Understanding Your Travel Nurse Salary: Award Rates vs National Minimum Wage
A travel nurse classified as a Registered Nurse Level 1 pay point 1 under the Nurses Award earns $32.09 per hour, or $1,219.50 per week for 38 hours, with casual loading of 25% on top.
Understanding Your Travel Nurse Salary
If you're a travel nurse working in Australia, your pay is likely governed by the Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) or the National Minimum Wage if you're award-free. Understanding how your hourly rate translates into annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay is essential for budgeting and comparing job offers. This guide explains the key components of a travel nurse salary, including award rates, casual loading, superannuation, and tax.
The Formula: Hourly Rate × Hours per Week × 52
The standard full-time week for nurses under the Nurses Award is 38 ordinary hours. To calculate your annual gross pay:
Annual gross = hourly rate × 38 hours × 52 weeks
For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 pay point 1 earns $32.09 per hour (from the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide ). That gives:
- Weekly: $1,219.50
- Fortnightly: $2,439.00 (weekly × 2)
- Annual: $63,414.00 (before tax and super)
If you are a casual travel nurse, you receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base rate. That makes your hourly rate $40.11, weekly $1,524.38, and annual $79,267.76.
Use the timesheet to enter your base hourly rate and check the casual loading box to see your own figures.
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. This applies only to employees not covered by an award or agreement. Travel nurses are almost always covered by the Nurses Award, which sets higher minimum rates. For instance, an Enrolled Nurse pay point 1 earns $30.00 per hour, and a Registered Nurse with a degree earns $33.51 per hour. Always check your classification in the award to ensure you're paid correctly.
Award rates are updated annually following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The 2026 data is available in the Modern Awards Pay Database.
Casual Loading and Penalty Rates
Casual employees under the Nurses Award receive a 25% loading on the base hourly rate. This is in addition to any penalty rates for working weekends, public holidays, or night shifts. For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 working Saturday earns $48.14 per hour (150% of base) and on Sunday $56.16 per hour (175%). Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate, not the casual rate. See casual loading for more details.
Superannuation: Paid on Top
Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee at 12% of your ordinary earnings (from 1 July 2026). This is paid on top of your gross salary, not deducted from it. For a travel nurse earning $63,414 annually, the employer contributes an additional $7,609.68 to your super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not part of your take-home pay but is a valuable long-term benefit. Learn about super and packaging.
Tax and Medicare
Your take-home pay depends on the 2026–27 resident tax rates:
- 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 over $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds). For a travel nurse earning $63,414, the estimated tax is about $9,064 and Medicare $1,268, leaving a take-home of around $53,082. Use take-home pay for a detailed estimate.
Fortnightly Pay and Budgeting
Many travel nurses are paid fortnightly. Your fortnightly gross is simply your weekly rate multiplied by two. For the RN Level 1 example, that's $2,439.00 before tax and super. After tax and Medicare, the take-home fortnightly is approximately $2,041. This can help you plan rent, bills, and savings.
Comparing Job Offers
When comparing travel nurse salary offers, look at the hourly rate, whether it includes casual loading, and what penalty rates apply. The award minimums are a floor; some agencies pay above award. Use pay guides to find the correct classification for your role. Also check average pay for context: the ABS reports full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 (May 2026), which is higher than the award rate for many nurses.
Summary
Your travel nurse salary is built from your award classification, hours, and loadings. Use the formula hourly × 38 × 52 for annual gross, add 25% if casual, then add 12% super on top. Tax and Medicare reduce your take-home. Always verify your pay against the Nurses Award and the National Minimum Wage. For a quick calculation, try the timesheet – it handles the math for you.
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.