Nurse anesthetist salary: Award rates and how to calculate your annual pay
A nurse anesthetist is typically classified as a Registered Nurse Level 3 or 4 under the Nurses Award, with hourly rates from $42.93 to $52.50 (full-time, 38 hours/week).
Understanding the nurse anesthetist salary under the Nurses Award
When researching a nurse anesthetist salary, it is important to know that the Nurses Award 2020 [MA000034] does not include a specific classification for nurse anesthetists. In practice, nurse anesthetists are typically employed as Registered Nurses at Level 3 or Level 4, depending on their qualifications and responsibilities. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide for the Nurses Award, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026, sets out the minimum hourly rates for these classifications.
For a full-time Registered Nurse Level 3, pay point 1, the hourly rate is $42.93, which gives a weekly rate of $1,631.20 (based on 38 ordinary hours). At Level 4, grade 2, the hourly rate rises to $52.50, or $1,995.10 per week. These rates apply to employees in the ‘other than aged care’ stream. If you work in aged care, different rates may apply under the Aged Care Award, but the Nurses Award is the primary reference for hospital and health service settings.
How to convert your hourly rate to annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures
The standard formula for annualising an hourly rate is:
Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
For a nurse anesthetist earning $42.93 per hour and working 38 hours per week:
- Weekly: $42.93 × 38 = $1,631.34 (rounded)
- Fortnightly: $1,631.34 × 2 = $3,262.68
- Annual: $42.93 × 38 × 52 = $84,829.68
This calculation assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. The Nurses Award defines full-time ordinary hours as 38 per week (or an average of 38 over a roster cycle). For part-time employees, the same pro-rata principle applies: annualise using your agreed weekly hours.
Our hourly conversion page provides a tool to do this calculation automatically.
Casual loading and superannuation
If you work as a casual nurse anesthetist, you are entitled to a 25% casual loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. For a Level 3 pay point 1 casual, the casual hourly rate becomes $42.93 × 1.25 = $53.66. The award states that the casual loading is paid for each ordinary hour worked. When using our timesheet, you can enter your base hourly rate and check the ‘casual loading’ box to add the 25% automatically. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading.
Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For the nurse anesthetist earning $42.93 per hour, the employer contributes an extra $5.15 per hour into a super fund. This super is not deducted from your pay; it is an additional benefit. Learn more on our super and packaging page.
Comparing the nurse anesthetist salary to other benchmarks
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for a full-time adult employee, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. A nurse anesthetist at Level 3 earns about 62% more than the minimum wage. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 shows full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week. A Level 4 nurse anesthetist at $1,995.10 per week is close to that average, while a Level 3 nurse anesthetist is below it. These comparisons highlight the value of advanced nursing qualifications.
Using the reference tables and pay guides
For the most accurate and up-to-date award rates, always refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s reference tables and the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database. The pay guide for the Nurses Award includes a full list of classifications, including enrolled nurses, registered nurses at all levels, and nursing assistants. It also shows penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays, as well as shiftwork loadings.
Tax considerations for your take-home pay
Once you have your annual gross salary, you can estimate your tax using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:
- Nil 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
A 2% Medicare levy also applies (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds, as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed at the time of this guide). For a nurse anesthetist earning $84,830 annually, the estimated tax plus Medicare is roughly $16,300, leaving about $68,500 take-home pay. Use our take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.
Key points to remember
- The nurse anesthetist salary is not a standalone classification; check the Registered Nurse Level 3 or 4 rates in the Nurses Award.
- Annual pay = hourly rate × 38 × 52 (or your agreed weekly hours).
- Fortnightly pay is weekly × 2.
- Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate.
- Super is 12% on ordinary earnings, paid on top, capped at $270,830 per year.
- Tax is calculated on gross pay using the resident tax scale plus Medicare levy.
For a quick calculation, enter your base hourly rate into our timesheet. The tool will show your weekly, fortnightly, and annual figures, and you can toggle casual loading on or off. Always verify your classification and pay point with your employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.