Nurses Award Penalty Rates
All penalty rates under the Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) for 2025-26, including weekends, public holidays, evening, and overtime.
Nurses Award — Key Rates at a Glance
Saturday
$41.47/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$48.39/hr
1.75x base
Public Holiday
$55.30/hr
2x base
Afternoon Shift
$31.11/hr
1.125x base
Night Shift
$31.80/hr
1.15x base
Overtime (first 2 hours)
$41.47/hr
1.5x base
Overtime (after 2 hours)
$55.30/hr
2x base
Rates shown for Level 1 ($27.65/hr base). See full table below for all levels.
Full Penalty Rate Table — Nurses Award
| Level | Base Rate | Saturday 1.5x | Sunday 1.75x | Public Holiday 2x | Afternoon Shift 1.125x | Night Shift 1.15x | Overtime 1.5x | Overtime 2x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant Yr 1 | $27.65/hr | $41.47/hr | $48.39/hr | $55.30/hr | $31.11/hr | $31.80/hr | $41.47/hr | $55.30/hr |
| Nursing Assistant Yr 2 | $28.09/hr | $42.14/hr | $49.16/hr | $56.18/hr | $31.60/hr | $32.30/hr | $42.14/hr | $56.18/hr |
| Nursing Assistant Yr 3+ | $28.54/hr | $42.81/hr | $49.95/hr | $57.08/hr | $32.11/hr | $32.82/hr | $42.81/hr | $57.08/hr |
| Nursing Assistant (Cert III) | $29.45/hr | $44.18/hr | $51.54/hr | $58.90/hr | $33.13/hr | $33.87/hr | $44.18/hr | $58.90/hr |
| Student EN <21 | $25.69/hr | $38.54/hr | $44.96/hr | $51.38/hr | $28.90/hr | $29.54/hr | $38.54/hr | $51.38/hr |
| Student EN 21+ | $26.97/hr | $40.46/hr | $47.20/hr | $53.94/hr | $30.34/hr | $31.02/hr | $40.46/hr | $53.94/hr |
| EN Pay Point 1 | $30.00/hr | $45.00/hr | $52.50/hr | $60.00/hr | $33.75/hr | $34.50/hr | $45.00/hr | $60.00/hr |
| EN Pay Point 2 | $30.39/hr | $45.59/hr | $53.18/hr | $60.78/hr | $34.19/hr | $34.95/hr | $45.59/hr | $60.78/hr |
| EN Pay Point 3 | $30.80/hr | $46.20/hr | $53.90/hr | $61.60/hr | $34.65/hr | $35.42/hr | $46.20/hr | $61.60/hr |
| EN Pay Point 4 | $31.24/hr | $46.86/hr | $54.67/hr | $62.48/hr | $35.14/hr | $35.93/hr | $46.86/hr | $62.48/hr |
| EN Pay Point 5 | $31.56/hr | $47.34/hr | $55.23/hr | $63.12/hr | $35.50/hr | $36.29/hr | $47.34/hr | $63.12/hr |
| RN 4yr Degree Entry | $33.51/hr | $50.27/hr | $58.64/hr | $67.02/hr | $37.70/hr | $38.54/hr | $50.27/hr | $67.02/hr |
| RN Masters Entry | $34.66/hr | $51.99/hr | $60.65/hr | $69.32/hr | $38.99/hr | $39.86/hr | $51.99/hr | $69.32/hr |
| RN Level 1.1 | $32.09/hr | $48.14/hr | $56.16/hr | $64.18/hr | $36.10/hr | $36.90/hr | $48.14/hr | $64.18/hr |
| RN Level 1.2 | $32.75/hr | $49.13/hr | $57.31/hr | $65.50/hr | $36.84/hr | $37.66/hr | $49.13/hr | $65.50/hr |
| RN Level 1.3 | $33.55/hr | $50.32/hr | $58.71/hr | $67.10/hr | $37.74/hr | $38.58/hr | $50.32/hr | $67.10/hr |
| RN Level 1.4 | $34.45/hr | $51.68/hr | $60.29/hr | $68.90/hr | $38.76/hr | $39.62/hr | $51.68/hr | $68.90/hr |
| RN Level 1.5 | $35.51/hr | $53.27/hr | $62.14/hr | $71.02/hr | $39.95/hr | $40.84/hr | $53.27/hr | $71.02/hr |
| RN Level 1.6 | $36.53/hr | $54.80/hr | $63.93/hr | $73.06/hr | $41.10/hr | $42.01/hr | $54.80/hr | $73.06/hr |
| RN Level 1.7 | $37.59/hr | $56.39/hr | $65.78/hr | $75.18/hr | $42.29/hr | $43.23/hr | $56.39/hr | $75.18/hr |
| RN Level 1.8+ | $38.57/hr | $57.86/hr | $67.50/hr | $77.14/hr | $43.39/hr | $44.36/hr | $57.86/hr | $77.14/hr |
| RN Level 2.1 | $39.59/hr | $59.39/hr | $69.28/hr | $79.18/hr | $44.54/hr | $45.53/hr | $59.39/hr | $79.18/hr |
| RN Level 2.2 | $40.22/hr | $60.33/hr | $70.38/hr | $80.44/hr | $45.25/hr | $46.25/hr | $60.33/hr | $80.44/hr |
| RN Level 2.3 | $40.92/hr | $61.38/hr | $71.61/hr | $81.84/hr | $46.04/hr | $47.06/hr | $61.38/hr | $81.84/hr |
| RN Level 2.4+ | $41.59/hr | $62.39/hr | $72.78/hr | $83.18/hr | $46.79/hr | $47.83/hr | $62.39/hr | $83.18/hr |
| RN Level 3.1 | $42.93/hr | $64.40/hr | $75.13/hr | $85.86/hr | $48.30/hr | $49.37/hr | $64.40/hr | $85.86/hr |
| RN Level 3.2 | $43.71/hr | $65.57/hr | $76.49/hr | $87.42/hr | $49.17/hr | $50.27/hr | $65.57/hr | $87.42/hr |
| RN Level 3.3 | $44.47/hr | $66.71/hr | $77.82/hr | $88.94/hr | $50.03/hr | $51.14/hr | $66.71/hr | $88.94/hr |
| RN Level 3.4+ | $45.27/hr | $67.91/hr | $79.22/hr | $90.54/hr | $50.93/hr | $52.06/hr | $67.91/hr | $90.54/hr |
| RN Level 4 Grade 1 | $48.99/hr | $73.49/hr | $85.73/hr | $97.98/hr | $55.11/hr | $56.34/hr | $73.49/hr | $97.98/hr |
| RN Level 4 Grade 2 | $52.50/hr | $78.75/hr | $91.88/hr | $105.00/hr | $59.06/hr | $60.37/hr | $78.75/hr | $105.00/hr |
| RN Level 4 Grade 3 | $55.57/hr | $83.36/hr | $97.25/hr | $111.14/hr | $62.52/hr | $63.91/hr | $83.36/hr | $111.14/hr |
| RN Level 5 Grade 1 | $49.44/hr | $74.16/hr | $86.52/hr | $98.88/hr | $55.62/hr | $56.86/hr | $74.16/hr | $98.88/hr |
| RN Level 5 Grade 2 | $52.06/hr | $78.09/hr | $91.11/hr | $104.12/hr | $58.57/hr | $59.87/hr | $78.09/hr | $104.12/hr |
| RN Level 5 Grade 3 | $55.57/hr | $83.36/hr | $97.25/hr | $111.14/hr | $62.52/hr | $63.91/hr | $83.36/hr | $111.14/hr |
| RN Level 5 Grade 4 | $59.03/hr | $88.55/hr | $103.30/hr | $118.06/hr | $66.41/hr | $67.88/hr | $88.55/hr | $118.06/hr |
| RN Level 5 Grade 5 | $65.11/hr | $97.66/hr | $113.94/hr | $130.22/hr | $73.25/hr | $74.88/hr | $97.66/hr | $130.22/hr |
| RN Level 5 Grade 6 | $71.23/hr | $106.85/hr | $124.65/hr | $142.46/hr | $80.13/hr | $81.91/hr | $106.85/hr | $142.46/hr |
| Nurse Practitioner Yr 1 | $49.39/hr | $74.09/hr | $86.43/hr | $98.78/hr | $55.56/hr | $56.80/hr | $74.09/hr | $98.78/hr |
| Nurse Practitioner Yr 2+ | $50.86/hr | $76.29/hr | $89.01/hr | $101.72/hr | $57.22/hr | $58.49/hr | $76.29/hr | $101.72/hr |
Compare Penalty Rates Across Awards (Level 1)
| Award | Base Rate | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses Award | $27.65/hr | $48.39/hr (1.75x) | $55.30/hr (2x) |
| Hospitality Award | $26.44/hr | $39.66/hr (1.5x) | $59.49/hr (2.25x) |
| Retail Award | $27.81/hr | $41.71/hr (1.5x) | $62.57/hr (2.25x) |
| Clerks Award | $26.97/hr | $53.94/hr (2x) | $67.43/hr (2.5x) |
| Building Award | $26.67/hr | $53.34/hr (2x) | $66.68/hr (2.5x) |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the penalty rates under the Nurses Award?
The Nurses Award (MA000034) provides penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday, Afternoon Shift, Night Shift, Overtime (first 2 hours), Overtime (after 2 hours). Percentage rates range from 1.125x to 2x of the base hourly rate.
What is the Sunday penalty rate for nursing workers?
Under the Nurses Award, permanent employees receive 1.75x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee at $27.65/hr, this means $48.39/hr on Sundays.
What is the public holiday rate under the Nurses Award?
Public holiday work under the Nurses Award is paid at 2x the base rate. For Level 1, that's $55.30/hr.
Who is covered by the Nurses Award?
The Nurses Award covers employees in the nursing industry. Common job titles include Registered nurse, Enrolled nurse, Nurse practitioner, Clinical nurse, Midwife, Nursing assistant.
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