What is the minimum hourly rate for a midwife under the Nurses Award 2020?

Under the Nurses Award 2020 [MA000034], a registered nurse at pay point 1 earns a minimum hourly rate of $30.00 as of the 2026 Annual Wage Review. For a full-time employee working 38 ordinary hours per week, this equates to $1,139.90 per week. Higher pay points and classifications (e.g., experienced nurse with Certificate III) attract higher rates. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate, making the casual hourly rate $37.50.

How does casual loading affect a midwife's pay?

Casual loading is an additional 25% paid on top of the minimum hourly rate for each ordinary hour worked. For a midwife on $30.00 per hour, the casual rate becomes $37.50 per hour. This loading compensates for entitlements that casuals do not receive, such as paid leave. When using our timesheet, you enter the base hourly rate (e.g., $30.00) and check the casual loading box to apply the 25% on top. The loading is also applied to overtime and penalty rates as per the award.

Is superannuation included in the hourly rate or paid on top?

Superannuation is paid on top of the hourly rate. Under the Nurses Award 2020 and the Superannuation Guarantee, employers must contribute 12% of an employee’s ordinary earnings into a super fund. This is separate from the hourly wage. For example, a midwife earning $30.00 per hour would have an additional $3.60 per hour contributed to super (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year). Our calculator shows the super amount as an extra cost to the employer, not deducted from the employee’s take-home pay.

Midwife Salary: Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Pay with Casual Loading and Super

A registered nurse (pay point 1) under the Nurses Award 2020 earns $30.00 per hour, or about $59,280 per year for 38 hours per week, with casual loading and super paid on top.

Understanding a Midwife Salary from Hourly to Annual

If you’re a midwife or nurse looking to compare job offers or plan your finances, converting an hourly rate to an annual salary is a straightforward calculation. The key is knowing your award classification, the number of hours you’ll work each week, and whether you’re employed as a casual or permanent employee. This guide uses the Nurses Award 2020 to show how a midwife salary works, including the 25% casual loading and the 12% superannuation paid on top.

The Basic Formula

Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks.

For a full-time midwife under the Nurses Award, ordinary hours are 38 per week (or an average of 38 over a roster cycle). So if your base hourly rate is $30.00, your annual salary is:

$30.00 × 38 × 52 = $59,280.

This is the gross amount before tax and Medicare levy. It assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. For part-time employees, the same formula applies using your agreed weekly hours. The hourly conversion page has more details on adjusting for different work patterns.

Fortnightly Pay

Most employers pay fortnightly. To find your gross fortnightly pay, multiply your weekly pay by 2. For a full-time midwife on $30.00 per hour:

Weekly pay = $30.00 × 38 = $1,140.00 Fortnightly pay = $1,140.00 × 2 = $2,280.00.

This is useful for budgeting and matches the pay cycle common in health industry awards.

Award Rates vs National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). However, most midwives are covered by the Nurses Award 2020, which sets higher minimum rates. For example, a registered nurse at pay point 1 earns $30.00 per hour, well above the minimum. More experienced classifications, such as a registered nurse with a relevant Certificate III, earn $29.45 per hour (note: this rate is for an “experienced” classification but is actually lower than pay point 1? Check the award: the table shows “Experienced (the holder of a relevant certificate III qualification)” at $29.45, which is less than pay point 1’s $30.00. This is because pay point 1 is the first step for a registered nurse, while the “experienced” rate applies to enrolled nurses or other classifications. Always check your specific classification in the award or use the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Casual Loading: 25% on Top

If you work as a casual midwife, you are entitled to a 25% loading on the base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave, sick leave, or public holiday pay. The loading is applied to each ordinary hour worked.

Using the same $30.00 base rate, the casual hourly rate becomes:

$30.00 + 25% = $37.50 per hour.

When using our timesheet, you enter the base hourly rate (e.g., $30.00) and check the “casual loading” box. The calculator automatically adds 25% on top. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading – always start with the award minimum rate.

Casual employees also receive penalty rates and overtime calculated on the base rate, with the casual loading added afterwards. For example, Sunday overtime for a casual is 200% of the casual hourly rate (which already includes the loading), as per clause 19.2 of the award.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Superannuation is an additional payment your employer makes into a super fund. From 1 July 2026, the Super Guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary earnings. This is not deducted from your hourly rate – it’s paid on top.

For a midwife earning $30.00 per hour, the super contribution is:

$30.00 × 12% = $3.60 per hour.

Over a year (38 hours × 52 weeks), that’s $7,113.60 in super contributions, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. The super and packaging page explains how salary sacrificing can affect this.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Once you have your gross annual salary, you can estimate tax using the 2026–27 resident rates:

Nil tax on the first $18,200
15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
45% on income above $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (using the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed).

For a full-time midwife earning $59,280:

Tax on first $18,200: $0
Tax on $18,201 to $45,000: ($45,000 – $18,200) × 15% = $4,020
Tax on $45,001 to $59,280: ($59,280 – $45,000) × 30% = $4,284
Total tax = $8,304
Medicare levy (2% of $59,280) = $1,185.60
Total deductions = $9,489.60
Take-home pay ≈ $49,790.40 per year, or $957.50 per week.

Use the take-home pay tool for a more detailed estimate.

Why Award Rates Matter

The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database provides the official minimum rates, allowances, and penalties. The Nurses Award 2020 is the key document for midwives. Always check your classification and pay point – rates vary by experience and role. For example, an enrolled nurse (less than 21 years) earns $25.69 per hour, while a registered nurse at pay point 5 earns $31.56 per hour.

Putting It All Together

When you receive a job offer, ask for the base hourly rate under the award. Then:

Multiply by 38 (full-time) or your agreed hours.
Add casual loading if applicable (25% on top).
Remember super is extra (12% on top).
Estimate tax using the ATO scales.

Our reference tables have the latest award rates and tax brackets.

Whether you’re comparing a permanent part-time role with a casual one, or negotiating a salary, understanding these components helps you see the full picture. The casual loading and average pay pages offer more context.

A Note on Estimates

Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.