Nurse salary in Australia: how it compares to the national full-time average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, stands at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year. This is the line that Average uses to show where a salary sits. For nurses in Australia, the picture depends on experience, qualification, and classification.
According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, the median full-time earnings for registered nurses is $2,192 per week, which is above the national full-time average. This median is based on full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. At an annual rate, that is about $113,984 before tax. This places registered nurses above the national line.
However, the award minimums set by Fair Work under the Nurses Award 2026 are lower. For a registered nurse at level 1, pay point 1, the weekly rate is $1,219.50, or $32.09 per hour. That works out to about $63,414 a year before tax. Even at the top of level 1, pay point 8, the weekly rate is $1,465.50, or $76,206 a year. These rates are below the national full-time average. The award also covers enrolled nurses, nursing assistants, and nurse practitioners, with rates ranging from $976.20 per week for a student enrolled nurse to $2,706.90 per week for a registered nurse level 5 grade 6.
The median figure from the ABS is a better reflection of what most full-time registered nurses actually earn, as it includes those above the award minimum. The median hourly earnings for registered nurses is $57, compared to $47 for all occupations. This is well above the national median hourly earnings for all employees.
For part-time nurses, the all-employees median weekly earnings for all employees is $1,579.40 per week, but for registered nurses the median full-time is $2,192. So part-time likely lower.
We can also compare to the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, $52,255 a year. All award rates for nurses are above the national minimum wage.
For a registered nurse on the award minimum of $1,219.50 per week, the annual salary is about $63,414. After tax and Medicare levy, the take-home pay is approximately $52,000 per year, using the 2026-27 tax brackets. For a nurse earning the median of $2,192 per week, the annual salary is about $113,984, with take-home pay around $87,000 after tax and Medicare.
The state full-time averages vary. For example, New South Wales full-time average is $2,108.80 per week, Victoria $2,041.10, Queensland $2,039.70, South Australia $1,970.20, Western Australia $2,227.40, Tasmania $1,846.30, Northern Territory $1,984.10, Australian Capital Territory $2,290.20. The median for registered nurses is above most state averages except WA and ACT.
To see how a specific nurse salary compares to the national full-time average, Place a salary on the line. For a broader view of how other occupations compare, see Job medians.
In summary, a nurse salary in Australia, for a registered nurse, the median full-time earnings are above the national full-time average, but the award minimums are below. The actual salary depends on classification and experience.