Nurses Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000034)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Nurses Award covers nursing assistants, enrolled nurses, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and occupational health nurses working in the private sector across Australia. If you work as a nurse in a private hospital, medical practice, aged care facility, community health centre, or any other private healthcare setting, this award is your safety net. It covers roughly 300,000 workers, making it one of the largest healthcare awards in the country.
This award does NOT cover nurses employed in the public sector (state or territory health services), as those are typically covered by state-based industrial instruments. It also distinguishes between "aged care employees" and "other than aged care employees" with separate (higher) rate schedules for aged care nurses following recent Fair Work Commission decisions. See clause 4 for full coverage.
How classification works
Nurses are classified by registration type and experience: Nursing Assistant, Enrolled Nurse (with pay points based on years of experience), Registered Nurse (Levels 1 through 5, each with multiple pay points), Nurse Practitioner, and Occupational Health Nurse. Your pay rate is determined by your registration, your level, and the number of years you have worked at that level. Aged care employees receive higher rates at each classification point.
Shift work is the norm
Nursing operates around the clock. The award provides specific penalty rates for afternoon shifts (finishing between 6pm and midnight) and night shifts (finishing after midnight and at or before 8am). These shift penalties apply on top of base rates and stack with weekend and public holiday penalties in specific ways. Getting your shift penalties right is worth thousands of dollars per year.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
Other Than Aged Care Employees
| Classification | Pay Point 1 Hourly | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant -- 1st year | $26.40 | $33.00 |
| Enrolled Nurse -- Pay Point 1 | $24.52 | $30.65 |
| Registered Nurse -- Level 1 (graduate) | $28.86 | $36.08 |
| Registered Nurse -- Level 2 (clinical nurse) | $34.74 | $43.43 |
| Registered Nurse -- Level 3 (nurse manager) | $36.10 | $45.13 |
| Nurse Practitioner -- 1st year | $47.16 | $58.95 |
| Occupational Health Nurse -- Pay Point 1 | $32.88 | $41.10 |
Aged Care Employees
| Classification | Pay Point 1 Hourly | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled Nurse (aged care) -- Pay Point 1 | $28.20 | $35.25 |
| Registered Nurse (aged care) -- Level 1 | $33.20 | $41.50 |
| Nurse Practitioner (aged care) -- 1st year | $54.23 | $67.79 |
Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1). Aged care rates include the interim 15% increase from the Work Value case.
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 25 and clause 26).
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees
| When you work | Penalty | RN Level 1 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 100% | $28.86/hr |
| Monday to Friday -- afternoon shift | 112.5% (clause 26.2) | $32.47/hr |
| Monday to Friday -- night shift | 112.5% (clause 26.3) | $32.47/hr |
| Saturday | 150% | $43.29/hr |
| Sunday | 200% | $57.72/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% | $72.15/hr |
| Overtime -- first 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 150% (clause 25.2(a)) | $43.29/hr |
| Overtime -- after 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 200% (clause 25.2(a)) | $57.72/hr |
| Overtime -- Sunday | 200% (clause 25.2(b)) | $57.72/hr |
| Overtime -- public holiday | 250% (clause 25.2(c)) | $72.15/hr |
Casual Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | RN Level 1 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 125% | $36.08/hr |
| Monday to Friday -- afternoon shift | 137.5% | $39.68/hr |
| Monday to Friday -- night shift | 137.5% | $39.68/hr |
| Saturday | 175% | $50.51/hr |
| Sunday | 225% | $64.94/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% | $79.37/hr |
Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. The loading is already built into the multiplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between aged care and non-aged care nurse rates?
Following the Fair Work Commission's Work Value case decision, nurses working in aged care settings receive higher base rates than their counterparts in other private healthcare settings. The aged care rates include an interim increase of 15% on top of the standard rates. This applies to enrolled nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners working in residential aged care or home care settings. Check clause 4 and the current pay guides for the exact figures.
2. How are afternoon and night shift penalties calculated?
Afternoon and night shifts both attract a 12.5% loading on the base hourly rate for permanent employees (clause 26.2-26.3). For casuals, this stacks with the 25% loading, giving a combined rate of 137.5%. The afternoon shift is defined as a shift finishing after 6pm and at or before midnight. The night shift finishes after midnight and at or before 8am. These loadings apply to the ordinary hours worked on those shifts, not to overtime.
3. What is the minimum shift for casual nurses?
Casual nurses must be engaged and paid for a minimum of 2 hours per engagement (clause 11.2). At Registered Nurse Level 1 casual rate ($36.08/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $72.16 gross.
4. Can I be required to work double shifts?
Your employer can request overtime, but the Nurses Award provides protections. You can refuse overtime if it is unreasonable, taking into account factors like your health and safety, your personal circumstances, and the notice provided. The award also caps daily ordinary hours at 10 hours (clause 21.1). Any hours beyond your rostered shift are overtime and must be paid at overtime rates.
5. Do I get a higher rate as I gain experience at my level?
Yes. Most classifications have multiple pay points based on years of experience at that level. For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1 progresses through up to 8 pay points over their career at that level. You automatically move to the next pay point after 12 months of satisfactory service. Your employer cannot withhold a pay point increment without a formal performance management process.
Check Your Rate
Working as a nurse in the private sector? Use our free calculator to check your exact rate based on your nursing classification, experience level, and shift pattern.
Select your classification (nursing assistant, enrolled nurse, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner), enter your experience level and shift details, and get a breakdown of your exact entitlements -- including the aged care uplift if applicable.
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Home > Awards > Nurses Award (MA000034)
Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.