annual wage review sets the national minimum wage, which then flows through to award rates. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, and award minimums increased by 4.75%. Clinical nurse consultant salaries are well above award minimums, reflecting the advanced practice level.
Comparison with State Averages
The on-site notes provide full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings for each state, converted to annual figures. For instance, New South Wales average is $109,658, Victoria $106,137, Queensland $106,064, South Australia $102,450, Western Australia $115,825, Tasmania $96,008, Northern Territory $103,173, and Australian Capital Territory $119,090. A clinical nurse consultant in NSW earning $126,720 is about $17,000 above the state average. In Tasmania, the same salary would be about $30,000 above the state average, highlighting the relative value of the role in lower-wage states.
Gender Pay Considerations
The ABS data shows a gender pay gap in full-time ordinary time earnings: men average $113,412 per year, women $100,594. Clinical nurse consultant roles are predominantly held by women, yet the advertised salaries are gender-neutral and based on classification. This means female clinical nurse consultants are likely earning above the female full-time average, contributing to narrowing the gap in this profession.
Using the Site's Tools
To see exactly where a clinical nurse consultant salary sits relative to the national line, you can use the Place a salary on the line tool. Enter the annual salary to see the weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the average. For state-specific comparisons, visit States and territories.