Nurse take-home pay in Australia after tax, 2026
Nursing wages here rank among the best anywhere. What take-home means depends entirely on whether the 12% superannuation is counted, since it builds serious wealth without ever appearing as spendable cash. Both figures are shown below, clearly marked.
Registered nurse net pay by grade, 2026-27
State-based awards set nursing pay. These figures follow New South Wales and Victorian public hospital rates as a guide, with Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia differing slightly. The superannuation column sits on top of salary and is paid by the employer.
| Grade / Role | Annual Salary | Monthly Take-Home (after tax + Medicare) | Super (12%, employer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN Grade 1 Year 1 | A$66,000-A$70,000 | A$4,503-A$4,749/mo | A$7,920-A$8,400/yr |
| RN Grade 2 (3-5 yrs) | A$80,000-A$90,000 | A$5,356-A$5,929/mo | A$9,600-A$10,800/yr |
| RN Grade 3 / Clinical Nurse Specialist | A$90,000-A$100,000 | A$5,929-A$6,489/mo | A$10,800-A$12,000/yr |
| Clinical Nurse Educator | A$100,000-A$115,000 | A$6,489-A$7,268/mo | A$12,000-A$13,800/yr |
| Nursing Unit Manager | A$115,000-A$135,000 | A$7,268-A$8,320/mo | A$13,800-A$16,200/yr |
| Director of Nursing | A$140,000-A$170,000 | A$8,587-A$9,840/mo | A$16,800-A$20,400/yr |
Tax uses the FY2026-27 rates with the Stage 3 cuts applied: nothing to $18,200, 19% to $45,000 and 32.5% to $135,000, plus the 2% Medicare Levy. Superannuation of 12% sits above salary. Sources: ATO, the NSW Nurses Award and ANMF Enterprise Agreements, 2026.
What the Medicare Levy costs a nurse
Every taxpayer pays the Medicare Levy at 2% of taxable income, which costs a registered nurse on A$85,000 some A$1,700 a year, or A$142 a month. Opting out is impossible, and the money funds Medicare, covering most GP appointments, hospital treatment and pathology at no cost. Out-of-pocket healthcare for an equivalent American role would normally run A$2,000 to A$6,000 or more annually.
What a nursing career accumulates in superannuation
The 12% employer superannuation contribution, up from 11.5% in July 2025, is among the most valuable parts of nursing compensation here. Take a registered nurse on A$85,000 across 35 years, assuming 7% annual returns and the rate holding at 12%:
- Annual employer super contribution: ~A$10,200
- Plus any voluntary concessional contributions (up to A$30,000/year total in FY2026)
- Projected super balance at 65 (rough estimate, 7% return): A$1.1 million-A$1.4 million
That balance far exceeds anything an NHS nurse would accumulate through the defined benefit scheme, although the certainty of an NHS pension payment is a different kind of security entirely. Australian nurses retiring with more than $1M in super are increasingly common at senior levels.
Frequently asked questions
An entry-level registered nurse on A$66,000 to A$70,000 keeps roughly A$4,503 to A$4,749 a month after income tax and the 2% Medicare Levy. An experienced Grade 2 nurse on A$85,000 keeps about A$5,600, and a Clinical Nurse Specialist on A$95,000 around A$6,210. The 12% employer superannuation sits outside all of these figures.
Australia pays more at every level. A Band 5 NHS nurse in Britain keeps about £2,154 a month, near A$4,000 at current rates, while the equivalent Australian grade keeps A$4,503 to A$4,749 plus 12% super on top. At Grade 2 with five years behind them, an Australian nurse keeps A$5,356 to A$5,929, roughly 25% to 35% above a British Band 6 counterpart. That is why Australia has drawn so much British nursing emigration, though city living costs here have climbed sharply.
From 1 July 2025 the Superannuation Guarantee rose to 12%, up from 11.5%. The employer pays it on top of your salary rather than deducting it from take-home, so on A$85,000 an extra A$10,200 a year goes into your super fund. It is invested for retirement and becomes accessible from age 60, the preservation age for anyone born after 1964.