Nursing salary and the national line
A nursing salary in Australia is not a single figure. It depends on the classification under the Nurses Award 2020, the state or territory, and whether the employer is in the public or private sector. The national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average, published by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, sits at $2,083.70 per week (about $108,352 a year). The award rates for nurses range from $976.20 per week for a student enrolled nurse under 21 years of age up to $2,474.10 per week for a Registered Nurse Level 5 grade 5.
How award classifications
Fair Work’s Nurses Award 2020 sets minimum weekly and hourly rates for nurses, enrolled nurses, and nursing assistants. For example:
- Nursing Assistant 1st year: $1,050.70 per week ($27.65/hour)
- Enrolled Nurse pay point 1: $1,139.90 per week ($30.00/hour)
- Registered Nurse Level 1 pay point 1: $1,219.50 per week ($32.09/hour)
- Registered Nurse Level 4 grade 1: $1,861.70 per week ($48.99/hour)
These rates apply from 1 August 2026. The national full‑time average is higher than many entry‑level nursing roles, but experienced nurses at higher levels can exceed it. For instance, a Registered Nurse Level 4 grade 3 earns $2,111.60 per week, above the national average.
State differences
The state where a nurse works also affects the comparison. The ABS provides full‑time adult ordinary‑time averages by state:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week (about $109,658 a year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 per week (about $106,137 a year)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 per week (about $106,064 a year)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 per week (about $102,450 a year)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 per week (about $115,825 a year)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 per week (about $96,008 a year)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 per week (about $103,173 a year)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 per week (about $119,090 a year)
A nurse in the ACT earning the state average would be above the national line, while a nurse in Tasmania would be below. However, award rates are national, so the actual pay for a given classification is the same regardless of state, though allowances and penalties may vary.
Public vs private sector
The ABS also reports sector averages. The public sector full‑time ordinary‑time average is $2,263.10 per week; the private sector is $2,034.10 per week. Many nurses work in public hospitals, which may pay above the award. The Nurses Award covers both sectors, but public sector agreements often set higher rates.
Comparing with medians and the minimum wage
The national full‑time median is about $90,532 a year (from ABS Employee earnings, August 2025. The all‑employees median is about $74,100. The minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour. Award rates for nurses are above the minimum; even a student enrolled nurse under 21 earns $25.69/hour.
Tax and take‑home pay
Resident tax rates for 2026–27: nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above. Medicare levy 2% before reductions. A nurse earning $1,219.50 per week ($63,414 a year) would pay about $6,000 in tax plus Medicare, leaving about $57,000 after tax.
Why the figure moves off the line
The national line is an average across all full‑time adults. Nursing salaries can be below or above depending on experience, classification, and location. The award structure means early‑career nurses earn less than the average, while senior nurses earn more. State averages also pull the line: a nurse in WA earns more than one in Tasmania, even with the same classification.
Place a salary on the line to see how your pay compares. States and territories show the full‑time average where you work.
Summary
A nursing salary is not a single number. Use the award classification to find the minimum rate, then compare with the national average. The ABS data shows the line at $2,083.70 per week. Many nurses will be below that line early in their career and above it later. The state average also matters: the ACT average is above the national line, Tasmania is below.