Nurse Salary NSW: Where It Sits Against the National Full-Time Average
If you are looking at a nursing career in New South Wales, one of the first questions is how the pay compares with what other full-time workers earn across Australia. The short answer is that it depends heavily on your classification, experience, and whether you work in the public or private sector. This article uses the latest official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the minimum rates set by the Fair Work Commission to give you a clear picture.
The National Full-Time Average Benchmark
The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year. For May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week nationally. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 a year. This is the figure the Average line site uses as its central line. It is an average, not a median, meaning it can be pulled up by high earners. The full-time median (the middle point) is lower, at about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
For New South Wales specifically, the state full-time average is slightly higher than the national figure: $2,108.80 per week, or about $109,658 a year (original, ABS May 2026). So the NSW average is a touch above the national line.
Where Nurse Salaries Fit In
The ABS does not break out nurse earnings separately in its main Average Weekly Earnings release. However, we can look at the minimum rates set by the two main instruments that cover nurses in NSW: the federal Nurses Award 2010 (as updated to 1 August 2026) and the NSW Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' (State) Award 2025.
Under the federal award, a Registered Nurse Level 1, pay point 1 earns a minimum of $1,219.50 per week (about $63,414 a year). That is well below the national full-time average of $108,352. Even at pay point 8 (the top of Level 1), the weekly rate is $1,465.50 ($76,206 a year), still below the average. It is only at Level 2, pay point 1 ($1,504.40 per week, about $78,229 a year) and above that rates begin to approach the average, but they remain below until higher classifications.
A Registered Nurse Level 4, Grade 3 under the federal award earns $2,111.60 per week (about $109,803 a year), which is just above the national average and slightly above the NSW state average. At the top end, a Level 5, Grade 6 earns $2,706.90 per week (about $140,759 a year), well above the line.
The NSW public sector award generally sets higher minimum rates. For example, a Registered Nurse in the first year of Level 1 under the state award earns a higher weekly rate than the federal counterpart (the exact figure is not reproduced here, but the state award is known to be more generous). Nurses in the public health system often have access to additional allowances and penalty rates that can lift total earnings further.
What This Means for You
If you are a nurse in NSW, your salary relative to the national average depends on your role. Entry-level and junior registered nurses typically earn below the full-time average. As you progress through the pay points and into higher classifications (Level 2, 3, 4, or 5), you can expect to meet or exceed the average. Senior nurses, nurse practitioners, and those in management roles often earn well above it.
It is also important to remember that the national average includes all full-time occupations, from retail managers to surgeons. Nursing is a skilled profession, and the award rates reflect that, but the starting points are modest compared to the all-occupations average.
Using the Average Line Tool
You can place a salary on the line to see how any nurse salary compares to the national full-time average. The tool shows the weekly and hourly equivalent on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the line. For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 pay point 1 at $63,414 a year sits about $44,938 below the national average.
You can also explore New South Wales state data to see how the state average compares to other states and territories.
Other Benchmarks
Beyond the full-time average, it is useful to know the national minimum wage (from 1 July 2026: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, about $52,255 a year on 38 hours) and the full-time median (about $90,532 a year). Most nurse classifications are well above the minimum wage, but entry-level nursing assistants or student enrolled nurses may be closer to it.
For more detail on how the figures are set, see our How the figures are set page.
Summary
Nurse salaries in NSW span a wide range. Under the federal award, a registered nurse at the lowest pay point earns about 58% of the national full-time average. At the highest pay points, earnings can exceed the average by 30% or more. The NSW public sector award tends to offer higher minimums, so nurses in public hospitals often fare better. Always check the specific award or enterprise agreement that applies to your role, and remember that penalty rates, allowances, and overtime can significantly boost take-home pay.