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Pediatric Nurse Salary in Australia: How It Compares to the National Average

The median weekly earnings for pediatric nurses are not published by the ABS, but the health care industry full-time average is around $105,934 per year, close to the national full-time average of $108,352.

This sits $40,752 under the Australian full-time average, about 37.6% below the line. The closest full-time state average is Tasmania. It is off the left edge of the ruler. This close-up only covers full-time state averages.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$1,300 a week · $34.21 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $55,448 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Pediatric nurse salary: what the data shows

Pediatric nurses (Registered Nurses in Paediatrics and Child and Family Health) provide specialised care to children and their families. If you are researching a pediatric nurse salary in Australia, the most authoritative source is the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) via Jobs and Skills Australia. Unfortunately, the ABS does not publish median weekly earnings for six-digit ANZSCO occupations such as paediatric nursing. The most recent data from the 2021 Census and the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) show that median weekly earnings for these roles are marked as ‘N/A’.

Using the national average as a benchmark

Even without a precise paediatric nursing figure, you can compare against the national full-time adult ordinary-time average. According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, the national average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is the reference line used on this site Place a salary on the line.

The health care and social assistance industry, which includes paediatric nursing, had a full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,037.20 in May 2026 – roughly $105,934 annually. That is about 2.2% below the national average. For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums in the Nurses Award rose by 4.75% from that date.

Demographics and working patterns

Jobs and Skills Australia profiles show that paediatric nurses are overwhelmingly female (96% for paediatrics, 99% for child and family health). The median age is 35 for paediatrics and 47 for child and family health. Only 45% of paediatric nurses work full-time hours, compared to 64% across all occupations. Average full-time hours are 40 per week, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours.

Take-home pay sketch using the national average

If a paediatric nurse earned the national full-time average of $108,352, their take-home pay after tax and the Medicare levy (2026–27 rates) would be roughly $79,800. The tax brackets are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy adds 2%. This estimate does not include the low-income tax offset or other deductions. For part-time nurses, earnings would be proportionally lower.

Where to find more occupation-specific data

For a broader view of how different roles compare, see the Job medians page. You can also explore Industry medians to see how health care stacks up against other sectors. Remember that the ABS Average Weekly Earnings is published twice a year (May and November), while the Employee Earnings survey (which provides medians) is released annually. The figures on this site are updated accordingly.

Questions

What is the average salary for a pediatric nurse in Australia?

The ABS does not publish a specific median or average salary for pediatric nurses at the six-digit occupation level. However, the broader health care and social assistance industry had a full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,037.20 in May 2026, which equates to about $105,934 per year. This is slightly below the national full-time average of $108,352. Most pediatric nurses work part-time (55% according to the 2021 Census), so actual earnings vary widely.

How does pediatric nurse pay compare to the national average?

Without a published median for pediatric nurses, the best comparison is the health care industry average. At $105,934 annually, it sits about 2% below the national full-time average of $108,352. Pediatric nursing is a female-dominated profession (96% female) with a median age of 35. Many work part-time, which reduces weekly earnings. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $52,255 for a 38-hour week, so even part-time pediatric nurses typically earn well above that.

What is the take-home pay for a pediatric nurse on the national average?

If a pediatric nurse earned the national full-time average of $108,352 per year, their take-home pay after tax and the Medicare levy (2026–27 rates) would be approximately $79,800. This estimate uses the tax-free threshold of $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy. Actual take-home depends on individual circumstances such as HECS debt or private health insurance.

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