Nurses salary and the national full-time average
If you are wondering where a nurses salary sits against the national benchmark, the short answer is that this index does not publish a precise figure for the role. The Average line tracks the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary-time workers, which as of May 2026 stands at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. That is the line we use for comparison.
Nurses are employed across public and private hospitals, aged care, community health, and other settings. Their pay is typically set by the Nurses Award 2020 or by enterprise agreements, and it varies by classification level, years of experience, shift penalties, and location. Without a single published average for all nurses, the best reference is the national full-time average.
How the average is built
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings figure is based on a survey of employers. It covers all full-time adult employees in ordinary time, excluding overtime. The May 2026 release gives a national figure of $2,083.70 per week. Multiplying by 52 weeks gives $108,352 a year. This is the figure used on Place a salary on the line to show how any salary compares.
The ABS also publishes medians. The full-time median is about $90,532 a year, meaning half of full-time workers earn less and half earn more. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100. These medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025. For nurses, the median may be higher or lower depending on the mix of full-time and part-time work.
State and territory differences
Nurses' salaries can differ by state due to different enterprise agreements and cost-of-living adjustments. The state full-time averages from the ABS provide a regional benchmark:
- 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
These are averages across all full-time occupations, not just nursing. But they give context. For example, a nurse in Western Australia might expect higher pay than one in Tasmania, reflecting the overall labour market. You can explore state comparisons on the States and territories page.
Minimum wage and award rates
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. The Nurses Award 2020 sets minimum rates for enrolled nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners. These rates are above the national minimum wage. For example, a registered nurse at level 1 under the award earns more than $30 per hour, depending on the year of experience. However, this index does not hold the exact award rates.
Gender and workforce context
The ABS also reports averages by gender. The men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412 a year; the women's is about $100,594. Nursing is a female-dominated profession—around 89% of registered nurses are women, according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board. While we cannot give a precise nurses salary, it is reasonable to expect that the average for nurses may align more closely with the women's full-time average. This is a contextual observation, not a published figure.
A resident take-home sketch
Using the national full-time average of $108,352, we can sketch the take-home pay for a resident taxpayer in 2026–27. The tax brackets are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000)
- 30% on the next $90,000 (up to $135,000)
- 37% on the next $55,000 (up to $190,000)
- 45% above $190,000
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (before any reductions or surcharges).
On $108,352, the tax calculation:
- $0 on first $18,200
- 15% on $26,800 = $4,020
- 30% on $63,352 (from $45,001 to $108,352) = $19,005.60
- Total tax = $23,025.60
- Medicare levy = $2,167.04
- Total deductions = $25,192.64
- Take-home = $83,159.36
This is a rough estimate. Actual take-home depends on deductions, offsets, and the Medicare levy surcharge if applicable. For a nurse earning under an award, the take-home may be different. The ATO sets the tax rates; the Medicare levy is also set by legislation.
Part-time work and weekly earnings
Many nurses work part-time. The ABS average is for full-time ordinary-time workers only. If a nurse works 30 hours a week, their weekly pay would be proportionally lower. For example, on the national full-time hourly equivalent (about $54.83 an hour), a 30-hour week would be about $1,645, or $85,540 a year. But actual hourly rates for nurses vary by award and experience. The How the figures are set page explains the methodology behind the averages.
Where to find more
If you are a nurse and want to see how your salary compares to the national average, you can Place a salary on the line and enter your annual pay before tax. The tool will show your weekly and hourly rate on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the full-time average.
For a broader view of median salaries by occupation, the ABS publishes data by job category. However, the Average line does not hold those medians for nursing specifically. You can visit Job medians for other roles.
Summary
While a precise nurses salary is not in this index, the national full-time average of $108,352 provides a useful benchmark. Most nurses earn above the minimum wage and below or around the average depending on experience and location. Use the tools on this site to compare your own salary.