Many people would like to know how much nurses get paid in Australia. Here are some current figures as of July 2010 to give you some indication (for Queensland at least – each state has their own award) of nursing wages.
The new Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (EB7) has gone to vote, with 94% of respondents supporting the agreement. Following the voting process, the agreement has also been certified by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
Wage Increases and Allowances
The following increases apply to nurses and midwives:
• 4.5% or $34 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2009;
• 4% or $34 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2010; and
• 4% or $34 per week, whichever is the greater, payable from 1 April 2011.
To give some indication, the current wages are as follows:
For a Level 1 Public Sector Registered Nurse
(formerly NO1, now known as ‘Grade 5′):
Re-entry nurse – $1,996.70 /fnight ($52,092 /annum)
year 1 – $2,090.80 /fnight ($54,547 /annum)
year 2 – $2,189.90 /fnight ($57,133 /annum)
year 3 – $2,289.00 /fnight ($59,718 /annum)
year 4 – $2,388.30 /fnight ($62,309 /annum)
year 5 – $2,487.80 /fnight ($64,905 /annum)
year 6 – $2,587.30 /fnight ($67,501 /annum)
year 7 – $2,686.60 /fnight ($70,091 /annum)
For Clinical Nurses (CN’s, or ‘Nurse Grade 6′)
year 1 – $2,732.80 /fnight ($71,297 /annum)
year 2 – $2,797.30 /fnight ($72,980 /annum)
year 3 – $2,862.30 /fnight ($74,675 /annum)
year 4 – $2,927.50 /fnight ($76,376 /annum)
Or in hourly rates:
Level 1 Nurses:
Re-entry nurse – $26.27
year 1 – $27.51
year 2 – $28.80
year 3 – $30.11
year 4 – $31.42
year 5 – $32.73
year 6 – $34.04
year 7 – $35.35
Clinical Nurses:
year 1 – $35.95
year 2 – $36.80
year 3 – $37.66
year 4 – $38.51
Penalty Rates
The above rates indicate what you can expect when you work day hours from Monday to Friday. For the majority of nurses however (shift workers), you can also add on the following hourly penalty rates:
- Shifts commencing after 12 midday (afternoon): +12.5%
- Night Shift Allowance: +20%
- Saturday penalty rates: +50% (time + 1/2)
- Sunday penalty rates: +75% (time + 3/4)
You can also be eligible for qualification allowance if you’ve done a Grad Cert / Grad Dip etc that is relevant to your current position. Generally speaking this equates to around $1 more per hour.
Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Unit Managers etc. earn more than the rates posted above. To see these and many other changes in EB7, see a copy of the agreement.
NB – Private hospitals in Queensland have their own awards and agreements – see each individual hospital for current wages etc.
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