Nurses Award.
Nurses Award 2020. Verified penalty rates, shift loadings, leave loading and RDO arrangements, with a live calculator under the NES.
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| Component | Formula | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual rate (FULL-TIME) | 4 wks × 38h ÷ 52 | 2.923 hrs/wk |
| Hours accrued | 2.923 × 52 wks | 152.42 hrs |
| Hourly base rate | - | $35.00 |
| Base leave value | 152.42 × $35.00 | $5,334.62 |
| 17.5% leave loading | base × 0.175 | + $933.56 |
| Total payout | - | $6,268.17 |
Disclaimer: This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation or your circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. We do not recommend taking actions based solely on these results. The calculator makes assumptions and results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation, modern awards, or your personal circumstances. You use this information at your own risk. We can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. For official guidance, visit Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au). Fair Work Ombudsman.
Nurses Award pay rates and penalties.
Dollar rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Penalty rates verified against the MA000034 award text.
Penalty rates by shift type
What each hour is worth as a percentage of the base rate, for permanent and casual employees.
Hourly rate by classification level
8 levels, measured from $0 so the gaps between them are true to scale.
- Level 1Assistant in nursing (entry)
- Level 2Assistant in nursing (experienced)
- Level 3Enrolled nurse
- Level 4Registered nurse (entry)
- Level 5Registered nurse (experienced)
- Level 6Clinical nurse specialist
- Level 7Nurse unit manager
- Level 8Director of nursing
National Minimum Wage, 4-year trend
Lifted each year by the Annual Wage Review. Up 23.7% since FY2023. Percentages are the movement in the NMW itself, which exceeded the award increase in the years the Commission realigned it to the C13 rate.
Where these numbers come from
- Dollar rates
- FWO Pay Guides and FWC Annual Wage Review [2026] FWCFB 3500, effective 1 July 2026.
- Penalty rates and allowances
- MA000034 on awards.fairwork.gov.au, the official award text.
- Industry figures
- ABS Labour Force, May 2026; ABS EEH, Aug 2025. Covers the broader industry, not only employees under this award.
- Your own figures
- Check your classification in the FWO Pay Calculator.
Penalty rates in full
Every loading in the award, side by side for full-time, part-time and casual employees.
| Hours worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual (incl. loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100% | 125% |
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 175% | 200% |
| Public holiday | 200% | 225% |
| Afternoon shift | 112.5% | 137.5% |
| Night shift | 115% | 140% |
All values are percentages of the base hourly rate. Casual rates shown are inclusive of the 25% casual loading on top of the FT/PT rate. For your own dollar amounts, use the FWO Pay Calculator.
Pay rates by classification
Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual hourly includes the 25% loading.
| Level | Classification | Weekly rate | Hourly rate | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Assistant in nursing (entry) | $1,011.90 | $26.63 | $33.29 |
| Level 2 | Assistant in nursing (experienced) | $1,079.60 | $28.41 | $35.51 |
| Level 3 | Enrolled nurse | $1,157.80 | $30.47 | $38.09 |
| Level 4 | Registered nurse (entry) | $1,342.70 | $35.33 | $44.16 |
| Level 5 | Registered nurse (experienced) | $1,498.70 | $39.44 | $49.30 |
| Level 6 | Clinical nurse specialist | $1,675.20 | $44.08 | $55.10 |
| Level 7 | Nurse unit manager | $1,897.40 | $49.93 | $62.41 |
| Level 8 | Director of nursing | $2,184.60 | $57.49 | $71.86 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual rates include the 25% loading on top of the hourly rate. Source: FWO Pay Guides.
Allowances
Paid on top of the base rate. Amounts effective from 1 July 2026.
| Allowance | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-call availability allowance | $4.32 | per hour | For nurses rostered to be available on call. |
| In-charge of shift allowance | $48.90 | per shift | For the nurse designated in charge when no NUM is present. |
| First aid allowance | $15.90 | per week | For employees with a current first aid qualification. |
| Post-graduate qualification allowance | $24.60 - $48.90 | per week | For nurses holding recognised post-graduate qualifications. |
The numbers that drive this award.
Set by Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) and the NES.
Award-specific provisions.
Where this award goes beyond, or sits at, the NES floor.
All employees receive 5 weeks annual leave (4 weeks NES plus 1 additional week under clause 22.2(a)). Shiftworkers regularly rostered over 7 days who regularly work weekends and public holidays receive 6 weeks (clause 22.2(c)).
Standard 17.5% on minimum hourly rate. Shift workers receive the GREATER OF 17.5% or the shift penalty they would have earned during the leave. Run the numbers in the annual leave loading calculator.
No formal RDO accrual cycle in this award. Time off in lieu of overtime (TOIL) may still be available.
Calculate your leave under this award
The Nurses Award sets your pay rates, but your paid leave runs on the National Employment Standards. Work out 4 weeks of holidays with the annual leave calculator, and your 10 days of paid sick and carer's leave with the personal leave calculator. To confirm which award applies to you and how it lifts entitlements above the NES floor, read our guide to modern awards.
Who this award covers.
The Nurses Award (MA000034) is the common name for the Nurses Award 2020. Industries, work types and exclusions are taken from the Fair Work Ombudsman summary.
Industries
Work types
Notes & exclusions. All employees receive 5 weeks annual leave; shiftworkers regularly rostered over 7 days who regularly work weekends and public holidays receive 6 weeks (clause 22.2). Leave loading is the higher of 17.5% or the shift penalties (clause 22.5(b)). Shift loadings and overtime rates do not apply to Registered nurse levels 4 and 5 (clauses 20.2(e), 19.1(b)). Excludes medical practitioners and registrars; allied health (e.g. physiotherapists) sit under their own award.
Roles paid under this award.
Each classification has its own pay grade. Use the FWO Pay Calculator for current dollar rates.
- 01nursing assistant
- 02enrolled nurse
- 03registered nurse
- 04nurse practitioner
- 05occupational health nurse
Nurses Award questions, answered.
Penalty rates, leave entitlements and award-specific provisions under MA000034. Verified against the modern award text.
Who does the Nurses Award cover?
What is the Saturday penalty rate under the Nurses Award?
What is the Sunday rate under the Nurses Award?
What is the public holiday rate under the Nurses Award?
How many weeks of annual leave do I get under the Nurses Award?
How is annual leave loading calculated for shift workers under the Nurses Award?
What is the casual loading under the Nurses Award?
Does the Nurses Award include rostered days off (RDOs)?
Does the Nurses Award have evening or night-shift loadings?
Where do I find current pay rates by classification under the Nurses Award?
Verified against the modern award text.
Penalty rates, shift loadings and continuous-shift eligibility on this page were verified against Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) on the Fair Work Commission's awards.fairwork.gov.au.
For up-to-date pay rates by classification, refer to the FWO Pay Calculator. Modern awards are reviewed and varied periodically by the Fair Work Commission; check the source for the latest text.