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

Multiply your hourly rate by your weekly ordinary hours (usually 38 for full-time under the Nurses Award) and then by 52 weeks. For example, $32.09 × 38 × 52 = $63,413.84 per year. The calculator on this site does that for you.

What is casual loading for nurses and how does it affect pay?

Under the Nurses Award, casual employees get a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1, the casual rate is $32.09 × 1.25 = $40.11 per hour. This loading compensates for not receiving paid leave.

Is superannuation included in the annual salary figure?

No. Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The employer must contribute at least 12% of your ordinary time earnings (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year). The annual salary shown here is your gross pay before super and tax.

Nurse Salary Guide: Hourly to Annual Pay Under the Nurses Award

For a Registered Nurse Level 1 Pay Point 1, the award rate is $32.09 per hour, giving an annual salary of about $63,414 for a 38-hour week.

Understanding Nurse Salary Under the Nurses Award

If you’re a nurse in Australia, your minimum pay is set by the Nurses Award 2020. This award covers enrolled nurses, registered nurses, nursing assistants, and student nurses. The standard full-time week is 38 hours, and your annual salary is simply your hourly rate multiplied by those hours and by 52 weeks.

For example, a Registered Nurse Level 1, Pay Point 1 earns $32.09 per hour under the award. That works out to:

Weekly: $32.09 × 38 = $1,219.42
Fortnightly: $1,219.42 × 2 = $2,438.84
Annual: $32.09 × 38 × 52 = $63,413.84

This is the base gross pay before tax, super, and any allowances. The same formula applies to any classification: just take the hourly rate from the award, multiply by your weekly hours (38 for full-time, pro rata for part-time), and by 52.

The 38-Hour Week and Fortnightly Pay

The Nurses Award defines full-time ordinary hours as 38 per week, or 76 per fortnight, or 152 over 28 days. Most nurses are paid fortnightly, so knowing your fortnightly amount helps with budgeting. For the RN Level 1 above, that’s $2,438.84 per fortnight.

Part-time employees work less than 38 hours per week on average and get the same hourly rate on a pro rata basis. Casual employees get a 25% loading on top of the base rate.

Casual Loading for Nurses

If you work as a casual nurse, you receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. This is in addition to any penalty rates for overtime, weekends, or public holidays. For the same RN Level 1:

Casual hourly rate: $32.09 × 1.25 = $40.11
Casual annual (38 hrs/week): $40.11 × 38 × 52 = $79,267.30

The loading compensates for not receiving paid sick leave, annual leave, or public holidays. The casual loading page explains more.

Superannuation Is Paid on Top

Under the award and the Superannuation Guarantee, your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings into a super fund. This is paid on top of your gross salary, not deducted from it. For the RN Level 1 example:

Super contribution: 12% of $63,413.84 = $7,609.66 per year
Total employment cost: $63,413.84 + $7,609.66 = $71,023.50

The super guarantee applies up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. See super and packaging for details.

Tax on Your Nurse Salary

Your annual gross pay is taxed using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15¢ for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30¢ for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37¢ for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001+: $51,420 plus 45¢ for each $1 over $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low-income earners). For the RN Level 1 earning $63,414, the estimated tax (including Medicare) is roughly $10,800, leaving about $52,600 take-home. Use the take-home pay tool for a precise estimate.

Comparing Nurse Salary to Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. A casual minimum wage worker gets $33.05 per hour including the 25% loading. Nurse award rates are higher: even a first-year nursing assistant earns $27.65 per hour, and an enrolled nurse starts at $30.00 per hour. Registered nurses earn significantly more, reflecting their qualifications and responsibilities.

Using the Calculator

Our the timesheet calculator lets you enter any hourly rate and see the annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures. If you’re a casual nurse, check the “25% casual loading” box – but do not enter a rate that already includes the loading. The calculator adds it for you. You can also compare your rate to award rates using our reference tables.

Remember: the annual figure assumes you work the same hours every week, with 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 uses the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

Key Takeaways for Your Nurse Salary

Nurse salary is calculated as hourly rate × weekly hours × 52. For full-time nurses, that’s 38 hours per week. Use the award rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman as your minimum.
Fortnightly pay is simply weekly × 2. Most nurses are paid this way.
Casual loading adds 25% on top of the base rate.
Super is extra, not included in the annual gross.
Tax follows the progressive scale plus Medicare.

For more detail on how your pay compares to averages, see average pay and job pay.