Registered Nurse (RN) salaries in Australia vary, but generally range from around $85,000 to over $100,000 annually, with entry-level roles starting lower (around $60k-$70k+) and experienced/specialist roles reaching higher, influenced by state, experience, and sector, with median hourly rates around $56 for full-time workers.
The average registered nurse salary in Australia is around $79,550 per year (about $41,00 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $76,063 per year up to $97,568 per year. On top of your salary, you will also receive a minimum of 4 weeks paid annual leave and superannuation (10,5% from 1 July 2022).
The highest-paid Registered Nurses (RNs) are typically specialized advanced practice nurses, with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) leading in the U.S. (averaging over $200k/year), while Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Director of Nursing roles are top earners in places like Australia, earning $130k-$160k+ annually, with high demand for roles in anesthesia, management, and specialized clinical areas.
How much does an Entry Level Rn make in New Mexico? As of Jan 7, 2026, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Rn in New Mexico is $55,411 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $26.64 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,065/week or $4,617/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $146,542 and as low as $38,790, the majority of Entry Level Rn Nurse salaries currently range between $66,300 (25th percentile) to $97,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $127,146 annually in Los Angeles.
Registered nurse salaries in NSW begin at $69,810 but can creep up to base rates of $98,014 after a few years on the job.
Nurses often work long hours performing tasks that are both physically and emotionally demanding. What's more, the work nurses perform can have important and even life-or-death consequences for patients, significantly adding to workplace stress.
NHS Bank: £18-£30+ per hour. Agency: £25-£40+ per hour. Specialist roles: £35-£45+ per hour.
In South Africa, an Entry Level Nurse with less than three years of experience can expect to earn an average compensation of R 15 000 gross per month. A mid career Nurse with 4-9 years of experience earns an average salary of R 26 000, while an experienced Nurse with 10-20 years of experience makes on average R 37 000.
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Nurse Practitioner (NP) – $150,046
NPs become the highest paid nurses in Australia because of the experience, expertise and authority to diagnose and treat people of all ages with a variety of acute or chronic health conditions.
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The most important descriptor to note in RN Level 1 is that 'an employee at this level performs their duties … under the general guidance of, or with general access to, a more competent registered nurse (RN) who provides work related support and direction'.
What Soft Skills Should Nurses Have?
GP salaries in Australia vary significantly but typically range from $200,000 to over $350,000 annually for experienced, full-time doctors, with some rural roles or high-billing practices reaching $400,000+; registrar earnings are lower ($85k-$130k), while locums earn per day ($2k-$3k), influenced by location (rural pays more), billing (private higher), experience, and practice type. Full-time GPs (8+ sessions) average around $345k, while part-timers average $240k.
The lowest-paid nurses are typically entry-level Enrolled Nurses (ENs) or Nursing Assistants/Assistants in Nursing (AINs), especially those in training or early career stages, with wages varying by country and state but generally starting significantly lower than Registered Nurses (RNs), sometimes below $30/hour or equivalent in local currency, as they perform more basic, supervised patient care.
LPNs and RNs play distinct roles in healthcare, with LPNs focusing on task-oriented duties under supervision, while RNs take on broader responsibilities, including critical thinking and strategic healthcare management.
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You should not feel like you cannot work as a nurse if you experience anxiety. Many nurses with anxiety deal with their situations in positive ways that actually make them better nurses. And given the variety of potential work environments, a job change may work wonders.
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Registered Nurses in Australia have the best career if you factor in the work conditions, stability, and good career growth. You earn great to live comfortably, and the longer you stay in the role, your career will grow accordingly.
The highest-paid Registered Nurses (RNs) are typically specialized advanced practice nurses, with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) leading in the U.S. (averaging over $200k/year), while Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Director of Nursing roles are top earners in places like Australia, earning $130k-$160k+ annually, with high demand for roles in anesthesia, management, and specialized clinical areas.
Although much confusion still surrounds NHS nursing pay rises for 2025, we can confirm that the government has rubber stamped a 3.6% increase for NHS nurses and other Agenda for Change staff. You can see what this means for your salary in our updated nursing pay calculator.