How Much Do Nurses Earn in Australia? Our 2025 Nurse Pay Guide

Understanding pay rates and entitlements is important for Nurses and their employers. Pay rates evolve over time, and are influenced by factors such as inflation, cost of living, collective bargaining, labour market demand, role complexity and the employer’s wage-setting method.

This guide provides an overview of the current wage-setting methods affecting Nursing professionals in Australia, featuring a 2025 Nurse Wage Table, Nurse classification descriptions, and links to key resources.

Classifications, Wage-Setting Methods, and other key factors influencing pay

Nurses’ wages are established by their role ‘classification’ and the wage-setting method of their employer (i.e. industry awards, enterprise agreements (EAs), or individual contract arrangements).

• Role Classification: Wage-setting methods, including awards and agreements, classify Nursing roles into levels (or sometimes grades) that relate to the role’s scope of practice, complexity, and responsibilities. Levels outline the qualifications, years of experience, and clinical competency required in the role. Within each level, there can be multiple pay points, allowing for incremental pay increases annually, based on factors such as clinical skill development, job performance, and years in the job. Nurse classifications vary by award or agreement and can be unique to the employer or workplace. See our Nurse classification table below for more information and descriptions.
• Industry and Occupation Awards: These set out the minimum wages and conditions for Nurses under the Fair Work system. Awards outline pay structures, pay progression, penalty rates, and entitlements such as overtime, shift loadings, and leave provisions. National awards generally apply to Nurses working in the private and not-for-profit sector, anywhere in Australia, unless they are covered by an Enterprise Agreement (EA). State-specific awards, on the other hand, generally apply to public sector Nurses working in the specific State or Territory public health service.
• Enterprise Agreements (EAs): EAs are workplace-specific agreements negotiated between employers and employees, often with union involvement. These agreements set wages, conditions, and entitlements above the minimum award. EAs are tailored to specific employee groups and worksites, meaning Nursing staff in large organisations may be paid under different wage-setting methods.
• Individual Employment Contracts: Some Nurses, particularly those working in private hospitals, GP clinics, or as self-employed practitioners, negotiate individual contracts. These agreements must comply with the minimum industry award standards and the Fair Work Act.
• Agency and Contract Nursing: Nurses working through recruitment agencies or on fixed-term contracts may have different pay structures, often receiving higher base rates in place of leave entitlements. Pay rates for agency Nursing roles vary depending on demand, shift type, and location, with rural or high-need areas typically offering higher hourly rates.
• Extra entitlements: Nurses working in in-demand specialties (like mental health or rural and remote health), taking on leadership positions, working night and weekend shifts, or re-locating to work in areas of workforce shortage, are often compensated with higher wages, extra benefits and allowances.

Which Award or Agreement Covers Nurses’ Pay in Australia?

In Australia, Nurses employed in the public sector are covered by state- or territory-specific Awards or Agreements (more information below). Nurses employed in the private and not-for-profit sector are typically covered by the national Nurses Award 2020, unless their employer/workplace has a specific Enterprise Agreement (EA) in place. Additionally, some employers and recruitment agencies may arrange individual contracts with their Nursing staff.

What Are the 2025 Pay Rates for Nurses in Each Australian State and Territory?

In Australia, Nurse pay rates can vary by location and sector. Use our tables below to find your applicable role classification, base pay rate, and industry award or agreement.

Table 1: 2025 Nurse Wage/Salary Table

Table 1 Notes: Data as of 4^TH March, 2025, pay rates are subject to change. Check Fair Work or your employment contract for exact figures. Values reflect base pay rates for full-time Nursing roles only / 38 hours per week (Mon-Fri). Where not available, weekly and hourly rates were calculated from available data as 38hrs per week, 52 weeks per year. Nurse classifications are grouped for clarity and vary by Award and EA, refer to Table 3 below. Table Sources: Public sector rates reflect current state/territory agreements or awards (refer to links in table 2 below). Private sector rates are based on the Nurses Award 2020 and sample large employer EAs (Calvary Home Care Services (Nurses) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026; and Ramsay Health Care Queensland Nurses and Midwives Enterprise Agreement 2023-2025)

Table 2: Nurse Awards and EAs by Australian State/Territory and Sector

Table 3: Nurse Classification Table

This table provides an overview of Nurse classifications in Australia. Classifications vary by award and agreement and can be specific to the employer/workplace. Nurses should be aware of classifications when applying for jobs and employers need to identify the correct classification when hiring staff. The table below groups similar classifications together for clarity.

Table 4. Latest ABS data: Average weekly total cash earnings (May 2023), by Nurse Occupation, Australia

Table notes: Source ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia > data downloads > Data cube 12. All employees > Average weekly total cash earnings, All methods of setting pay, by Nursing occupation (ANZSCO 4 digit), May 2023 data (latest available data as of March 4^th 2024).

Final Thoughts and Resources

To understand exact pay structures and entitlements, it is important for Nurses and employers to consult their employment contract and the relevant agreement or state/territory or national award applicable to their role.

Below we list essential resources to help Nurses and employers calculate their pay and entitlements and build their understanding of workplace relations and advocacy:

• Collective Bargaining & the Role of the ANMF - Wages and working conditions for Nurses and Midwives in Australia are often shaped through collective bargaining, where unions negotiate enterprise agreements on behalf of their members. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is the largest union representing Nurses, Midwives, and Assistants in Nursing, advocating for fair pay, safe working conditions, and professional standards. The ANMF plays a key role in negotiating enterprise agreements across public and private healthcare sectors.
• The Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission – The Fair Work Ombudsman serves as Australia’s national workplace relations regulator, providing tools and resources including their Pay Calculator, an A-Z list of awards, and educational materials for employers and employees regarding employment conditions, workplace relations, compliance and laws, or resolving or reporting workplace problems. The Fair Work Commission is Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal. From their website you can search all Australian Awards and Agreements, check working condition updates, and find information on job loss or dismissal.
• The ABS and other Nurse Salary Guides – The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is a great source for accurate earnings data and other data regarding working conditions, employment and the labour market. Additionally, online resources such as the Nurse Salary Guide 2025 (Updated) by Medshop Australia provides valuable insights into current salary trends.
• Nurse Registration requirements – For information regarding registration and endorsement requirements for nursing professionals in Australia, as well as approved programs of study, refer to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
• Study and professional development opportunities – Continuous professional development is vital for career progression in nursing. Several reputable organisations offer courses tailored to various stages of a nursing career. Read our blog post Nursing in Australia – how to kickstart and progress your nursing career and check out our Australian Nursing and Professional Development courses: Quick Links and Resource Guide
• Privately Practicing Nurses, individual Employment Contracts, and agency roles – small businesses and employers can use the gov.au – Employment Contract Tool to help them build an employment contract tailored to their business. Keep an eye on AHPRA’s proposed guidelines for privately practising nurses, and search for agency Nurse roles here.