Registered Nurse Salary NSW: How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay
For a registered nurse in NSW working 38 hours per week, annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 × 52.
Understanding Your Registered Nurse Salary NSW: From Hourly to Annual
If you're a registered nurse in New South Wales, you likely see your pay as an hourly rate. But when comparing job offers or planning your budget, you may want to know the annual figure. This guide explains how to convert your hourly rate to annual gross pay using the standard 38-hour week, and what to consider for tax, super, and fortnightly pay.
The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours × 52
The simplest way to estimate your annual gross salary is to multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52 weeks. For most full-time registered nurses in NSW, the standard week is 38 hours (as defined by the Fair Work Ombudsman). So the formula becomes:
Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × 38 × 52
For example, if your hourly rate is $45, your annual gross pay would be $45 × 38 × 52 = $88,920. This is before tax, Medicare levy, and superannuation.
If you work fewer or more hours, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. The the timesheet on this site lets you enter your own hours and see the annual estimate instantly.
Fortnightly Pay: A Handy Figure
Many nurses are paid fortnightly. To get your gross fortnightly pay, simply double your weekly pay. Using the same $45/hour example:
- Weekly gross: $45 × 38 = $1,710
- Fortnightly gross: $1,710 × 2 = $3,420
This can help you match your payslip and plan expenses.
Minimum Wage, Award Rates, and Casual Loading
It's important to know where your rate sits relative to legal minimums. The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. However, registered nurses are usually covered by an award (such as the Nurses Award) which sets higher minimum rates based on classification and experience. Your actual rate may be above the award.
If you work as a casual registered nurse, you are entitled to a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate. The Fair Work Commission sets this loading to compensate for lack of paid leave. For the minimum wage, the casual rate becomes $33.05 per hour. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading into the calculator; instead, use the base rate and check the casual loading box to add the 25% on top.
For more on casual pay, see our casual loading guide.
Superannuation Is Paid on Top
Your employer must contribute superannuation at 12% of your ordinary time earnings (for 2026–27). This is paid on top of your gross salary, not deducted from it. The super guarantee applies up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a registered nurse earning $88,920, the super contribution would be $88,920 × 12% = $10,670.40, added to your retirement fund.
Because super is separate, your annual gross pay (the figure you negotiate) does not include it. For more details, see super and packaging.
Tax and Medicare Levy
Your take-home pay depends on tax brackets. For 2026–27, the resident tax rates are:
- $0 – $18,200: nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15% of excess over $18,200
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30% of excess over $45,000
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37% of excess over $135,000
- Above $190,000: 45%
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (generally). The tax-free threshold of $18,200 applies if you are an Australian resident. This estimate uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds for Medicare, as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP loans, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted.
You can use the take-home pay page to estimate your net income after tax and Medicare.
State Differences in Ordinary-Time Earnings
New South Wales has slightly higher average earnings than the national figure. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (May 2026), full-time adult ordinary time earnings in NSW average $2,108.80 per week, compared to the national average of $2,083.70 per week. This is an average across all occupations and industries, not a median for registered nurses. Your individual registered nurse salary NSW may be above or below this average depending on your employer, location, and experience.
For more context, see our average pay page.
Important Notes
This calculation is an estimate. It assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with 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 uses 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.
For detailed award information, refer to pay guides and reference tables on this site.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.