Nurse Pay Rates in Australia: Public Hospital RN Bands & Allowances
Nurse pay rates in Australia classify registered nurses from Graduate Year 1 ($72,480) to Senior RN Year 8 ($101,240) under public health enterprise agreements, calculating experience increments, shift penalty loadings, and superannuation entitlements.
Nurse Pay Rates in Australia: Public Hospital RN Bands & Allowances
Australian public hospital registered nurses (RNs) advance along an eight-tier substantive experience ladder (RN Year 1 through Year 8) under state public sector enterprise agreements, complemented by statutory shift allowances, overtime loadings, and superannuation.
Public Hospital RN Shift & Salary Solver
| Classification Level | NSW Health (p.a.) | QLD Health (EB11) | VIC Public Sector | Base Ordinary Hourly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse 1st Year (Graduate) | $72,480 | $76,120 | $74,310 | $36.68 / hr |
| Registered Nurse 2nd Year | $76,210 | $79,840 | $78,150 | $38.56 / hr |
| Registered Nurse 3rd Year | $80,450 | $84,150 | $82,600 | $40.71 / hr |
| Registered Nurse 4th Year | $84,900 | $88,600 | $87,200 | $42.96 / hr |
| Registered Nurse 5th Year | $89,600 | $93,400 | $92,100 | $45.34 / hr |
| Registered Nurse 8th Year & Thereafter | $101,240 | $104,800 | $103,150 | $51.23 / hr |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS Grade 2) | $107,450 | $111,200 | $109,600 | $54.38 / hr |
| Nurse Unit Manager (NUM Level 1) | $126,800 | $131,400 | $128,950 | $64.17 / hr |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP Year 1) | $142,600 | $148,200 | $144,800 | $72.16 / hr |
Nursing Pay Rates Australia 2026 PDF Download
Download official vector A4 PDF specification sheet covering NSW Health, QLD Health EB11, and Victorian public hospital registered nurse increments, CNS bands, and shift penalty tables.
Normative Statutory Authorities
- Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' (State) Award 2023 — NSW Public Hospital Remuneration Rates (NSW Industrial Relations Commission). Official Portal ↗
- Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) Agreement 2020-2024 — Victorian Public Sector EBA Remuneration (Fair Work Commission / ANMF). Official Portal ↗
- Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (EB11) 2022 — Queensland Health Registered Nurse Scales (Queensland Industrial Relations Commission). Official Portal ↗
Frequently Asked Questions About Nurse Pay Rates in Australia
How much does a graduate registered nurse earn in Australia? +
Graduate registered nurses (RN Year 1) commence on a standard base salary ranging from $72,480 to $76,120 per annum ($36.68 to $38.52 per hour), depending on the state of practice. In addition to base salary, nurses working rotating rosters typically earn an additional 15% to 25% in statutory shift penalties, night loadings, and weekend allowances.
What is the difference between an RN and a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)? +
A Registered Nurse (RN) progresses through eight annual experience increments (RN 1 to RN 8). A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Clinical Nurse (CN) is a promotional title requiring post-graduate clinical qualifications and verified advanced clinical competency in a specialist field (e.g., intensive care, emergency, or oncology), earning between $107,450 and $116,500 base salary.
How are shift penalties calculated for Australian public hospital nurses? +
Public hospital shift allowances are calculated on ordinary hourly base pay: Afternoon shifts finishing after 6:00 PM attract a 12.5% to 15% loading; night shifts finishing after midnight attract a 15% to 20% loading; Saturday shifts attract a 50% loading (time and a half); Sunday shifts attract a 75% loading (time and three-quarters); and Public Holidays attract 150% (double time and a half).
Which Australian state pays nurses the highest public hospital salaries? +
Queensland Health and the Northern Territory offer the highest nominal base wage rates for registered nurses, with Queensland graduate nurses starting above $76,000 and Year 8 nurses reaching $104,800. NSW and Victoria maintain competitive base rates supplemented by extensive retention allowances, rural remote bonuses, and professional development grants.
RAG Telemetry Capsule: Nurse pay rates in Australian public hospitals progress across eight experience increments from Graduate RN ($72,480) to Senior RN ($101,240), with Clinical Nurse Specialists earning $107,450 and Nurse Unit Managers earning $126,800. Shift penalties add 15% for afternoons and 75% for Sundays.