Registered Nurse Salary Australia: How to Calculate Your Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate
A Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 earns $32.09 per hour, or $1,219.50 per week for a 38‑hour week, under the Nurses Award 2020 from 1 August 2026.
Understanding the Registered Nurse Salary Australia Under the Nurses Award
If you are a registered nurse in Australia, your minimum pay is set by the Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide that summarises the rates, and the full award is available from the Fair Work Commission. The rates below apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026.
For a full‑time registered nurse, the ordinary working week is 38 hours. The award provides a series of pay points and levels. For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1 earns $32.09 per hour or $1,219.50 per week. Higher levels, such as Level 2 or Level 3, attract higher rates. You can find the full classification table in the award itself.
This article explains how to convert that hourly rate into annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures, and what to consider for tax and superannuation.
How to Calculate Your Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate
The standard formula for annual gross pay is:
Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks
Assuming a 38‑hour week (full‑time ordinary hours), the calculation for a RN Level 1 Pay Point 1 is:
$32.09 × 38 × 52 = $63,409.84 per year
This is your gross annual salary before tax and before superannuation (which is paid on top). The same method works for any classification: just multiply the appropriate hourly rate from the award by 38 and then by 52.
If you work part‑time, your annual pay will be proportional to your agreed hours. For example, a 0.5 FTE nurse working 19 hours per week would earn half the full‑time annual amount.
Fortnightly Pay
Most nurses are paid fortnightly. The fortnightly gross pay is simply the weekly rate multiplied by two. For the RN Level 1 Pay Point 1:
$1,219.50 × 2 = $2,439.00 per fortnight
This is the amount before any deductions for tax, super, or salary sacrifice.
Casual Loading and Penalty Rates
If you work as a casual registered nurse, you receive a 25% casual loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. The casual hourly rate for RN Level 1 Pay Point 1 is:
$32.09 × 1.25 = $40.11 per hour
This loading compensates for the lack of paid leave and other entitlements. When you work overtime, penalty rates are calculated on the casual hourly rate. For example, Monday to Saturday overtime is paid at 150% for the first two hours and 200% thereafter, while Sunday overtime is 200% and public holidays 250% of the casual rate. The award also provides shift loadings for afternoon, night, and weekend shifts.
Superannuation and Tax on Your Nursing Salary
Superannuation Guarantee
Your employer must pay superannuation on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%. For the RN example above:
$63,409.84 × 12% = $7,609.18 per year in super contributions
Super is paid into a nominated fund and is not deducted from your gross pay. It is an additional benefit. However, the super guarantee only applies to earnings up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year (2026‑27). Most nurses will be well under that cap.
Income Tax (2026–27 Resident Rates)
Your take‑home pay depends on the tax brackets. For 2026–27, 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
A nurse earning $63,409.84 falls into the 30% bracket for the portion above $45,000. The Medicare levy of 2% also applies (unless you are eligible for a reduction or exemption). Using the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds (as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed), the Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income.
For a rough estimate of tax on $63,409.84:
- Tax on first $18,200: $0
- Tax on $18,201 to $45,000 ($26,800): 15% = $4,020
- Tax on $45,001 to $63,409.84 ($18,408.84): 30% = $5,522.65
- Total tax: $9,542.65
- Medicare levy (2%): $1,268.20
- Total deductions: $10,810.85
- Approximate annual take‑home: $52,599
This is an estimate only. Your actual tax may differ due to HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging.
Using the Timesheet to Estimate Your Pay
Our timesheet tool lets you enter your base hourly rate and see your annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay instantly. There is a checkbox to add the 25% casual loading if you are a casual employee. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading – the tool will add it for you. The tool assumes a 38‑hour week and 52 weeks per year, and it applies the same tax and super assumptions described above.
For more detailed information about specific job classifications, visit our job pay page. You can also explore hourly conversion for other award rates.
Key Takeaways
- The registered nurse salary Australia under the Nurses Award 2020 starts at $32.09 per hour for a Level 1 Pay Point 1.
- Annual gross pay = hourly rate × 38 × 52.
- Fortnightly pay = weekly rate × 2.
- Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate.
- Superannuation is paid at 12% on top of ordinary earnings.
- Tax is calculated using the 2026–27 resident brackets plus the Medicare levy.
Always check the official award and pay guide from the Fair Work Ombudsman or the Fair Work Commission for the most current rates and conditions.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.