Registered Nurse Salary NSW Hourly Rate: Where It Sits Against the National Average
Registered nurses in New South Wales earn a median hourly rate of $57 and median full-time weekly earnings of $2,192, according to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025). This places the typical registered nurse above the national full-time adult average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Understanding how this pay compares to benchmarks helps nurses and employers gauge market rates.
National Full-Time Average
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year. The May 2026 release shows full-time adult ordinary time earnings (seasonally adjusted) at $2,083.70 per week. Multiplying by 52 gives an annual equivalent of about $108,352. This is the line used by Average line to compare salaries. Men’s full-time average is higher at $2,181.50 per week ($113,412 per year), while women’s is $1,934.50 ($100,594 per year). The all-employees average (including part-time) is $1,579.20 per week.
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week ($52,255 per year). Award minimums rose by 4.75% in the same period. The full-time median (all occupations) is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
Registered Nurse Earnings in NSW
Jobs and Skills Australia provides occupation-specific data for registered nurses (ANZSCO 2544). The median full-time weekly earnings are $2,192, and the median hourly earnings are $57. These figures are for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. About 56% of registered nurses work full-time, with average full-time hours of 41 per week.
Compared to the national full-time average of $2,083.70, the registered nurse median is $108.30 higher per week. This means a typical full-time registered nurse earns about 5.2% above the national average. However, this is a median, not an average; individual salaries can vary widely.
The Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' (State) Award 2025 sets minimum salaries for nurses in NSW public hospitals. The award provides weekly rates based on classification and years of experience. While the exact figures from the award are not reproduced here, they generally start below the median and increase with seniority. Shift allowances, penalty rates, and overtime can boost take-home pay.
State Context
New South Wales has a full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,108.80 (original, May 2026), or about $109,658 per year. The registered nurse median of $2,192 per week ($113,984 per year) exceeds the NSW state average by about $83 per week. Other state averages from the same ABS release:
- Victoria: $2,041.10 ($106,137)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 ($106,064)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 ($102,450)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 ($115,825)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 ($96,008)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 ($103,173)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 ($119,090)
Registered nurses in NSW are therefore well positioned relative to most states, though Western Australia and the ACT have higher overall averages.
Hourly Rate Breakdown
The median hourly rate of $57 for registered nurses in NSW is more than double the national minimum wage of $26.44. It also exceeds the hourly equivalent of the national full-time average (about $54.80 based on a 38-hour week). For a nurse working 38 hours per week at the median rate, weekly earnings would be $2,166, slightly below the reported median of $2,192 (likely because many nurses work 40+ hours).
Tax on this income in 2026–27 follows the resident tax brackets: 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 of 2% applies before any reductions. A nurse earning the median $113,984 per year would fall in the 30% bracket, with an effective tax rate around 24% including Medicare.
Factors Influencing Pay
- Experience: Award rates increase with years of service. A graduate nurse earns less than a clinical nurse specialist.
- Shift work: Afternoon, night, and weekend shifts attract penalty rates, often 15–50% extra.
- Sector: Public sector nurses in NSW are covered by the state award, while private hospitals may have different arrangements. The ABS data shows public sector full-time average ordinary time earnings of $2,263.10 per week, compared to $2,034.10 in the private sector.
- Location: Remote and regional areas may offer incentives or higher base rates.
Using the Average Line Tool
You can Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares to the national full-time average. The tool shows the weekly and hourly equivalent on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the average. For registered nurses, entering the median $2,192 per week will show it sits above the line. You can also explore States and territories for local averages or New South Wales for state-specific data.
Summary
Registered nurses in NSW earn a median hourly rate of $57 and median weekly earnings of $2,192, placing them above the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week. The award sets minimums that rise with experience, and shift allowances can further increase pay. While the median is a useful benchmark, individual salaries depend on role, sector, and location. For precise comparisons, use the Average line tool with your own salary figure.