Nursing in Australia salary and the national average line
When we talk about a nursing in Australia salary, the first question is how it compares to the national full-time average. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026, which works out to about $108,352 a year. This is the line that the Average site uses as its benchmark. Nursing pay, however, is not a single figure. It spans a wide range depending on classification, experience, sector, and location.
Where award minimums sit
The Nurses Award 2020, published by the Fair Work Ombudsman, sets the legal minimum pay for nurses and assistants covered by the award. These rates took effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 August 2026. For a nursing assistant in their first year, the minimum weekly rate is $1,050.70, or about $54,636 a year. That is roughly half the national average. A student enrolled nurse under 21 earns even less: $976.20 per week ($50,762 a year).
As you move up the classification ladder, the rates climb. A registered nurse at level 1, pay point 1, earns $1,219.50 per week ($63,414 a year). At the top of level 1 (pay point 8 and thereafter), the rate is $1,465.50 per week ($76,206 a year). Registered nurse level 2, pay point 4 and thereafter, reaches $1,580.30 per week ($82,176 a year). The highest classification in the award, registered nurse level 4 grade 2, pays $1,995.10 per week, or about $103,745 a year. That is still below the national full-time average of $108,352, but only by about $4,600.
It is important to remember that these are minimums. Many nurses, especially those in public hospitals, are covered by enterprise agreements that set higher rates. The ABS data shows that public sector full-time adult average weekly total earnings were $2,331.70 ($121,248 a year) in May 2026, compared to $2,108.10 ($109,621 a year) in the private sector. Since a large share of nurses work in public health, actual average earnings for nurses are likely above the award minimums.
What moves nursing pay above or below the average
Classification and experience
The most direct way to increase a nursing salary is to progress through the classification levels. A registered nurse moving from level 1 pay point 1 to level 4 grade 2 more than doubles the weekly minimum from $1,219.50 to $1,995.10. Experience also matters: within each level, pay points increase with service. The award recognises additional qualifications, such as a masters degree, which sets a higher entry rate of $1,317.20 per week ($68,494 a year).
Location
State and territory averages vary considerably. According to the ABS, the highest full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings are in the Australian Capital Territory at $2,290.20 ($119,090 a year) and Western Australia at $2,227.40 ($115,825 a year). The lowest is Tasmania at $1,846.30 ($96,008 a year). A nurse working in the ACT or WA may find that even an award-level salary is closer to the national average, while a nurse in Tasmania on the same classification would be further below. The site’s States and territories page lets you compare your pay against your local average.
Sector
Public sector employment generally offers higher pay. The ABS reports public sector full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,263.10 ($117,681 a year), compared to $2,034.10 ($105,773 a year) in the private sector. Many public hospitals have enterprise agreements that lift pay above the award, sometimes by 10–20%. Nurses in private aged care or clinics may be closer to the award minimum.
Penalty rates and overtime
The Nurses Award includes penalty rates for work on Saturdays (50% loading), Sundays (75% loading), and public holidays (100% loading). A nurse working regular weekends can add significantly to their weekly pay. For example, a registered nurse level 1 pay point 1 on a Sunday earns $56.16 per hour instead of $32.09. Over a 38-hour week with some Sunday shifts, the weekly total could exceed the award minimum by hundreds of dollars. Overtime at time-and-a-half or double time also boosts earnings.
How to see where your pay sits
The Average site lets you Place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, the full-time median ($90,532 a year), and the all-employees median ($74,100 a year). You can also check Job medians for broader occupation groups, though the ABS does not publish a specific median for nursing. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week – well below most nursing award rates.
The bottom line
A nursing in Australia salary at the award minimum is generally below the national full-time average of $108,352. However, with experience, seniority, a public sector role, and penalty shifts, many nurses earn close to or above that line. The gap between award minimums and actual earnings highlights the importance of enterprise bargaining and location. If you are a nurse wondering where your pay stands, the best step is to enter your annual salary before tax into the tool and see the distance from the average.