Nurses Award Penalty Rates 2026
Published Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and evening rates for the Nurses Award (MA000034), effective 1 July 2026. These are the resulting hourly figures from the pay database — not calculated from a base rate.
Nursing is often round-the-clock work, so higher penalty rates commonly apply for afternoon and night shifts, weekends and public holidays, with overtime for hours worked beyond the roster.
Full-time & part-time penalty rates
| Classification | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year | $41.48 | $48.39 | $55.30 | — |
| 2nd year | $42.14 | $49.16 | $56.18 | — |
| Less than 21 years of age | $38.54 | $44.96 | $51.38 | — |
| Pay point 1 | $45.00 | $52.50 | $60.00 | — |
| 4 year degree | $50.27 | $58.64 | $67.02 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 1 | $51.68 | $60.29 | $68.90 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — First year of employment classified at this level | $59.81 | $69.77 | $79.74 | — |
| 3rd year and thereafter | $42.81 | $49.95 | $57.08 | — |
| 21 years of age and over | $40.46 | $47.20 | $53.94 | — |
| Pay point 2 | $45.59 | $53.18 | $60.78 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 1 | $48.14 | $56.16 | $64.18 | — |
| Masters degree | $51.99 | $60.66 | $69.32 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 2 | $53.27 | $62.14 | $71.02 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — In excess of 1 year and up to 4 years of employment classified at this level | $62.85 | $73.33 | $83.80 | — |
| Experienced (the holder of a relevant certificate III qualification) | $44.18 | $51.54 | $58.90 | — |
| Pay point 3 | $46.20 | $53.90 | $61.60 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 2 | $49.13 | $57.31 | $65.50 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 3 | $54.80 | $63.93 | $73.06 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — In excess of 4 years of employment classified at this level | $68.70 | $80.15 | $91.60 | — |
| Pay point 4 | $46.86 | $54.67 | $62.48 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 3 | $50.33 | $58.71 | $67.10 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 4 | $56.39 | $65.78 | $75.18 | — |
| Pay point 5 | $47.34 | $55.23 | $63.12 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 4 | $51.68 | $60.29 | $68.90 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 5 | $57.86 | $67.50 | $77.14 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — First 3 years of employment classified at this level | $74.39 | $86.78 | $99.18 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 5 | $53.27 | $62.14 | $71.02 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — In excess of 3 years of employment classified at this level | $77.75 | $90.70 | $103.66 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 6 | $54.80 | $63.93 | $73.06 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 1 | $59.39 | $69.28 | $79.18 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 7 | $56.39 | $65.78 | $75.18 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 2 | $60.33 | $70.39 | $80.44 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 8 and thereafter | $57.86 | $67.50 | $77.14 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 3 | $61.38 | $71.61 | $81.84 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 4 | $62.39 | $72.78 | $83.18 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 1 | $59.39 | $69.28 | $79.18 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 2 | $60.33 | $70.39 | $80.44 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 3 | $61.38 | $71.61 | $81.84 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 1 | $64.40 | $75.13 | $85.86 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 4 and thereafter | $62.39 | $72.78 | $83.18 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 2 | $65.57 | $76.49 | $87.42 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 3 | $66.71 | $77.82 | $88.94 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 1 | $64.40 | $75.13 | $85.86 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 4 and thereafter | $67.91 | $79.22 | $90.54 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 2 | $65.57 | $76.49 | $87.42 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 3 | $66.71 | $77.82 | $88.94 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 4 and thereafter | $67.91 | $79.22 | $90.54 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 1 | $73.49 | $85.73 | $97.98 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 2 | $78.75 | $91.88 | $105.00 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 3 | $83.36 | $97.25 | $111.14 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 1 | $74.16 | $86.52 | $98.88 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 2 | $78.09 | $91.11 | $104.12 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 3 | $83.36 | $97.25 | $111.14 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 4 | $88.55 | $103.30 | $118.06 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 5 | $97.67 | $113.94 | $130.22 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 6 | $106.85 | $124.65 | $142.46 | — |
Casual penalty rates
Casual figures already include the casual loading — they are the published combined rate.
| Classification | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year | $92.61 | $108.05 | $123.48 | — |
| 2nd year | $95.37 | $111.27 | $127.16 | — |
| Less than 21 years of age | $48.17 | $56.19 | $64.22 | — |
| Pay point 1 | $56.25 | $65.63 | $75.00 | — |
| 4 year degree | $62.84 | $73.31 | $83.78 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 1 | $64.59 | $75.36 | $86.12 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — First year of employment classified at this level | $74.76 | $87.22 | $99.68 | — |
| 21 years of age and over | $50.57 | $58.99 | $67.42 | — |
| Pay point 2 | $56.99 | $66.48 | $75.98 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 1 | $60.17 | $70.19 | $80.22 | — |
| Masters degree | $65.00 | $75.83 | $86.66 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 2 | $66.59 | $77.68 | $88.78 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — In excess of 1 year and up to 4 years of employment classified at this level | $78.57 | $91.67 | $104.76 | — |
| Pay point 3 | $57.75 | $67.38 | $77.00 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 2 | $61.41 | $71.65 | $81.88 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 3 | $68.49 | $79.91 | $91.32 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — In excess of 4 years of employment classified at this level | $85.88 | $100.19 | $114.50 | — |
| Pay point 4 | $58.58 | $68.34 | $78.10 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 3 | $62.91 | $73.40 | $83.88 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 4 | $70.49 | $82.23 | $93.98 | — |
| Pay point 5 | $59.18 | $69.04 | $78.90 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 4 | $64.59 | $75.36 | $86.12 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 1 — Pay point 5 | $72.32 | $84.37 | $96.42 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — First 3 years of employment classified at this level | $92.99 | $108.48 | $123.98 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 5 | $66.59 | $77.68 | $88.78 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — In excess of 3 years of employment classified at this level | $97.19 | $113.38 | $129.58 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 6 | $68.49 | $79.91 | $91.32 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 1 | $74.24 | $86.61 | $98.98 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 7 | $70.49 | $82.23 | $93.98 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 2 | $75.42 | $87.99 | $100.56 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 1 — Pay point 8 and thereafter | $72.32 | $84.37 | $96.42 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 3 | $76.73 | $89.51 | $102.30 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 2 — Pay point 4 | $77.99 | $90.98 | $103.98 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 1 | $74.24 | $86.61 | $98.98 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 2 | $75.42 | $87.99 | $100.56 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 3 | $76.73 | $89.51 | $102.30 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 1 | $80.49 | $93.91 | $107.32 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 2 — Pay point 4 and thereafter | $77.99 | $90.98 | $103.98 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 2 | $81.96 | $95.62 | $109.28 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 3 | $83.39 | $97.28 | $111.18 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 1 | $80.49 | $93.91 | $107.32 | — |
| Occupational health nurse—level 3 — Pay point 4 and thereafter | $84.89 | $99.03 | $113.18 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 2 | $81.96 | $95.62 | $109.28 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 3 | $83.39 | $97.28 | $111.18 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 3 — Pay point 4 and thereafter | $84.89 | $99.03 | $113.18 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 1 | $91.86 | $107.17 | $122.48 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 2 | $98.45 | $114.85 | $131.26 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 4 — Grade 3 | $104.19 | $121.56 | $138.92 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 1 | $92.70 | $108.15 | $123.60 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 2 | $97.62 | $113.89 | $130.16 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 3 | $104.19 | $121.56 | $138.92 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 4 | $110.69 | $129.13 | $147.58 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 5 | $122.09 | $142.43 | $162.78 | — |
| Registered nurse—level 5 — Grade 6 | $133.56 | $155.82 | $178.08 | — |
Work out a shift
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database. Last checked .
Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database (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.