A "Level 5" salary in Australia varies significantly by sector, but for the Australian Public Service (APS), it generally ranges from around $87,000 to over $100,000, depending on the agency (like Treasury, AGS, or ASD) and specific pay points. In the community sector (SCHADS Award), Level 5 might start around $76-$80 per hour, while other private roles could see typical Level 5s in the $50k-$70k range, showing the need to specify the industry.
Starting pay for a Band 5 nurse has increased from £21,692 in England & Wales (£21,818 in Scotland) in 2015 to £31,048 in England and Northern Ireland (£31,892 in Scotland) in 2025. In nominal terms, this is a pay rise of £9,357, representing a 43% increase over the 10-year period.
A Level 4 salary in Australia varies significantly by sector, but generally falls within the $80,000 to $90,000+ range for Australian Public Service (APS) roles, while Award-based roles (like Disability Support) might start around $40-$50 per hour, and University HEW Level 4s are often in the mid-$80,000s annually, reflecting different pay scales for government, private, and higher education.
A $75k salary in Australia is decent, above the median income for many age groups and allowing for comfortable living in regional areas, but it can be tight in expensive cities like Sydney or Melbourne, especially for families, with many feeling $100k is needed for stability, though it's a strong starting point for younger professionals. After tax, $75k becomes roughly $58.6k ($4,888/month), meaning lifestyle, location, and financial goals (like saving for a house) heavily influence whether it's considered "good".
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $88,500 and as low as $22,500, the majority of Band 5 salaries currently range between $51,500 (25th percentile) to $61,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $70,000 annually across the United States.
So, Band 5 is usually somebody that's newly qualified or you're classed as a Staff Nurse. Either way, you will be caring for patients in most areas. You'll have your own patients. You might delegate as well to healthcare assistants, for example, or admin teams depending on what you're delegating.
The average G5 salary ranges from approximately $51,143 per year for SEO Content Strategist to $175,000 per year for Specialist.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $113,500 and as low as $11,000, the majority of Level 5 salaries currently range between $60,000 (25th percentile) to $107,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $112,000 annually across the United States.
A Level 6 salary in Australia varies significantly by sector, but for Australian Public Service (APS) Level 6, it generally ranges from approximately $91,000 to over $125,000 annually, depending on agency and pay points, with specific examples like the AUSTRAC range being around $101,303–$115,406 and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) offering up to $125,141 as of March 2026. Other sectors, like Social & Community Services (SCHADS Award), have their own distinct rates, with Level 6 pay points in 2024 starting around $1,972 weekly.
Pay Level 5: Basic pay starts at ₹29,200 and goes up to ₹92,300.
Yes, $80k is a good salary in Australia, placing you above the national median, but its value depends heavily on your location and lifestyle, offering a comfortable life in regional areas or less expensive cities (Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) but requiring careful budgeting in Sydney or Melbourne due to high rent. It's above the average full-time earnings but will feel tighter in expensive cities, especially if supporting a family or wanting significant savings, say Reddit users.
How to become a Band 6 Nurse. The most common route for General Nurses to move into a Band 6 role is by becoming a Senior Staff Nurse. It's claimed it takes around 18 months on average to move from Band 5 to Band 6 – and for that to be possible, you'll need to prove you're capable of taking on more senior duties.
Band 5 Nurses - Newly Qualified Nurse / Staff Nurse
Band 5 Nurses often start in a hospital ward setting, allowing them to gain more experience in a workplace setting and providing opportunities to further their qualifications and training.
The main difference is responsibility. Band 5 Nurses focus on patient care under supervision, gaining experience in different clinical settings. Band 6 Nurses, however, take on leadership roles, mentor junior staff and often specialise in certain areas of Nursing.
The post holder is expected to take charge of the ward as required. The post holder will be expected to demonstrate good clinical skills and teach other staff and learners. The post holder will also be expected to be a good role model and to treat all staff, visitors and service users with tact and courtesy.
Determine compensation within salary bands
Factors influencing where an employee falls within the band include experience, performance, tenure, and market factors. So someone with more job experience may have a different salary than someone else with less experience, even if they have the same role.
Examples of roles at band 5 - ICT test analyst and many newly qualified clinical professionals such as nurse, operating department practitioner (ODP), podiatrist and therapeutic radiographer.
The average Australian full-time worker is now earning more than $2000 a week for the first time in history. New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the average ordinary full-time weekly earnings for adults hit $2011.40 before tax in May.
On a £70,000 salary, your take home pay will be £51,157.40 after tax and National Insurance. This equates to £4,263.12 per month and £983.80 per week. If you work 5 days per week, this is £196.76 per day, or £24.59 per hour at 40 hours per week.
According to ABS data, just 2.61 million Aussies – or about 10 per cent of the population – earn $100,000 or more a year. Many people will never reach a six-figure income in their working lives.