Nurses Award pay rates from 1 July 2026: nursing assistants, enrolled nurses, registered nurses levels 1 to 5 and nurse practitioners, with aged care rates, weekend and casual rates and take-home pay in 2026–27.
A registered nurse on the award starts at $32.09 an hour ($33.51 with a 4-year degree). An enrolled nurse starts at $30.00. In aged care, registered nurses start at $39.87. Open in the pay calculator.
Nurses Award pay rates
| Classification | Hourly | Casual hourly | Weekly | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing assistant, 1st year | $27.65 | $34.56 | $1,050.70 | $54,636 | $1,800 |
| Nursing assistant, 2nd year | $28.09 | $35.11 | $1,067.30 | $55,500 | $1,823 |
| Nursing assistant, 3rd year and thereafter | $28.54 | $35.68 | $1,084.40 | $56,389 | $1,845 |
| Nursing assistant, experienced (Certificate III) | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,119.10 | $58,193 | $1,891 |
| Student enrolled nurse, under 21 | $25.69 | $32.11 | $976.20 | $50,762 | $1,701 |
| Student enrolled nurse, 21 and over | $26.97 | $33.71 | $1,024.70 | $53,284 | $1,766 |
| Enrolled nurse, pay point 1 | $30.00 | $37.50 | $1,139.90 | $59,275 | $1,919 |
| Enrolled nurse, pay point 2 | $30.39 | $37.99 | $1,155.00 | $60,060 | $1,939 |
| Enrolled nurse, pay point 3 | $30.80 | $38.50 | $1,170.40 | $60,861 | $1,960 |
| Enrolled nurse, pay point 4 | $31.24 | $39.05 | $1,187.20 | $61,734 | $1,982 |
| Enrolled nurse, pay point 5 | $31.56 | $39.45 | $1,199.20 | $62,358 | $1,998 |
| Registered nurse, 4-year degree entry rate | $33.51 | $41.89 | $1,273.40 | $66,217 | $2,097 |
| Registered nurse, masters degree entry rate | $34.66 | $43.33 | $1,317.20 | $68,494 | $2,156 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 1 | $32.09 | $40.11 | $1,219.50 | $63,414 | $2,025 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 2 | $32.75 | $40.94 | $1,244.50 | $64,714 | $2,058 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 3 | $33.55 | $41.94 | $1,275.00 | $66,300 | $2,099 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 4 | $34.45 | $43.06 | $1,309.00 | $68,068 | $2,145 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 5 | $35.51 | $44.39 | $1,349.20 | $70,158 | $2,200 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 6 | $36.53 | $45.66 | $1,388.10 | $72,181 | $2,252 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 7 | $37.59 | $46.99 | $1,428.30 | $74,272 | $2,307 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 8 and thereafter | $38.57 | $48.21 | $1,465.50 | $76,206 | $2,358 |
| Registered nurse level 2, pay point 1 | $39.59 | $49.49 | $1,504.40 | $78,229 | $2,411 |
| Registered nurse level 2, pay point 2 | $40.22 | $50.28 | $1,528.30 | $79,472 | $2,443 |
| Registered nurse level 2, pay point 3 | $40.92 | $51.15 | $1,554.80 | $80,850 | $2,479 |
| Registered nurse level 2, pay point 4 and thereafter | $41.59 | $51.99 | $1,580.30 | $82,176 | $2,514 |
| Registered nurse level 3, pay point 1 | $42.93 | $53.66 | $1,631.20 | $84,822 | $2,583 |
| Registered nurse level 3, pay point 2 | $43.71 | $54.64 | $1,661.10 | $86,377 | $2,624 |
| Registered nurse level 3, pay point 3 | $44.47 | $55.59 | $1,689.80 | $87,870 | $2,663 |
| Registered nurse level 3, pay point 4 and thereafter | $45.27 | $56.59 | $1,720.10 | $89,445 | $2,704 |
| Registered nurse level 4, grade 1 | $48.99 | $61.24 | $1,861.70 | $96,808 | $2,897 |
| Registered nurse level 4, grade 2 | $52.50 | $65.63 | $1,995.10 | $103,745 | $3,078 |
| Registered nurse level 4, grade 3 | $55.57 | $69.46 | $2,111.60 | $109,803 | $3,236 |
| Registered nurse level 5, grade 1 | $49.44 | $61.80 | $1,878.60 | $97,687 | $2,920 |
| Registered nurse level 5, grade 2 | $52.06 | $65.08 | $1,978.40 | $102,877 | $3,055 |
| Registered nurse level 5, grade 3 | $55.57 | $69.46 | $2,111.60 | $109,803 | $3,236 |
| Registered nurse level 5, grade 4 | $59.03 | $73.79 | $2,243.10 | $116,641 | $3,415 |
| Registered nurse level 5, grade 5 | $65.11 | $81.39 | $2,474.10 | $128,653 | $3,729 |
| Registered nurse level 5, grade 6 | $71.23 | $89.04 | $2,706.90 | $140,759 | $4,030 |
| Nurse practitioner, 1st year | $49.39 | $61.74 | $1,877.00 | $97,604 | $2,917 |
| Nurse practitioner, 2nd year | $50.86 | $63.58 | $1,932.70 | $100,500 | $2,993 |
Rates for employees other than aged care employees. Full-time weekly rate for 38 hours; take-home pay is after income tax and the Medicare levy for a full year in 2026–27.
Aged care nurse rates
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly | Year (52 weeks) | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student enrolled nurse, under 21 | $29.54 | $1,122.60 | $58,375 | $44.31 | $51.70 |
| Student enrolled nurse, 21 and over | $31.01 | $1,178.30 | $61,272 | $46.52 | $54.27 |
| Enrolled nurse supervising other direct care employees | $38.86 | $1,476.60 | $76,783 | $58.29 | $68.01 |
| Registered nurse level 1, first year | $39.87 | $1,515.20 | $78,790 | $59.81 | $69.77 |
| Registered nurse level 1, more than 1 and up to 4 years | $41.90 | $1,592.10 | $82,789 | $62.85 | $73.33 |
| Registered nurse level 1, more than 4 years | $45.80 | $1,740.30 | $90,496 | $68.70 | $80.15 |
| Registered nurse level 2, first 3 years | $49.59 | $1,884.60 | $97,999 | $74.39 | $86.78 |
| Registered nurse level 2, 3 years or more | $51.83 | $1,969.70 | $102,424 | $77.75 | $90.70 |
| Registered nurse level 3 | $53.64 | $2,038.40 | $105,997 | $80.46 | $93.87 |
| Registered nurse level 4 | $62.01 | $2,356.20 | $122,522 | $93.02 | $108.52 |
| Registered nurse level 5 | $70.08 | $2,663.20 | $138,486 | $105.12 | $122.64 |
| Nurse practitioner, 1st year | $56.81 | $2,158.60 | $112,247 | $85.22 | $99.42 |
| Nurse practitioner, 2nd year | $58.49 | $2,222.70 | $115,580 | $87.74 | $102.36 |
Weekend and public holiday rates
| Classification | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing assistant, 1st year | $41.48 | $48.39 | $55.30 |
| Enrolled nurse, pay point 1 | $45.00 | $52.50 | $60.00 |
| Registered nurse level 1, pay point 1 | $48.14 | $56.16 | $64.18 |
| Registered nurse level 2, pay point 1 | $59.39 | $69.28 | $79.18 |
| Registered nurse level 3, pay point 1 | $64.40 | $75.13 | $85.86 |
Full-time and part-time. Saturday is 150%, Sunday 175% and public holidays 200% of the hourly rate.
Registered nurse levels
- Registered nurse level 1: Works under the general guidance of, or with access to, a more experienced registered nurse.
- Registered nurse level 2: Clinical nurse.
- Registered nurse level 3: Clinical nurse consultant, nurse manager or nurse educator.
- Registered nurse level 4: Assistant director of nursing (clinical, management or education), graded by the complexity of the role.
- Registered nurse level 5: The most senior registered nurse level, in grades 1 to 6.
Summaries of Schedule A of the award.
How it works
- The Nurses Award 2020 covers employers in the health industry and other employers of nurses, including labour hire businesses placing nurses. State public hospital nurses are paid under state agreements.
- Casuals get a 25% loading. Super is paid on top. Many private hospitals and aged care providers have enterprise agreements that pay more.
Common questions
What is the Nurses Award pay rate for a registered nurse?
From 1 July 2026, a registered nurse level 1 starts at $32.09 an hour ($1,219.50 a week), or $33.51 on entry with a 4-year degree, rising each year to $38.57. In aged care, a level 1 registered nurse gets $39.87 in the first year.
What is the enrolled nurse award rate?
$30.00 an hour at pay point 1 ($1,139.90 a week), up to $31.56 at pay point 5. Casuals get $37.50 to $39.45.
Why are aged care nurses paid more?
The pay guide lists separate, higher rates for aged care employees, following the Fair Work Commission's aged care work value decisions.
What are the Nurses Award weekend rates?
Time and a half on Saturdays, 175% on Sundays and double time on public holidays: $48.14, $56.16 and $64.18 for a level 1 pay point 1 registered nurse.
Do public hospital nurses get these rates?
No. Nurses in state public hospitals are paid under state agreements; see nurse salary by state.
When do the rates go up?
Each year from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Next: 1 July 2027 (Annual Wage Review).
See also enrolled nurse salary, midwife salary, aged care pay rates and nurse salary by state.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide and award text, Nurses Award 2020 [MA000034], rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Take-home pay: ATO tax rates. Checked 2026-10-22. General information only.