Minimum pay rates for nursing workers in Australia under the Nurses Award. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034)
$32.09
Base rate/hr
$40.11
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for nursing workers is $32.09/hr under the Nurses Award. Casuals receive $40.11/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Nurses are among the highest-paid award workers in Australia, and rightly so. Whether you're an enrolled nurse, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner, the Nurses Award sets out your minimum rates. With shift work being the norm, penalty rates make a real difference to your take-home pay.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RN Level 1.1 | Registered Nurse Level 1.1 | $32.09 | $40.11 | $63,409.84 |
| RN Level 1.2 | Registered Nurse Level 1.2 | $32.75 | $40.94 | $64,714.00 |
| RN Level 1.3 | Registered Nurse Level 1.3 | $33.55 | $41.94 | $66,294.80 |
| RN Level 2 | Registered Nurse Level 2 | $39.59 | $49.49 | $78,229.84 |
| RN Level 3 | Registered Nurse Level 3 | $42.93 | $53.66 | $84,829.68 |
| EN Level 1 | Enrolled Nurse Level 1 | $30.00 | $37.50 | $59,280.00 |
| EN Level 2 | Enrolled Nurse Level 2 | $30.39 | $37.99 | $60,050.64 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Nurses Award 2020. Casual rates include 25% loading.
Casual workers get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. This compensates for no paid leave, no notice period, and no redundancy pay. Here's what that looks like for each level:
| Level | Base Rate | + 25% Loading | Casual Rate/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN Level 1.1 | $32.09 | +$8.02 | $40.11 |
| RN Level 1.2 | $32.75 | +$8.19 | $40.94 |
| RN Level 1.3 | $33.55 | +$8.39 | $41.94 |
| RN Level 2 | $39.59 | +$9.90 | $49.49 |
| RN Level 3 | $42.93 | +$10.73 | $53.66 |
| EN Level 1 | $30.00 | +$7.50 | $37.50 |
| EN Level 2 | $30.39 | +$7.60 | $37.99 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $32.09/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$48.14/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$56.16/hr
1.75x base
Public Holiday
$80.23/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $48.14/hr |
| Sunday | 1.75x | $56.16/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $80.23/hr |
| Afternoon Shift | 1.125x | $36.10/hr |
| Night Shift | 1.15x | $36.90/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $48.14/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $64.18/hr |
View the complete Nurses Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Nurses Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $32.09/hr (or $40.11/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in nursing. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →A Registered Nurse Level 1.1 earns a minimum of $32.09/hr base ($40.11/hr casual) under the Nurses Award. Enrolled nurses start at $30.00/hr. An RN Level 3 earns $42.93/hr base.
Yes. Afternoon shifts attract a 12.5% loading and night shifts get 15% on top of your base rate. Saturday is 1.5x, Sunday is 1.75x, and public holidays pay 2.5x.
Enrolled nurses (EN) start at $30.00/hr under the Nurses Award. Registered nurses (RN) start at $32.09/hr — about $2/hr more. The gap reflects the additional qualifications required for RN registration.
Many nurses in public hospitals work under enterprise agreements that pay above-award rates. Private sector and aged care nurses are more likely to be on the Nurses Award minimum. Always check whether your workplace has an EA.
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