Nurses Award pay guide 2026/2027

Casual rates for ordinary weekday hours in the general (non-aged-care) stream, generated from the current Fair Work pay guide (entry/pay point 1 shown where a level has multiple pay points):

If you only skim one section, make it this one:

• The Nurses Award 2020 [MA000034] covers assistants in nursing (AINs), enrolled nurses (EN), registered nurses (RN, levels 1–5) and nurse practitioners, with multiple pay points/grades within each level.
• Minimums are reviewed each July. The FY2026/27 pay guide took effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, lifting all rates by 4.75%.
• Example 2026/27 adult minimum pay (general stream):
  • Enrolled nurse pay point 1: full-time/part-time $30.00/hr, casual $37.50/hr.
  • Registered nurse level 1 pay point 1: full-time/part-time $32.09/hr, casual $40.11/hr.
• Weekend penalties are 150% (Saturday) and 175% (Sunday); public holidays 200% for full-time/part-time; casual rates are higher again.
• Shiftwork (afternoon/night) and on-call attract separate loadings — see below.
• Get stream, classification, pay point, employment type and shift type right for every employee.

The Nurses Award covers nursing staff across hospitals, clinics, medical practices and other health settings:

• Assistants in nursing (AINs) / nursing assistants — including experienced AINs holding a relevant Certificate III.
• Student enrolled nurses and enrolled nurses (EN) — with pay points.
• Registered nurses (RN) — levels 1–5, with pay points and grades.
• Nurse practitioners.

Important — aged care and other awards: aged-care nurses are paid the aged-care rates under this award — see the Aged Care Award guide. Personal-care workers in aged care, and disability/community-services staff, fall under the Aged Care and SCHADS awards; allied-health and health-support staff under the Health Professionals & Support Services Award. Confirm coverage with Fair Work’s PACT tool.

A snapshot of the current FY2026/27 general-stream rates, generated from the same data that powers the calculator above. Entry/pay point 1 is shown where a classification has multiple pay points — check the pay guide for higher pay points and for the aged-care rates.

Ordinary weekday rates for a representative set of general-stream classifications:

Casuals receive the same base rate plus a 25% loading. Ordinary weekday casual rates:

Classification follows registration, qualifications and responsibility — not job title.

• Assistants in nursing (AINs) progress by year of service, with a higher rate for those holding a relevant Certificate III.
• Enrolled nurses have several pay points that step up with experience.
• Registered nurses progress through levels 1–5, each with pay points or grades — a new graduate RN starts at level 1 pay point 1 and moves up annually.
• Nurse practitioners are a separate senior classification.
• Stream matters: aged-care nurses are paid the aged-care rates, not the general rates shown here.

Write each employee’s stream, classification, pay point/grade and employment type into your payroll/rostering system, and review pay points each year. If unsure, confirm the right level.

The Nurses Award has weekend/public-holiday penalties plus a shiftwork system and on-call allowances:

• Saturday: 150% (full-time/part-time); casual higher again (the loading compounds on the penalty).
• Sunday: 175% (full-time/part-time); casual higher again.
• Public holiday: 200% (full-time/part-time) — plus a substitute day off for permanents; casual higher again.
• Shiftwork loadings (separate from the calculator above): afternoon shift and night shift worked Monday–Friday attract a loading on the ordinary rate; permanent night duty attracts more. The exact percentages depend on the shift — check the pay guide.
• On-call: about $28.66 (Mon–Fri), $43.17 (Saturday) and $50.37 (Sunday/public holiday/RDO) per on-call period of up to 24 hours.
• Overtime: time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours then double time (double time all day Sunday and on public holidays).

The calculator above covers ordinary, weekend and public-holiday rates for the general stream. For shiftwork, on-call and the aged-care rates, use Fair Work’s PACT tool or award-interpreting software.

• Full-time is around 38 hours per week, ongoing; part-time has a regular agreed pattern.
• Both receive paid annual and personal/carer’s leave (pro-rata for part-time) and other NES entitlements. Part-time hours should be agreed in writing.
• Nurses on rotating rosters may also be entitled to additional annual leave.

• Paid a 25% casual loading instead of paid leave, with a minimum engagement per shift.
• Casual weekend and public-holiday rates are higher than the permanent rates because the loading compounds on top of the penalty (for example, casual Saturday is 187.5% of the base rate).

Common allowances under this award include:

• On-call – about $28.66 (Mon–Fri), $43.17 (Saturday) and $50.37 (Sunday/public holiday/RDO) per on-call period of up to 24 hours.
• Meal allowance (overtime) – about $17.30, with a further $15.60 when more than 4 hours of overtime is worked.
• Uniform – about $1.26 per shift (max $6.41/week); laundry – about $0.33 per shift (max $1.53/week).
• In-charge and qualification allowances may also apply in some settings.

Most allowances do not apply to level 4 or 5 registered nurses. Exact amounts update each pay guide — see the Fair Work pay guide.

• Confirm the award and stream (general vs aged-care; not Health Professionals or SCHADS).
• Download the latest pay guide (FY2026/27).
• Classify each employee by stream, classification, pay point/grade; review pay points annually.
• Set base rates and apply weekend/public-holiday penalties, shiftwork loadings and on-call.
• Use award-interpreting software so shiftwork and on-call are calculated automatically, and keep records for 7 years.

• Four broad classifications: AINs, enrolled nurses, registered nurses (levels 1–5) and nurse practitioners.
• Watch the pay points and grades — they step up with experience and are a common underpayment trap.
• Aged-care nurses are paid different rates — use the Aged Care Award guide.
• Shiftwork and on-call are separate from weekend/public-holiday penalties — don’t forget them.
• Update every July and keep good records.

For official guidance, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.