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Enrolled Nurse Salary: Award Rates, National Average, and Take-Home Pay

An enrolled nurse's minimum salary under the Nurses Award ranges from about $59,280 to $62,358 a year, while aged care enrolled nurses earn about $80,184, compared to the national full-time average of $108,352.

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

Enrolled Nurse Salary Under the Nurses Award

An enrolled nurse (EN) in Australia is covered by the Nurses Award 2020, which sets minimum pay rates that vary by classification and setting. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the current award rates, which were updated as of 1 August 2026. For a full-time enrolled nurse working 38 hours a week, the minimum hourly rate ranges from $30.00 to $31.56 depending on pay point, translating to a weekly salary of $1,139.90 to $1,199.20, or about $59,280 to $62,358 per year. Enrolled nurses working in aged care receive a single higher rate of $40.58 per hour, or $1,542.00 per week, equating to roughly $80,184 annually. These are the legal minimums; many employers pay above award.

How Enrolled Nurse Pay Compares to the National Average

The national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings stood at $2,083.70 per week in May 2026, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey. That works out to about $108,352 a year. An enrolled nurse on the award minimum earns significantly less: the non-aged care EN range is about 55–58% of the national average, while the aged care EN rate is about 74%. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100, and the full-time median is about $90,532 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). So an EN on the award sits below both the average and the median full-time worker.

Take-Home Pay: A Resident Sketch

Using the 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus 2% Medicare levy), we can estimate take-home pay. For an EN earning $62,358: tax on the first $45,000 is $4,020, then 30% on $17,358 = $5,207, total $9,227 tax, plus Medicare $1,247, total deductions $10,474, leaving $51,884 net per year ($998 per week). For an aged care EN on $80,184: tax $4,020 on $45,000, 30% on $35,184 = $10,555, total $14,575 tax, Medicare $1,604, total $16,179, net $64,005 ($1,231 per week). The national average worker on $108,352 nets about $83,159 ($1,599 per week). So an EN’s take-home is noticeably lower, especially outside aged care.

State and Territory Differences

Full-time average weekly earnings vary by state. The highest is the ACT at about $119,090 a year, followed by Western Australia at $115,825, while Tasmania is lowest at $96,008. An enrolled nurse’s award rate is national, but actual pay may be higher in states with stronger demand or enterprise agreements. For a deeper look at how your state compares, see [States and territories](/states. The national average line is the same for all states — see Place a salary on the line.

Award Changes and Aged Care

The Fair Work Commission’s Work Value Case led to significant increases for nurses. From 1 March 2025, enrolled nurses in aged care moved to a single higher rate, with further increases on 1 October 2025 and 1 August 2026. The current rate of $40.58 per hour reflects those changes. Non-aged care ENs remain on pay points. These minimums are enforced by Fair Work and apply to all award-covered employees.

How the Figures Are Set

The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, conducted twice a year (May and November). The medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings survey. Award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and published by Fair Work Ombudsman. For more on methodology, see How the figures are set.

Conclusion

An enrolled nurse’s salary is well below the national full-time average, though the aged care rate is a notable improvement. Take-home pay after tax and Medicare is modest, especially for those on lower pay points. For more comparisons across occupations, see Job medians or Industry medians.

Questions

What is the minimum salary for an enrolled nurse under the Nurses Award?

Under the Nurses Award 2020, a full-time enrolled nurse (non-aged care) is paid between $30.00 and $31.56 per hour depending on pay point, equating to $59,280 to $62,358 a year on a 38-hour week. An enrolled nurse in aged care receives a higher single rate of $40.58 per hour, or about $80,184 a year. These are minimum rates set by Fair Work and may be higher in practice.

How does an enrolled nurse's salary compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings are $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). An enrolled nurse on the award minimum earns roughly 55–58% of that figure, while an aged care enrolled nurse earns about 74%. Actual salaries can vary by employer, experience, and location.

What is the take-home pay for an enrolled nurse after tax and Medicare?

For a non-aged care enrolled nurse earning $62,358 a year, estimated tax (2026–27 rates) and Medicare levy total about $10,474, leaving a take-home of roughly $51,884 per year or $998 per week. An aged care enrolled nurse on $80,184 takes home about $64,005 per year or $1,231 per week. Compare this to the national average take-home of about $83,159 per year.

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