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

For a nurse practitioner (other than aged care), the minimum hourly rate is $49.39 for the 1st year and $50.86 for the 2nd year, based on the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide effective from 1 August 2026. For aged care nurse practitioners, the rates are higher: $56.81 per hour (1st year) and $58.49 per hour (2nd year). These rates apply to full-time employees working 38 ordinary hours per week.

How do I convert a nurse practitioner hourly rate to an annual salary?

Multiply the hourly rate by 38 hours per week, then by 52 weeks. For example, a 1st-year nurse practitioner at $49.39 per hour: $49.39 × 38 × 52 = $97,578.64 per year. This assumes no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. The fortnightly pay would be approximately $3,752.64 (weekly rate × 2).

Does the nurse practitioner salary include superannuation?

No, the award rate is the minimum wage before super. Under the Superannuation Guarantee, employers must pay an additional 12% of ordinary earnings into a super fund, on top of the base salary. For a 1st-year nurse practitioner earning $97,579 per year, the super contribution would be about $11,709, bringing total employment cost to $109,288. Super is capped at the maximum contribution base of $270,830.

Nurse Practitioner Salary Guide: Award Rates, Hourly to Annual Conversion, and Tax

A full-time nurse practitioner (1st year) earns $49.39 per hour, or about $97,579 per year based on 38 hours per week, under the Nurses Award 2020.

Understanding the Nurse Practitioner Salary Under the Nurses Award 2020

If you are looking up a nurse practitioner salary, the first place to check is the Nurses Award 2020 [MA000034], which sets the minimum pay rates for most nurse practitioners in Australia. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide that lists the current hourly and weekly rates. This article explains how to convert those hourly rates to annual, fortnightly, and monthly figures, and how tax and superannuation fit in.

Hourly to Annual Conversion for Nurse Practitioners

The standard full-time load is 38 hours per week under the award. To estimate your annual gross pay, use the formula:

Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × 38 hours × 52 weeks

For a 1st-year nurse practitioner (other than aged care), the minimum hourly rate is $49.39. That works out to:

Weekly: $49.39 × 38 = $1,876.82
Fortnightly: $1,876.82 × 2 = $3,753.64
Annual: $1,876.82 × 52 = $97,594.64 (slight rounding difference from the award’s weekly figure of $1,877.00)

A 2nd-year nurse practitioner earns $50.86 per hour, giving an annual salary of about $100,467.36.

For nurse practitioners working in aged care, the rates are higher: $56.81 per hour (1st year) and $58.49 per hour (2nd year). The award table shows these as separate classifications.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. A nurse practitioner’s award rate is nearly double that – $49.39 per hour for a 1st-year. This highlights why it is important to use the correct award classification rather than the minimum wage when working out your pay. The award also includes penalty rates, shift loadings, and allowances that can increase your take-home pay further.

Casual Loading and Superannuation

If you work as a casual nurse practitioner, you receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. For a 1st-year nurse practitioner, the casual hourly rate becomes $49.39 × 1.25 = $61.74. The casual loading is paid for each ordinary hour worked, and overtime rates are calculated on the casual hourly rate.

Superannuation is paid on top of your base salary. Under the Superannuation Guarantee, your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary earnings into a super fund. For a full-time nurse practitioner earning $97,579 per year, the super contribution would be about $11,709, bringing total employment cost to $109,288. The super guarantee is capped at the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. This super is not deducted from your salary – it is an additional payment by the employer.

Fortnightly Pay and Tax

The award states that wages must be paid fortnightly unless otherwise agreed. Using the 1st-year nurse practitioner example, your fortnightly gross pay would be $3,753.64. From that, your employer will deduct tax according to the 2026–27 resident tax scale:

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 a Medicare levy of 2% (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed). For a $97,579 annual salary, the estimated tax plus Medicare would be around $22,000–$23,000, leaving a take-home pay of roughly $74,000–$75,000 per year. Use the timesheet to enter your base hourly rate and see a detailed breakdown.

Using the Pay Guide and Award

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide for the Nurses Award lists all classifications, including nurse practitioner, registered nurse, and occupational health nurse. The award itself provides full details on overtime, shiftwork, and allowances. Always refer to the official award for your exact classification and pay point.

Important Notes

The annual estimate here assumes you work 38 hours every week with no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no salary sacrifice.
Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base.
Tax is calculated using the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. HELP repayments, Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not included.
This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

For more information, see our pay guides and reference tables. You can also check the minimum wage page for comparisons, or learn about take-home pay after tax.