Minimum pay rates for veterinary nurses under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and classification levels.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027)
Veterinary nurses assist veterinarians with animal care, surgery preparation, anaesthesia monitoring, pathology, and client education in veterinary clinics and hospitals.
$29.45
Base rate/hr
$36.81
Casual rate/hr
Hourly (Full-Time)
$29.45
Hourly (Casual)
$36.81
Weekly (38hrs)
$1,119.10
Annual (Full-Time)
$58,193.20
Veterinary Nurses in Australia are generally covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). This Modern Award sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment including pay rates, hours of work, rosters, breaks, allowances, penalty rates, and overtime.
Some veterinary nurses may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must provide conditions that are at least as favourable as the award overall (the Better Off Overall Test).
View full Health Professionals and Support Services Award pay rates →
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Level 3 | Trainee veterinary nurse | $29.11 | $36.39 | $1,106.18 | $57,521.36 |
| Support Level 4 | Qualified veterinary nurse | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,119.10 | $58,193.20 |
| Support Level 5 | Senior veterinary nurse | $30.45 | $38.06 | $1,157.10 | $60,169.20 |
| Level 1 | Head veterinary nurse / practice manager | $30.89 | $38.61 | $1,173.82 | $61,038.64 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026. Casual rate includes 25% loading.
Casual veterinary nurses receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $29.45/hr to $36.81/hr.
The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid annual leave, personal leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay. Over a full year, a casual veterinary nurse working 38 hours per week would earn $72,736.56 (before tax and penalty rates).
From 1 July 2024, casual employees who have worked regular hours for at least 6 months can request conversion to permanent employment. Check your casual conversion eligibility →
Part-time veterinary nurses receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($29.45/hr) but work fewer than 38 hours per week on a regular, agreed pattern. Part-time employees receive all the same entitlements as full-time employees (annual leave, personal leave, notice, redundancy) on a pro-rata basis.
Penalty rates apply when veterinary nurses work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($29.45/hr base).
Saturday
$44.18/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$58.90/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$73.63/hr
2.5x base
Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.
Veterinary nurses are commonly underpaid across the industry. Issues include being paid below award minimums, unpaid overtime during emergencies, and not receiving proper penalty rates for weekend and after-hours work.
If you earn less than $29.45/hr as a full-time or part-time veterinary nurse, or less than $36.81/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.
| Job Title | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Annual (FT) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Nurse | $29.45/hr | $36.81/hr | $58,193.20 | MA000027 |
| Dental Assistant | $28.03/hr | $35.04/hr | $55,387.28 | MA000027 |
| Physiotherapist | $30.89/hr | $38.61/hr | $61,038.64 | MA000027 |
| Psychologist | $39.31/hr | $49.14/hr | $77,676.56 | MA000027 |
The minimum hourly rate for a veterinary nurse in Australia is $29.45/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $36.81/hr for casuals (including 25% loading) under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. Actual rates may be higher depending on classification level, experience, and any enterprise agreement that applies.
Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027), the minimum wage for a veterinary nurse starts at $29.45/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $1,119.10/week or $58,193.20/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.
Veterinary Nurses in Australia are generally covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). This award sets out minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and other working conditions. Some veterinary nurses may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
A casual veterinary nurse receives $36.81/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $29.45/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.
Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, veterinary nurses receive: Saturday 1.5x ($44.18/hr), Sunday 2x ($58.90/hr), and Public Holiday 2.5x ($73.63/hr) at Level 1 rates.
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