Nursing Salary Guide: Award Rates, Casual Loading, and Annual Pay for 2026
A Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 earns $32.09 per hour under the Nurses Award, giving an annual gross of about $63,420 for a 38-hour week.
Understanding Nursing Salary Under the Nurses Award
When you search for a nursing salary in Australia, the starting point is the Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) from the Fair Work Ombudsman. This award sets minimum pay rates for nurses and assistants in private hospitals, aged care, and other health services. The rates are updated each year after the Annual Wage Review. For 2026, the pay guide published by the Fair Work Ombudsman shows hourly rates for dozens of classifications, from nursing assistant to registered nurse level 4.
How Annual Pay Is Calculated
The standard formula for annual gross pay is:
hourly rate × hours per week × 52
For full-time nurses, the award defines ordinary hours as 38 per week (or an average of 38). So we assume 38 hours unless you are part-time or casual. For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 earns $32.09 per hour. That gives:
- Weekly pay: $32.09 × 38 = $1,219.42
- Fortnightly pay: $1,219.42 × 2 = $2,438.84
- Annual gross: $1,219.42 × 52 = $63,409.84 (rounded to $63,410)
If you are a casual nurse, the award adds a 25% casual loading on top of the base rate. So the casual hourly rate becomes $32.09 × 1.25 = $40.11. That loading is paid instead of annual leave and sick leave. The annual estimate for a casual nurse working 38 hours every week would be $40.11 × 38 × 52 = $79,257.36, but remember casuals don’t get paid leave.
Award Rates vs National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). However, award rates for nurses are higher. Even the lowest nursing classification—Nursing Assistant 1st year—pays $27.65 per hour. So a nursing salary is always above the minimum wage. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database confirms these rates are the legal minimums for each classification.
Casual Loading and Superannuation
Casual employees under the Nurses Award get the 25% loading on the base rate. That loading is included in the casual hourly rate shown in the pay guide. When you use a calculator, never add the loading again. The award also says casuals get a minimum of 2 hours’ pay per engagement and overtime rates after ordinary hours.
Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee rate for 2026–27 is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a full-time RN Level 1 Pay Point 1, super adds about $7,610 per year. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra contribution your employer makes to your super fund.
Tax and Take-Home Pay
For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low incomes). For a nurse earning $63,410, the tax estimate is about $9,717 plus Medicare $1,268, leaving a take-home of around $52,425 per year. This is before any salary packaging or HELP repayments. You can use our take-home pay tool for a more detailed estimate.
Fortnightly Pay and Budgeting
Most nurses are paid fortnightly under the award (unless agreed otherwise). For a full-time RN Level 1 Pay Point 1, fortnightly gross is $2,438.84. After tax and Medicare, the net might be around $2,016. Knowing your fortnightly amount helps with budgeting. See our pay guides for more award summaries.
Other Classifications and Allowances
The Nurses Award covers many roles. For example:
- Enrolled Nurse Pay Point 1: $30.00 per hour
- Registered Nurse Level 2 Pay Point 1: $39.59 per hour
- Registered Nurse Level 4 Grade 2: $52.50 per hour
Allowances like on-call, laundry, and meal allowances are paid on top. The award also has penalty rates for Saturday (150%), Sunday (175%), and public holidays (200%) for full-time and part-time employees. Casual overtime rates are higher.
Using the Timesheet Calculator
Our timesheet（the home page) lets you enter your base hourly rate. If you are casual, tick the box to add 25% loading. Do not enter a rate that already includes the loading. The calculator then shows your annual, fortnightly, and weekly estimates, including super and tax. It assumes 38 hours per week and no unpaid overtime or penalty rates.
Summary
A nursing salary under the Nurses Award is well above the National Minimum Wage. Use the award rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide to find your classification. Remember that super is paid on top, and casual loading is extra. For a quick estimate, multiply your hourly rate by 38 and then by 52. Check our minimum wage page for the latest national rates, or see casual loading for more details.
Disclaimer: Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.