RN Salary Guide: What Changes Your Fortnightly Take-Home Pay
Registered nurse salaries under the Nurses Award range from $32.09 per hour for Level 1 Pay Point 1 to over $71 per hour for senior roles, with take-home pay affected by tax brackets, Medicare levy, and super.
RN Salary Under the Nurses Award
If you are a registered nurse in Australia, your minimum pay is set by the Nurses Award 2020 [MA000034]. Fair Work publishes the latest rates, which apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026. For a full‑time employee working 38 hours per week, the hourly rate for a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 is $32.09, giving a weekly wage of $1,219.50. More senior classifications, such as Level 5 Grade 6, can earn up to $71.23 per hour .
These award rates are the legal minimum. Many employers offer above‑award pay, especially in metropolitan hospitals or specialty areas. The Australian Taxation Office provides guidance on what income and allowances you must include in your tax return .
What Changes Your Fortnightly Pay
Your advertised rn salary is not what lands in your bank account. Three factors reduce your take‑home pay: income tax brackets, the Medicare levy, and the fact that superannuation is usually paid on top of your base salary.
Income Tax Brackets (2026–27)
For a resident earning $63,414 (RN Level 1 Pay Point 1), the tax calculation is:
- First $18,200: nil
- Next $26,800 (up to $45,000): taxed at 15c per dollar = $4,020
- Remaining $18,414 (over $45,000): taxed at 30c per dollar = $5,524.20
- Gross tax: $9,544.20
- Less Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): maximum $700, but it phases out. At $63,414, LITO is $48.79
- Net tax: $9,495.41
Medicare Levy
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. The single‑person thresholds for 2026–27 are $28,011 and $35,013. Because your RN salary is well above $35,013, you pay the full 2%: $1,268.28.
Total tax and Medicare: $10,763.69. Annual take‑home: $52,650.31. Fortnightly: $2,025.01.
Superannuation
Your employer must pay super at 12% of your ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). This is on top of your base salary, not deducted from it. So the total employment cost for the RN example is $63,414 × 1.12 = $71,023.68. Your take‑home pay is based on the $63,414, and the super goes into your fund separately.
Comparing to Benchmarks
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week Minimum wage. The average full‑time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week Average pay. An RN at Level 1 Pay Point 1 earns $1,219.50 per week, which is above the minimum but below the all‑employees average of $1,579.20. More experienced nurses quickly exceed the average.
How to Estimate Your Own Take‑Home Pay
Use the Take-home pay guide to run your own numbers. Remember that your actual tax may differ if you have HELP/HECS debt, salary sacrifice arrangements, or the Medicare levy surcharge. The Tax and Medicare page explains how the levy applies. For super, see Super for contribution caps and rules.
Summary
Your rn salary under the award is a solid starting point, but what you actually take home each fortnight depends on the tax brackets, the Medicare levy, and the fact that super is extra. For a typical Level 1 RN, expect around $2,025 per fortnight after tax and Medicare. Use the Clearance tool to get a personalised estimate for your situation.
Questions
How is the Medicare levy calculated on my RN salary?
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For 2026–27, the single‑person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your taxable income is below $28,011 you pay no levy; between $28,011 and $35,013 the levy is 10c per dollar over the lower threshold. Full‑time RN salaries are well above $35,013, so you pay the full 2%.
Does the advertised RN salary include super?
Most job ads state a base salary plus super. The Nurses Award rates are minimum wages before super. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, paid on top of your base salary. So a $63,414 award rate means a total package of about $71,024 including super.
What is the fortnightly take-home pay for a typical RN?
For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 earning $63,414 per year, after income tax (including the Low Income Tax Offset) and the Medicare levy, your annual take-home is approximately $52,650. That works out to about $2,025 per fortnight. This is an estimate only and does not include HELP/HECS, salary sacrifice, or payroll rounding.