Awards › Nurses Award Nurses Award Pay Rates 2026 from $25.69 /hour
Minimum pay rates for the Nurses Award (MA000034) , effective 1 July 2026. 56 classifications, with penalty, casual and junior rates.
This page lists the minimum pay rates under the Nurses Award, set out by classification and pay point. For each role you can see the base hourly and weekly minimum, the casual rate, and penalty rates for shift work, weekends and public holidays.
The Nurses Award covers nursing and personal care staff employed across the health sector, including public and private hospitals, aged care, medical practices, community health and occupational health settings. It applies to nursing assistants and assistants in nursing, enrolled nurses, registered nurses, nurse practitioners and occupational health nurses. The classifications follow the recognised nursing structure, with pay points that increase as a nurse gains experience and moves through the levels, from student and enrolled roles up to senior and clinical registered nurses. Doctors, allied health professionals and many general aged care support staff are covered by different awards.
Pay rates by classification Full-time minimum rates — Nurses Award, effective 1 July 2026 Classification Hourly Weekly Annual Casual/hr 1st year $27.65 $1,050.70 $54,783 — 2nd year $28.09 $1,067.30 $55,649 — Less than 21 years of age $25.69 $976.20 $50,899 — Pay point 1 $30.00 $1,139.90 $59,434 — 4 year degree $33.51 $1,273.40 $66,395 — Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 1 $34.45 $1,309.00 $68,251 — Registered nurse—level 1 — First year of employment classified at this level $39.87 $1,515.20 $79,003 — 3rd year and thereafter $28.54 $1,084.40 $56,541 — 21 years of age and over $26.97 $1,024.70 $53,428 — Pay point 2 $30.39 $1,155.00 $60,222 — Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 1 $32.09 $1,219.50 $63,585 — Masters degree $34.66 $1,317.20 $68,679 — Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 2 $35.51 $1,349.20 $70,347 — Registered nurse—level 1 — In excess of 1 year and up to 4 years of employment classified at this level $41.90 $1,592.10 $83,012 — Experienced (the holder of a relevant certificate III qualification) $29.45 $1,119.10 $58,350 — Pay point 3 $30.80 $1,170.40 $61,025 — Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 2 $32.75 $1,244.50 $64,888 — Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 3 $36.53 $1,388.10 $72,376 — Registered nurse—level 1 — In excess of 4 years of employment classified at this level $45.80 $1,740.30 $90,739 — Pay point 4 $31.24 $1,187.20 $61,901 — Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 3 $33.55 $1,275.00 $66,479 — Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 4 $37.59 $1,428.30 $74,472 — Pay point 5 $31.56 $1,199.20 $62,526 — Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 4 $34.45 $1,309.00 $68,251 — Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 5 $38.57 $1,465.50 $76,411 — Registered nurse—level 2 — First 3 years of employment classified at this level $49.59 $1,884.60 $98,263 — Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 5 $35.51 $1,349.20 $70,347 — Registered nurse—level 2 — In excess of 3 years of employment classified at this level $51.83 $1,969.70 $102,700 — Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 6 $36.53 $1,388.10 $72,376 — Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 1 $39.59 $1,504.40 $78,439 — Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 7 $37.59 $1,428.30 $74,472 — Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 2 $40.22 $1,528.30 $79,686 — Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 8 and thereafter $38.57 $1,465.50 $76,411 — Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 3 $40.92 $1,554.80 $81,067 — Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 4 $41.59 $1,580.30 $82,397 — Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 1 $39.59 $1,504.40 $78,439 — Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 2 $40.22 $1,528.30 $79,686 — Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 3 $40.92 $1,554.80 $81,067 — Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 1 $42.93 $1,631.20 $85,051 — Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 4 and thereafter $41.59 $1,580.30 $82,397 — Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 2 $43.71 $1,661.10 $86,610 — Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 3 $44.47 $1,689.80 $88,106 — Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 1 $42.93 $1,631.20 $85,051 — Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 4 and thereafter $45.27 $1,720.10 $89,686 — Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 2 $43.71 $1,661.10 $86,610 — Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 3 $44.47 $1,689.80 $88,106 — Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 4 and thereafter $45.27 $1,720.10 $89,686 — Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 1 $48.99 $1,861.70 $97,069 — Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 2 $52.50 $1,995.10 $104,025 — Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 3 $55.57 $2,111.60 $110,099 — Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 1 $49.44 $1,878.60 $97,950 — Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 2 $52.06 $1,978.40 $103,154 — Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 3 $55.57 $2,111.60 $110,099 — Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 4 $59.03 $2,243.10 $116,955 — Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 5 $65.11 $2,474.10 $129,000 — Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 6 $71.23 $2,706.90 $141,138 —
Look up a rate Pick a classification and employment type for the exact published minimum.
Classification1st year 2nd year Less than 21 years of age Pay point 1 4 year degree Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 1 Registered nurse—level 1 — First year of employment classified at this level 3rd year and thereafter 21 years of age and over Pay point 2 Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 1 Masters degree Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 2 Registered nurse—level 1 — In excess of 1 year and up to 4 years of employment classified at this level Experienced (the holder of a relevant certificate III qualification) Pay point 3 Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 2 Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 3 Registered nurse—level 1 — In excess of 4 years of employment classified at this level Pay point 4 Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 3 Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 4 Pay point 5 Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 4 Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 5 Registered nurse—level 2 — First 3 years of employment classified at this level Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 5 Registered nurse—level 2 — In excess of 3 years of employment classified at this level Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 6 Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 1 Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 7 Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 2 Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 8 and thereafter Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 3 Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 4 Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 1 Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 2 Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 3 Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 1 Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 4 and thereafter Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 2 Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 3 Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 1 Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 4 and thereafter Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 2 Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 3 Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 4 and thereafter Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 1 Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 2 Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 3 Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 1 Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 2 Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 3 Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 4 Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 5 Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 6 EmploymentFull-time / part-time Casual
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database. Last checked 17 July 2026 .
Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database , Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034).
General information only — not legal, industrial or financial advice. These are the published minimum rates for information. Your modern award or enterprise agreement prevails if there is any inconsistency. Check the official source above or the Fair Work Ombudsman for your situation.