Nurses salary Australia: where does your pay sit on the line?
If you are a nurse in Australia, your pay can look very different depending on where you work, who employs you, and what level you are at. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. But nurses’ earnings often sit above or below that line, and the reasons are worth understanding.
The national average and the nurse median
The ABS figures show the average for all full-time adults. For registered nurses, the median full-time weekly earnings are $2,192, according to Jobs and Skills Australia using ABS Employee Earnings data from August 2025. That works out to about $113,984 a year, which is above the national average. However, the median is not the same as the average – it means half of full-time registered nurses earn more and half earn less. The median for all occupations is about $90,532 a year, so nurses as a group are paid above the typical worker.
But not every nurse earns that much. The Nurses Award (MA000034) sets minimum rates that are much lower. For example, a registered nurse at level 1, pay point 1, has a minimum weekly rate of $1,219.50, or about $63,414 a year. An enrolled nurse at pay point 1 gets $1,139.90 a week, about $59,275 a year. These are the legal minimums under the award, but many nurses are covered by enterprise agreements that pay more, or they have moved up classification levels.
How your state moves the figure
The national average hides big differences between states. The ABS publishes state full-time averages in its original series. For May 2026, the state averages are:
- New South Wales: about $109,658 a year
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- Tasmania: about $96,008
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
If you are a nurse in Western Australia or the ACT, your pay is likely to be above the national line because those states have higher overall earnings. In Tasmania, the state average is below the national line, so nurses there may earn less on average. However, within each state, nurses can still earn above or below the state average depending on their employer and classification.
Award rates versus the median
The Nurses Award is the main award for nurses not covered by an enterprise agreement. The award rates are updated each year, most recently with a 4.75% increase from 1 August 2026. The pay guide from Fair Work shows weekly rates for each classification. For example:
- Nursing assistant, 1st year: $1,050.70 a week
- Enrolled nurse, pay point 5: $1,199.20 a week
- Registered nurse, level 1, pay point 1: $1,219.50 a week
- Registered nurse with a four-year degree, entry rate: $1,273.40 a week
- Registered nurse with a masters degree, entry rate: $1,317.20 a week
These are minimums. The median earnings of $2,192 a week for registered nurses suggest that most nurses are paid well above the award, likely through enterprise agreements or higher classifications. The median is also for full-time non-managerial employees, so it excludes part-time and casual workers, who make up a large share of the nursing workforce – only 56% of registered nurses work full-time, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
Putting your salary on the line
To see where your pay sits, you can place a salary on the line. Enter your yearly salary before tax, and the tool will show your weekly and hourly pay on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the national full-time average. You can also compare with state and territory averages to see how your location affects the picture.
Why the figures differ
The national average is a broad measure that includes all industries and occupations. Nurses’ pay is influenced by:
- State: public sector wages, cost of living, and local labour markets.
- Sector: public hospitals often have enterprise agreements that pay above the award, while private aged care may rely more on award minimums.
- Classification: from nursing assistant to clinical nurse specialist, the range is wide.
- Experience: award pay points increase with years of service.
The minimum wage and tax context
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Award rates for nurses are above that, but the lowest classifications are not far above. For tax, the 2026–27 rates apply: no tax on the first $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus the 2% Medicare levy. A nurse earning the median of $113,984 would be in the 30% bracket.
Summary
Nurses salary in Australia varies widely. The median for registered nurses is above the national full-time average, but award minimums are much lower. State averages show that where you work matters, and enterprise agreements can push pay well above the award. Use the tools on this site to see how your salary compares to the national line.