Nurse practitioner salary in Australia: award rates, state differences, and the national line
Nurse practitioner salary in Australia is not a single figure. It depends on the award classification, experience, sector, and state. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) from ABS Average Weekly Earnings May 2026. The Nurses Award sets minimums: 1st year $1,877.00 per week ($49.39 per hour); 2nd year $1,932.70 per week ($50.86 per hour. These are below the national average, but many nurse practitioners earn above award.
Award rates vs national average
The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week. The minimum for a nurse practitioner 1st year is $1,877.00 per week. That is about $10,748 per year below the national average. For a nurse practitioner 2nd year, the gap is about $7,500 per year. The award rates are from the Nurses Award pay guide.
State variations
State full-time averages vary: ACT $2,290.20 per week ($119,090 per year; New South Wales $2,108.80 per week ($109,658 per year; Western Australia $2,227.40 per week ($115,825 per year; Tasmania $1,846.30 per week ($96,008 per year. A nurse practitioner in a high-paying state like ACT may earn above the national average, while those in Tasmania may earn less. The national average is a line, but state can move the figure off the line.
Medians and other benchmarks
ABS Employee earnings medians: full-time median $90,532 per year; all employees median $74,100 per year. No median specifically for nurse practitioners not published. Jobs and Skills Australia notes that median weekly earnings are not produced for 6-digit occupations like nurse practitioner. So we rely on award rates and the national average.
Factors affecting nurse practitioner pay
Experience, sector (aged care vs other), penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, public holidays all affect actual pay. The award rates for nurse practitioner 1st year $1,877.00 per week; 2nd year $1,932.70 per week. Weekend rates are higher: Saturday $74.09 per hour; Sunday $86.43 per hour; public holiday $98.78 per hour. These can push weekly pay above the award minimum.
Tax and Medicare levy
Resident tax 2026–27: nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 45% above that. Medicare levy 2% before reductions. For a nurse practitioner earning $97,604 per year (award 1st year), tax about $20,000 plus Medicare, leaving about $78,000 after tax. For a nurse practitioner earning $108,352 per year (national average), tax about $25,000 plus Medicare, leaving about $83,000 after tax.
Conclusion
Use the line tool to see where a specific salary sits against the national average. Place a salary on the line and States and territories to see how state averages compare.