Where does the paediatric nurse salary sit against the Australian full-time average?
If you are looking for a single, official figure for the paediatric nurse salary in Australia, you will not find one. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish median weekly earnings for paediatric nurses because the occupation is classified at the ANZSCO 6-digit level (254425), where the sample size is too small to produce a reliable estimate. That means any precise number you see online is likely invented or drawn from a small survey. Instead, the best way to understand where paediatric nurse pay sits is to compare the award minimums for registered nurses with the national full-time average.
The national benchmark: full-time average earnings
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts full-time adult ordinary time earnings at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the line that Average line uses as its reference point. For context, the full-time median (the middle of all full-time salaries) is about $90,532, and the all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100, according to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey from August 2025.
Men working full-time earn an average of about $113,412 per year, while women earn about $100,594. Since 96% of paediatric nurses are female, the gender pay gap is relevant: the average woman in full-time work earns about $12,800 less than the average man.
Award minimums for registered nurses
The Fair Work Ombudsman's Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) sets the legal minimum pay for most nurses in Australia, including paediatric nurses. The rates in the pay guide published 17 July 2026 apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026. Here are the key weekly rates for full-time registered nurses (non-aged care):
- Registered nurse Level 1, pay point 1: $1,219.50 per week ($32.09 per hour)
- Registered nurse Level 1, pay point 8 and thereafter: $1,465.50 per week ($38.57 per hour)
- Registered nurse Level 2, pay point 1: $1,504.40 per week ($39.59 per hour)
- Registered nurse Level 3, pay point 4 and thereafter: $1,720.10 per week ($45.27 per hour)
- Registered nurse Level 4, grade 3: $2,111.60 per week ($55.57 per hour)
- Registered nurse Level 5, grade 6: $2,706.90 per week ($71.23 per hour)
A paediatric nurse early in their career (Level 1, pay point 1) earns about $1,219.50 per week, which is $864.20 below the national full-time average of $2,083.70. That is about 58.5% of the average. At the top of the Level 1 scale (pay point 8), the weekly rate is $1,465.50, still about 70% of the average.
To reach the national average, a registered nurse would need to be at Level 4 grade 2 ($1,995.10) or higher. Level 5 grade 6 ($2,706.90) is well above the average.
How paediatric nurses compare to other occupations
The ABS does publish median weekly earnings for broader occupation groups. For example, the median for all registered nurses (not specifically paediatric) is not shown in the search results, but the Jobs and Skills Australia profile for paediatric nurses notes that only 45% work full-time hours, compared to 64% across all occupations. The average full-time hours for paediatric nurses is 40 hours per week, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours.
Because many paediatric nurses work part-time, their annual income may be lower than the full-time award rates suggest. The all-employees median of $74,100 gives a better sense of what a typical worker (including part-timers) earns.
State-by-state differences
Full-time average earnings vary by state and territory. The ABS data for May 2026 shows:
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090 per year (highest)
- Western Australia: $115,825
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- South Australia: $102,450
- Tasmania: $96,008 (lowest)
A paediatric nurse in Tasmania on a Level 1 award rate would be even further behind the local average than a nurse in the ACT. Conversely, a senior paediatric nurse in the ACT on a Level 5 rate would be well ahead of the local average.
The minimum wage and award increases
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week (about $52,255 per year). Award minimums, including the Nurses Award, rose by 4.75% in that adjustment. Even the lowest registered nurse award rate ($32.09 per hour) is well above the minimum wage, reflecting the skill and responsibility required.
What this means for your pay
If you are a paediatric nurse, your actual salary may be higher than the award minimum if you work under an enterprise agreement or in a private hospital. Many public hospitals have agreements that pay above the award. However, without a published median, it is impossible to say exactly where the typical paediatric nurse sits relative to the national average. The award rates provide a floor, and the national average provides a ceiling that many experienced nurses can reach.
For more detailed comparisons, see Job medians for other nursing roles or Industry medians for health care and social assistance. You can also Place a salary on the line to see how your own pay compares.
Summary
- No official median salary exists for paediatric nurses.
- Award minimums for registered nurses range from $1,219.50 to $2,706.90 per week.
- The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week.
- Most paediatric nurses start below the average but can exceed it at senior levels.
- Part-time work is common (55% work part-time), which affects annual income.
For the most current award rates, refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool. For earnings benchmarks, the ABS Average Weekly Earnings release is the authoritative source.