Nurse Salary and Take-Home Pay in Australia
See what registered nurses, enrolled nurses and assistants in nursing earn in Australia, and what that really pays after income tax, the 2% Medicare levy and 12% super for the 2026-27 financial year. Enter your own salary to see your exact take-home.
Australian Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026-27
Nurse Pay and Take-Home, 2026-27
Award floors from the Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) and the typical registered nurse median from the ABS, with income tax and the 2% Medicare levy for an Australian resident. Super is paid on top and is not counted in take-home.
| Nurse pay level | Annual salary | Income tax | Medicare levy | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse, Level 1 pay point 1 Nurses Award floor, $1,219.50/week | $63,414 | $9,495 | $1,268 | $52,650 |
| Enrolled Nurse, pay point 1 Nurses Award floor, $1,139.90/week | $59,275 | $8,192 | $1,185 | $49,898 |
| Assistant in nursing, first year Nurses Award floor, $1,050.70/week | $54,636 | $6,730 | $1,093 | $46,813 |
| Registered nurse, typical (ABS / JSA) Median full-time, $2,192/week | $113,984 | $24,715 | $2,280 | $86,989 |
Australian resident, super paid on top of salary, no HECS-HELP debt. Award rates operative from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026 (Nurses Award MA000034). Median from ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) via Jobs and Skills Australia. Sources: Fair Work Ombudsman; ABS; Australian Taxation Office.
Award Floor vs State Enterprise Agreements
Nurse pay in Australia has two layers. The Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) sets the legal minimum, the floor no nurse can be paid below. From the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026, that floor is $1,219.50 a week for a Registered Nurse Level 1 pay point 1, about $63,414 a year, rising through the pay points and higher levels.
In practice, most nurses are paid above the award. Public-hospital nurses in every state and territory are covered by enterprise agreements negotiated between their health service and their union, and these generally sit well above the award floor, before shift penalties, overtime and allowances are added. Private-hospital and aged-care nurses may be on the award itself, or on the Aged Care Award or the SCHADS Award, depending on the employer.
Whatever your agreement pays, the tax works the same way. Enter your salary in the salary calculator or read how Australian income tax works to see the full breakdown.
Take-Home on $113,984
Nurse Pay FAQ
Common questions about nurse salaries and take-home pay in Australia.
Sources
The documents behind every figure on this page.
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) pay guide: Registered Nurse Level 1 pay point 1 $1,219.50/week ($32.09/hour), Enrolled Nurse pay point 1 $1,139.90/week, assistant in nursing first year $1,050.70/week. Rates reflect the Annual Wage Review 2026 (4.75%), operative from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026.
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Registered Nurses (2544) occupation profile, sourced from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025): representative full-time median $2,192/week, about $113,984 a year.
- SEEK Career Advice, Registered Nurse salary page (July 2026): indicative advertised band roughly $75,000 to $118,000, used as a cross-check only.
- Australian Taxation Office, individual income tax rates and the 2% Medicare levy for 2026-27, including the 15% first marginal rate.
Take-home figures are calculated live on published ATO rates for 2026-27. Award and median figures are gross and exclude the 12% super paid on top. Awards set a floor; most nurses are paid above them under state enterprise agreements. Last verified 24 July 2026.