Thinking of working as a Registered Nurse(RN) in Australia? Whether you’re a local RN aiming for your next promotion or someone overseas planning to start your career abroad. You’ve probably searched this question, “How much do nurses earn in Australia?”
In this guide, I’ll walk you through what the exact payment structure looks like for registered nurses in Australia, not just in theory, but in practice. We’ll look at the real insights, monthly income, hourly rates, how income changes based on the role, and how location or experience determines the overall income.
Registered Nurse Salary in Australia: Monthly, Hourly & Annual Breakdown
The earnings of registered nurses depend on factors like their experience level, the work location, the working shifts, and even if they work in a hospital or a clinic. If they are working at night shift, weekends, or somewhere remote. They will probably earn more than the average nurse's salary in Australia.
Whether you are a fresh graduate or a nurse with a few years under your belt, this breakdown gives you a clear idea based on current data from 2025:
Annual Salary
A registered nurse's salary in Australia:
Early career RNs: AUD 72,000 (₹4,032,059) and AUD 78,000 (₹4,368,063). A standard payment for all the freshers' nurses in most of the hospitals.
Mid-level nurses: AUD 82,000 (₹4,592,067)to AUD 95,000(₹5,320,077). With experience, your salary will also increase.
Senior or clinical nurses: AUD 120,000(₹6,720,098) to AUD 150,000(₹8,400,123). It also varies based on the working location and the shifts one takes.
Monthly Salary
Let’s break that yearly number into monthly income (before tax):
- Early career RNs: about AUD 6,000(₹336,004) to AUD 6,500(₹364,005)/month
- Mid-level RNs: around AUD 6,800(₹380,805) to AUD 7,900(₹442,406)/month
- Senior or clinical RNs: can make AUD 8,300(₹464,806) to AUD 10,000(₹560,008)/month or even more with regular night or weekend shifts
Hourly Pay
Nurses in Australia often calculate their pay hourly, especially if they’re working part-time. Even full-time roles can be broken down this way:
- Hour rate: around AUD 35(₹1960) to AUD 45(₹2520)
- Experienced/specialist role: can earn AUD 50(₹2520) to AUD 65(₹3640)/hour
- Part-time: can earn up to AUD 70(₹3920) /hour, with extra in compensation of no leaves
What is the payment structure of a Registered Nurse in Australia?
The payment structure depends on the salary of a registered nurse:
Month: The annual revenue is paid month-to-month 12 times.
Hour: The part-time nurse earns fortnight( every two weeks), 24 times a year.
This gives you 24 payments a year, which makes the weekly budget a little easier, and honestly, it is good because you don't have to wait until the end of the month.
Note: If you are willing to work in rural or remote areas, you can make more than the average nurse's salary. They also have more perks, bonuses, location bonuses, and allowances ( housing & transfer).
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Quick Breakdown
| State / Territory | Starting Salary (AUD) | 5th-Year RN (AUD) | Senior/Clinical Nurse (AUD) |
| New South Wales (NSW) | $71,800 (₹6,154,577) | $88,200 (₹ 7,560,358) | $116,500 (₹ 9,986,187) |
| Victoria (VIC) | $67,900 (₹ 3,802,455) | $83,500 (₹4,676,068) | $99,600 (₹5,577,681) |
| Queensland (QLD) | $79,000 (₹4,424,064) | $95,400 (₹5,342,478) | $112,200 (₹6,283,292) |
| Western Australia (WA) | $75,900 (₹4,250,462) | $87,000 (₹4,872,071) | $105,000 (₹5,880,086) |
| South Australia (SA) | $72,600 (₹4,065,659) | $84,900 (₹4,754,469) | $107,300 (₹6,008,887) |
| Tasmania (TAS) | $69,800 (₹3,908,857) | $82,000 (₹4,592,067) | $96,400 (₹5,398,479) |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | $72,700 (₹4,071,259) | $86,000 (₹4,816,070) | $107,000 (₹5,992,087) |
| Northern Territory (NT) | $76,000 (₹4,256,062) | $93,000 (₹5,208,076) | $113,000 (₹6,328,092) |
This table gives you a quick idea. To note: Your shift type, place, hospital, and responsibility levels all play a big role. A senior ICU nurse in Tasmania might earn more than a general ward RN in WA, simply because of the specialty and shift pattern.
If you want to build your career as a registered nurse in Australia and learn about the process, our experts can guide you through the whole pathway.
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Conclusion
Nursing in Australia is a reliable career. You get paid on time, your salary is clear and structured, and you’re backed by a system that respects the profession. Registered Nurses in Australia get paid the best if you factor in the work conditions, stability, and good career growth.
You start earning enough to live comfortably, and the longer you stay in the role your career will grow accordingly. And we at Academically. have helped thousands of nurses to build their careers in Australia. You can check our licensing courses for optimal preparation and success any our first attempt.