Nursing Salary Australia: How to Calculate Your Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate
For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 under the Nurses Award, the hourly rate is $32.09, giving an annual gross of about $63,400 for 38 hours per week.
Understanding Nursing Salary Australia
When you search for "nursing salary australia, you are likely comparing an hourly rate offer or trying to work out what a full-time role pays per year. The Fair Work Ombudsman Nurses Award 2020 award sets minimum rates for over 100 classifications from nursing assistants to registered nurse level 4. From the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026 the pay guide shows hourly rates for full-time and part-time employees. For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 is $32.09 per hour for 38 hours per week. The annual gross is $32.09 × 38 × 52 = $63,400. Super at 12% of ordinary earnings is paid on top, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base. The fortnightly pay is $63,400 ÷ 26 = $2,438 per fortnight. The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.9 per week for 38 hours, casual $33.05 including 25% loading. The Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide also includes the most used penalty rates for each classification.
Using the Hourly to Annual Calculator
Our [the timesheet calculator assumes the base hourly rate you type. You can also a checkbox to add 25% casual loading on top. For a nursing salary australia, if you are a casual employee under the award, the loading is 25% of the minimum hourly rate plus the casual hourly rate. For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1, the casual rate is $32.09 + 25% = $40.11 per hour. The annual gross for casual is $40.11 × 38 × 52 = $79,300. The calculator also shows the fortnightly pay: $79,300 ÷ 26 = $3,050 per fortnight. The formula: annual gross ≈ hourly × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, 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 levy uses the 2025–27 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.
Award Rates for Nursing Roles
The Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for nursing salary australia includes many classification from nursing assistant 1st year to registered nurse level 4 grade 2. For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 is $32.09 per hour, $32.09 × 38 × 38 × 52 = $63,300. For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 2 is $32.75 per hour, $32.75 × 38 × 52 = $64,700. The average weekly earnings from Australian Bureau of Statistics for full-time adult ordinary time is $2,083.7 per week, all employees total earnings $1,579.2 per week includes part-time. The nursing salary australia award rates are lower than the average for some roles, but for registered nurse level 2 or 3 they are closer. The pay guide also includes Saturday, Sunday, public holiday rates. For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1, Saturday is $48.14, Sunday $56.16, public holiday $64.18 per hour. These are penalty rates for full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees get the penalty rate plus the casual loading on top.
Tax and Medicare on Nursing Salary
After you calculate annual gross from hourly rate, you need to estimate tax. The 2026–27 resident tax brackets: nil to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, 45% above. Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. For a nursing salary australia of $63,400, the tax estimate: $18,200 tax-free, then $45,000 - $18,200 = $26,800 at 15% = $4,020, then $63,400 - $45,000 = $18,400 at 30% = $5,520, total tax $9,540. Medicare levy 2% of $63,400 = $1,268. Total tax and Medicare $10,808. Take-home pay about $52,592 per year, $1,011 per week. This is an estimate. The calculator on our site uses the same method.
Superannuation on Top
Super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of your salary. For a nursing salary australia of $63,400, super is $7,608 per year, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base. The employer pays this into your super fund. It is not included in the annual gross for tax purposes. The total remuneration package is $63,400 + $7,608 = $71,008. The calculator shows super as a separate line.
Casual Loading and Fortnightly Pay
If you work as a casual nurse, you get 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1, the casual rate is $32.09 + 25% = $40.11 per hour. Annual gross $40.11 × 38 × 52 = $79,300. Fortnightly pay $79,300 ÷ 26 = $3,050 per fortnight. The award also requires a minimum of 2 hours pay for each engagement. Casual employees also get shiftwork loadings on the minimum hourly rate excluding the casual loading with the casual loading then added to the penalty rate. The calculator does not include these complexities. Use the timesheet to estimate simple.
Internal Links for More Information
For more details on pay guides and award rates, see our pay guides page. For the minimum wage and casual loading, see casual loading. For tax and super, see take-home pay and super and packaging. The hourly conversion page explains the formula. The job pay page has examples for nursing roles. The reference tables have the full award rates from Fair Work Ombudsman.
Conclusion
Nursing salary australia depends on your classification, hours, and whether you are casual. Use the formula hourly × 38 × 52 to get annual gross. Add super at 12% on top. Subtract tax and Medicare to estimate take-home. The calculator on this site does all that for you. Always check the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for the latest rates.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.