Travel nurse salary and the national average
There is no single published figure for a travel nurse salary in Australia. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey does not break out travel nurses, and the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Nurses Award [MA000034] covers classifications like enrolled nurse and registered nurse rather than a specific “travel nurse” role. However, by looking at the award rates and state averages, we can see how a travel nurse’s pay might sit against the national full-time line.
The national line: $2,083.70 per week
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, puts full-time adult ordinary-time earnings at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses to compare any role. For context, the full-time median is about $90,532 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), and the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week on a 38-hour week.
Where a travel nurse’s award rate lands
Travel nurses are usually registered nurses (RNs) employed by agencies. Under the Nurses Award, an RN at Level 1, pay point 1 earns $1,219.50 per week ($32.09 per hour). At the top of Level 1 (pay point 8 and thereafter), the rate is $1,465.50 per week ($38.57 per hour). Even the highest Level 1 rate is about $618 below the national full-time average. More senior classifications, such as RN Level 4 or Level 5, can exceed the average. For example, an RN Level 4, grade 2 earns $1,995.10 per week, and Level 5, grade 6 earns $2,706.90 per week. So a travel nurse with experience and higher classification could sit above the line.
State differences move the figure
Where a travel nurse works also matters. The ABS publishes state full-time averages that show significant variation:
- New South Wales: $109,658 a year
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
A travel nurse taking a contract in the ACT or Western Australia is likely to earn more than one in Tasmania, even before agency premiums. Many travel nursing jobs also include accommodation allowances, travel reimbursements, or penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, which can push total compensation well above the award minimum. For a full breakdown of state averages, see States and territories.
How the award and the average relate
The Nurses Award rates rose by 4.75% from 1 August 2026, in line with the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review. The national full-time average grew by 3.7% over the year to May 2026. This means award rates are catching up, but still lag the average for most RN Level 1 positions. Travel nurses who are paid above award—common in agency work—may see pay closer to or above the national line.
The role of medians and the minimum wage
It’s important to keep the different benchmarks distinct. The full-time median of $90,532 is lower than the average because high earners pull the average up. The all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage is $52,255 a year. A travel nurse on the award minimum for an RN Level 1 ($63,414 to $76,206 a year) sits between the minimum wage and the full-time median, but below the average. Only higher-level RNs or those with significant allowances reach the average.
Why no single travel nurse figure exists
The ABS does not collect data specifically for travel nurses. The category is too small and diverse. Most travel nurses are classified as registered nurses in health care and social assistance, an industry where the average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults is not separately published in the May 2026 release. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides cover the award minimums, but agency contracts often set higher rates. For more on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.
Summary
A travel nurse salary is not a fixed number. Under the Nurses Award, a registered nurse at Level 1 earns between $1,219.50 and $1,465.50 per week, well below the national full-time average of $2,083.70. But state location, classification level, and agency allowances can lift pay above the line. The best way to see where your own travel nurse salary sits is to Place a salary on the line and compare it to the national average, your state average, and the award minimums.