Clinical nurse salary and the national full-time average
This index does not hold a specific figure for a clinical nurse salary. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, drawn from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, stands at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. That figure is the line against which all salaries on this site are measured.
If you are a clinical nurse, or you employ one, you can place a salary on the line to see how it compares with that national average. The tool accepts a yearly salary before tax and returns a weekly and hourly rate based on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the full-time average.
Where clinical nurse pay comes from
Clinical nurse pay is not a single number. It is set by the Nurses Award 2020, by enterprise agreements in public hospitals and private health services, and by individual contracts. The award minimums rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026, in line with the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review. The national minimum wage itself is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours.
A clinical nurse is typically a registered nurse with additional qualifications or experience, often working in a specialised area such as intensive care, emergency, or mental health. Classification levels under the award (Clinical Nurse Specialist grades) attract higher pay than a registered nurse base rate. Many public hospital agreements also include generous penalty rates for evenings, weekends, and public holidays, plus shift allowances and on-call payments.
Because of these variations, a clinical nurse’s total annual earnings can fall anywhere from around $85,000 to well over $120,000, depending on location, employer, and hours worked. The ABS Employee Earnings data (August 2025) gives a full-time median of about $90,532 for all occupations, and an all-employees median of about $74,100. Clinical nurses often sit above the all-employees median but may be close to or above the full-time median depending on experience.
State comparisons
State full-time averages from the same ABS release show a wide spread:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
A clinical nurse in Western Australia or the ACT may find their pay closer to or above the state average, while a nurse in Tasmania may be below it. Enterprise agreements in each state’s public health system set different pay scales. For example, Queensland Health’s Nurse and Midwives Award (State) has specific rates for clinical nurses that are publicly available. States and territories on this site show how each jurisdiction compares with the national line.
A take-home pay sketch
Using the national full-time average of $108,352 as a reference, here is a rough take-home calculation for the 2026–27 income year. The resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (before any reductions or surcharges).
On $108,352:
- Tax on first $18,200: $0
- Tax on $18,201–$45,000 ($26,800): $4,020
- Tax on $45,001–$108,352 ($63,352): $19,005.60
- Total tax: $23,025.60
- Medicare levy (2% of $108,352): $2,167.04
- Total tax and levy: $25,192.64
- Estimated take-home: $83,159.36 per year, or about $1,599.60 per week.
If a clinical nurse earns more or less than the average, the take-home changes accordingly. Penalty rates and allowances are taxable, so they push up both gross and net pay. The ATO’s tax tables for 2026–27 apply to all residents.
How the figures are set
The national full-time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, published twice a year for May and November. The figure used on this site is the May 2026 release, multiplied by 52 to give an annual amount. Medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, most recently August 2025. The minimum wage and award rates are from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026. How the figures are set explains the methodology in more detail.
Comparing your own salary
If you are a clinical nurse and want to see where your pay sits, use the Place a salary on the line tool. Enter your annual salary before tax, and the page will show your weekly and hourly rate on a 38-hour week, plus how far above or below the national full-time average you are. You can also compare with job medians for nursing and other health professions, though clinical nurse is not separately listed in that data.
Remember that the national average is a broad measure. It includes all full-time adult employees across every industry and occupation. A clinical nurse’s pay reflects the specific demands of the role, the state or territory, and the employer. The line is a reference, not a target.
Final note
This index does not publish a precise clinical nurse salary. If you need an exact figure for a specific role, check the relevant award or enterprise agreement, or consult your employer’s pay schedule. The national full-time average of $108,352 gives you a benchmark to assess whether your pay is above, below, or around the typical Australian full-time worker.