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Australia — Federal (Nurses Award)
Nursing & midwifery pay — current rates, penalties & allowances
Award / Agreement
Nurses Award 2020 [MA000034]
Current
AnnualHourly
Roles & Wages
| Role | Pay Point | July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Assistant in Nursing AIN | 1st year | $54,811.52 |
| 2nd year | $55,677.48 | |
| 3rd year and thereafter | $56,569.53 | |
| Experienced (Cert III) | $58,379.72 | |
Student Enrolled Nurse Student EN | Less than 21 | $50,925.1 |
| 21 and over | $53,455.18 | |
Enrolled Nurse EN | Pay point 1 | $59,464.78 |
| Pay point 2 | $60,252.5 | |
| Pay point 3 | $61,055.87 | |
| Pay point 4 | $61,932.27 | |
| Pay point 5 | $62,558.27 | |
Registered Nurse — Level 1 RN Level 1 | With 4 year degree - entry rate | $66,429.03 |
| With masters degree - entry rate | $68,713.93 | |
| Pay point 1 | $63,617.25 | |
| Pay point 2 | $64,921.42 | |
| Pay point 3 | $66,512.5 | |
| Pay point 4 | $68,286.17 | |
| Pay point 5 | $70,383.27 | |
| Pay point 6 | $72,412.55 | |
| Pay point 7 | $74,509.65 | |
| Pay point 8 and thereafter | $76,450.25 | |
Registered Nurse — Level 2 RN Level 2 | Pay point 1 | $78,479.53 |
| Pay point 2 | $79,726.32 | |
| Pay point 3 | $81,108.73 | |
| Pay point 4 and thereafter | $82,438.98 | |
Registered Nurse — Level 3 RN Level 3 | Pay point 1 | $85,094.27 |
| Pay point 2 | $86,654.05 | |
| Pay point 3 | $88,151.23 | |
| Pay point 4 and thereafter | $89,731.88 | |
Registered Nurse — Level 4 RN Level 4 | Grade 1 | $97,118.68 |
| Grade 2 | $104,077.72 | |
| Grade 3 | $110,155.13 | |
Registered Nurse — Level 5 RN Level 5 | Grade 1 | $98,000.3 |
| Grade 2 | $103,206.53 | |
| Grade 3 | $110,155.13 | |
| Grade 4 | $117,015.05 | |
| Grade 5 | $129,065.55 | |
| Grade 6 | $141,209.95 | |
Nurse Practitioner NP | 1st year | $97,916.83 |
| 2nd year | $100,822.52 | |
Occupational Health Nurse OHN | L1, PP1 | $68,286.17 |
| L1, PP2 | $70,383.27 | |
| L1, PP3 | $72,412.55 | |
| L1, PP4 | $74,509.65 | |
| L1, PP5 | $76,450.25 | |
| L2, PP1 | $78,479.53 | |
| L2, PP2 | $79,726.32 | |
| L2, PP3 | $81,108.73 | |
| L2, PP4 | $82,438.98 | |
| Senior occupational health clinical nurse | $82,438.98 | |
| L3, PP1 | $85,094.27 | |
| L3, PP2 | $86,654.05 | |
| L3, PP3 | $88,151.23 | |
| L3, PP4+ | $89,731.88 |
Showing annual salary rates (calculated from weekly × 52.167)
Allowances
| Allowance | Unit | Amount |
|---|---|---|
On call — Monday to Friday 2.35% of the standard rate (auto-adjusts). Clause 17.2(a)(i). | per 24h period | $28.66 |
On call — Saturday 3.54% of the standard rate. Clause 17.2(a)(i). | per 24h period | $43.17 |
On call — Sunday / public holiday 4.13% of the standard rate. Clause 17.2(a)(i). | per 24h period | $50.37 |
Uniform allowance $1.26 per shift, or $6.41 per week — whichever is the lesser. Clause 17.3(a). | per week (max) | $6.41 |
Laundry allowance $0.33 per shift, or $1.53 per week — whichever is the lesser. Clause 17.3(a). | per week (max) | $1.53 |
Meal allowance — overtime When overtime exceeds 1 hour and no meal is supplied. Clause 17.3(b)(i). | per occasion | $17.30 |
Meal allowance — additional A further amount where overtime exceeds 4 hours. Clause 17.3(b)(ii). | per occasion | $15.60 |
Vehicle allowance Authorised use of own vehicle on duty (minimum). Clause 17.3(c)(i). | per km | $1.01 |
Penalty Rates
Saturday150%
Ordinary hours worked on a Saturday (time and a half).
Sunday175%
Ordinary hours worked on a Sunday.
Public Holiday200%
Ordinary hours worked on a public holiday (double time).
Afternoon Shift (Mon–Fri)+12.5%
Loading on ordinary rate for afternoon shifts.
Night Shift (Mon–Fri)+15%
Loading on ordinary rate for night shifts.
Overtime — first 2 hrs150%
Mon–Sat, first two hours (time and a half).
Overtime — after 2 hrs / Sunday200%
Beyond two hours Mon–Sat, and all Sunday overtime.
Overtime — Public Holiday250%
Overtime worked on a public holiday.
Casual Loading+25%
Added to the ordinary rate for casual employees.
Notes
- •Rates are the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide figures for the Nurses Award 2020 [MA000034], effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
- •Weekly rates shown are the ordinary (base) rate; the annual/hourly toggle is derived from a 38-hour week.
- •Penalties, shift loadings and overtime are calculated on the ordinary hourly rate as shown above.
- •Allowances at registered nurse levels 4 and 5 do not apply (clause 17.1). Many allowances are indexed to CPI or the standard rate.
- •The FWO Pay Guide is a summary; where it conflicts with the award, the full award MA000034 prevails. Always confirm against your payslip.
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