This article is part of our guide: Work as a nurse in Australia and New Zealand.
Australia is one of the best-paid countries in the world for registered nurses. Public hospital pay is set state by state through awards and enterprise agreements, and most nurses move up one pay point for each year of experience.
Short answer: a first-year registered nurse in a public hospital earns roughly A$81,000 to A$87,000 a year in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, rising to about A$109,000 to A$114,000 after eight years. Employers also pay 12% superannuation on top.
New South Wales
| Registered nurse | Weekly | Annual (×52) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | $1,566.70 | $81,468 |
| 2nd year | $1,651.70 | $85,888 |
| 3rd year | $1,737.00 | $90,324 |
| 4th year | $1,828.50 | $95,082 |
| 5th year | $1,919.20 | $99,798 |
| 6th year | $2,009.50 | $104,494 |
| 7th year | $2,112.80 | $109,866 |
| 8th year and after | $2,199.60 | $114,379 |
| Clinical nurse specialist grade 1 | $2,289.00 | $119,028 |
Victoria
| Registered nurse grade 2 | Weekly | Annual (×52) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $1,619.00 | $84,188 |
| Year 2 | $1,669.60 | $86,819 |
| Year 3 | $1,725.40 | $89,721 |
| Year 4 | $1,786.30 | $92,888 |
| Year 5 | $1,852.90 | $96,351 |
| Year 6 | $1,919.10 | $99,793 |
| Year 7 | $1,972.80 | $102,586 |
| Year 8 | $2,089.40 | $108,649 |
| Clinical nurse specialist | $2,174.30 | $113,064 |
Queensland
| Nurse grade 5 (registered nurse) | Annual | Fortnightly |
|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $87,368 | $3,348.80 |
| Pay point 2 | $91,472 | $3,506.10 |
| Pay point 3 | $95,589 | $3,663.90 |
| Pay point 4 | $99,695 | $3,821.30 |
| Pay point 5 | $103,817 | $3,979.30 |
| Pay point 6 | $107,942 | $4,137.40 |
| Pay point 7 | $112,064 | $4,295.40 |
| Clinical nurse (grade 6, point 1) | $113,979 | $4,368.80 |
Take-home pay after tax
| Example | Gross a year | Tax and Medicare levy | Take-home a year | Take-home a fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW 1st year | $81,468 | $16,590 | $64,879 | $2,495 |
| Victoria year 1 | $84,188 | $17,460 | $66,728 | $2,566 |
| Queensland pay point 1 | $87,368 | $18,478 | $68,890 | $2,650 |
| NSW 8th year | $114,379 | $27,121 | $87,258 | $3,356 |
| Queensland pay point 7 | $112,064 | $26,380 | $85,684 | $3,296 |
For 2026–27, Australian residents pay no tax on the first $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000 and 45% above that, plus a 2% Medicare levy. Temporary visa holders who are residents for tax purposes are taxed the same way.
Extras that raise your pay
- Superannuation: your employer pays 12% of your ordinary earnings into a retirement fund, on top of your salary.
- Penalty rates: extra pay for evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays, which can add a lot for shift workers.
- Salary packaging: public hospital staff can usually pay some living costs from pre-tax income, which increases take-home pay.
- Rural and remote incentives in some regions, including relocation support.
Other states
Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory have their own agreements, with pay in a broadly similar range. Private hospitals and aged care set their own rates, which are often lower than the public system.
Getting registered
To work as a registered nurse you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through Ahpra. Read our NMBA and Ahpra registration guide and see how registration costs compare with other countries.
Compare: UK nurse take-home pay · Canada nurse salary by province · Nurse salaries by country
Sources: NSW Health Information Bulletin IB2026_018; Victorian public sector nurses and midwives salary circular (rates from 30 November 2026); Queensland Health nursing stream wage rates; Australian Taxation Office resident tax rates 2026–27. All figures in Australian dollars.
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