How to compare a nursing salary offer using take-home pay

Understanding your nursing salary after tax

When you receive a job offer, the headline figure is usually the annual salary before tax and before super. To know what actually reaches your bank account each fortnight, you need to work through income tax, the Medicare levy, and any offsets. This guide uses the latest award rates from Fair Work and the 2026–27 tax tables to show you how to compare a nursing salary offer on a take-home basis.

Start with the award rate

Fair Work’s Nurses Award [MA000034] sets minimum weekly pay for each classification. For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 pay point 1 earns $1,219.50 per week, or $63,414 per year (52 weeks). A more experienced Registered Nurse Level 2 pay point 4 earns $1,580.30 per week, or $82,175.60 per year. These rates are before tax and before the 12% super guarantee that applies from 1 July 2026. Always check the classification that matches your qualifications and experience.

Calculate income tax

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

• Nil on the first $18,200
• 15c per $1 over $18,200 up to $45,000
• 30c per $1 over $45,000 up to $135,000
• 37c per $1 over $135,000 up to $190,000
• 45c per $1 over $190,000

For a nursing salary of $63,414:

• Tax on $45,000: $4,020 (15c on $26,800)
• Tax on remaining $18,414: $5,524.20 (30c)
• Gross tax: $9,544.20
• Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): $325 minus 1.5c per $1 over $45,000 = $48.79
• Net tax: $9,495.41

Add the Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income. For a single person, the full 2% applies once your income exceeds $35,013. Between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate. For $63,414, the levy is $1,268.28.

Your take-home pay

Total deductions: $9,495.41 (tax) + $1,268.28 (Medicare) = $10,763.69. Annual take-home: $52,650.31. Fortnightly: about $2,025. This is the amount that lands in your account, assuming no salary packaging or HELP debt.

Compare offers using take-home

When you see two nursing salary offers, convert each to a fortnightly take-home figure using the same method. The higher advertised salary may not always give you the most after tax, especially if one offer includes salary packaging options that reduce taxable income. The Australian Taxation Office provides guidance on work-related deductions for nurses, such as uniforms, travel, and self-education expenses, which can further lower your tax bill.

Remember super

Super is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. If your nursing salary is $63,414, your employer must contribute an extra $7,609.68 to your super fund. This does not affect your take-home pay but is an important part of your total compensation.

Use our tools

Our Take-home pay calculator can estimate your after-tax amount for any nursing salary. For a full breakdown of tax and the Medicare levy, see Tax and Medicare. And always check the Minimum wage benchmark ($26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week) to ensure your offer meets legal minimums.

Final tip

Focus on the fortnightly amount that reaches your bank account, not the annual figure. That is the number you can budget with. A nursing salary that looks modest on paper may actually leave you with more cash in hand once you account for tax offsets and Medicare thresholds.

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Disclaimer: This is an estimate only, based on 2026–27 tax rates. It does not include HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary sacrifice. Always consult a tax professional for your personal situation.