What Is the Average Nurse Salary in Australia? A Guide to Take-Home Pay
The median full-time registered nurse earns $2,192 per week before tax, or about $113,984 a year, well above the national full-time ordinary time earnings.
Understanding the Average Nurse Salary in Australia
If you are a nurse or considering nursing, you want to know what you can expect to earn. The phrase average nurse salary australia often appears in job searches, but the real figure depends on experience, location, and whether you work full-time or part-time. This guide uses official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Jobs and Skills Australia, and Fair Work to give you a clear picture.
The Median Full-Time Salary for Registered Nurses
According to , the median weekly earnings for full-time non-managerial registered nurses are $2,192. That translates to an annual salary of about $113,984 before tax. This is significantly higher than the average full-time ordinary time earnings across all occupations, which sit at $2,083.70 per week (about $108,352 per year).
Nurses also enjoy strong hourly rates. The same source shows median hourly earnings of $57, compared to $47 for all occupations. And with 86% of the workforce being female and a median age of 38, nursing offers solid career earnings.
How Award Rates Compare
Fair Work’s Nurses Award sets minimum pay for different classifications. For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 earns at least $1,219.50 per week ($32.09 per hour), while a Level 5 Grade 6 can earn up to $2,706.90 per week ($71.23 per hour). These award rates are the legal minimums, but the median shows that many nurses earn above the base rate.
You can see the full award table at . The award also includes penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, which can boost take-home pay significantly.
What You Take Home After Tax and Medicare
Your take-home pay depends on your total income. For a nurse earning the median $113,984, here is a rough estimate using 2026–27 tax rates:
- Income tax: $24,715
- Medicare levy (2%): $2,280
- Total deductions: $26,995
- Annual take-home: $86,989
- Fortnightly take-home: about $3,345
This calculation excludes the Medicare levy surcharge (if you have private hospital cover) and HELP/HECS repayments. It also assumes you are a full-time resident taxpayer. For a more personalised estimate, use our Take-home pay calculator.
How It Stacks Up Against Benchmarks
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week. A registered nurse on the median salary earns more than double that. Even the lowest-paid registered nurse under the award earns $1,219.50 per week, which is 21% above the minimum. Nursing clearly offers a wage well above the baseline.
Compared to the all-employees average weekly total earnings of $1,579.20 (which includes part-time workers), the nurse median is also much higher. This reflects the specialised skills and responsibilities of the profession.
Superannuation and Salary Packaging
Employers must pay super at 12% on top of your salary from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. On a $113,984 salary, that adds about $13,678 to your super each year. Many nurses also use salary packaging for items like laptops or cars, which can reduce taxable income. See our Salary packaging guide for details.
The Bottom Line
When you search for average nurse salary australia, the most reliable number is $2,192 per week or $113,984 per year for a full-time registered nurse. Your actual pay may vary by state, employer, and experience, but this figure gives you a solid benchmark. After tax and Medicare, you can expect to take home around $87,000 per year, or about $3,345 per fortnight. Use our Tax and Medicare page to estimate your own situation.
Questions
How is the average nurse salary in Australia calculated?
The most reliable figure comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics via Jobs and Skills Australia. For full-time non-managerial registered nurses, the median weekly earnings are $2,192. This is the middle point – half earn more, half earn less. Award rates from Fair Work set minimums for different levels, but the median reflects what nurses actually earn.
What is the take-home pay for a nurse on the average salary?
On a salary of $113,984, using 2026–27 tax rates, you would pay about $24,715 in income tax and $2,280 in Medicare levy, leaving roughly $86,989 per year. That works out to about $3,345 per fortnight. This excludes super, which is paid on top by your employer.
How does the average nurse salary compare to the minimum wage?
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. A registered nurse on the median $2,192 per week earns more than double that. Even entry-level registered nurses under the award earn at least $1,219.50 per week, well above the minimum.