The highest-paid nursing role in Australia is generally the Nurse Practitioner (NP), due to their advanced training, diagnostic authority, and prescribing power, with salaries often ranging from $130,000 to over $160,000 annually, though roles like Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) (if applicable in Australia) and senior management roles like Director of Nursing or Nurse Unit Manager also command very high salaries.
The highest-paid nurses in Australia are typically Nurse Practitioners, who can earn between $130,000 and $160,000 per year. They have advanced clinical training, can diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, and often work independently.
What field of nursing pays the most? Nurse anesthetists are the highest-paid nursing professionals by far. The average annual wage for a CRNA is $231,700 as of May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's over $100,000 more per year than the average registered nurse salary.
Jobs paying $500k+ in Australia are primarily in highly specialized fields like Medical Specialists (surgeons, anaesthetists), Senior Finance/Executive Roles (CFO, Head of Treasury, Investment Directors), and high-end Sales & Construction Management (Elite Stockbrokers, Senior Project Managers/Estimators in complex sectors). While roles like Neurosurgeon and Ophthalmologist average well over $500k, achieving this in other sectors often involves performance-based bonuses or leading major projects, with opportunities listed on job boards like SEEK and Jora.
The highest-paid nurses are Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), who administer anesthesia and earn significantly more than other nursing roles, often exceeding $200,000 annually. Other top earners include Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), and specialized roles like Pain Management Nurses, often requiring advanced degrees (Master's or Doctorate) and certifications.
The highest paid nurse is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Professionals in this field earn as low as USD 101,000 and as high as USD 174,000, with an average salary of USD 124,00.
Research with patients and patient outcomes has shown that nurses with a BSN have better patient outcomes on average. So, in a competitive healthcare market that must maximize patient outcomes, BSN has become the preferred degree for most hiring efforts.
Jobs paying $200k+ in Australia are common in specialized fields like Medicine (Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Specialists), Technology (Data Scientists, Cloud Engineers), Engineering, Executive Management (C-Suite, Directors), Law, and high-end Sales, with significant opportunities also in the Mining sector, alongside specialized roles in Finance, Construction Management, and Healthcare Administration, often requiring significant experience or niche skills.
In 2022 the median income in Australia was $65,000 a year according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Anyone making less than this amount would be considered working class. Anyone making more than $137,000 falls in the top 10% which is considered upper class.
Here are some of the lowest-paid jobs in Australia:
According to the U.S. BLS, the following are the highest-paying states for nurses based on annual mean wage: California: $137,690. Hawaii: $119,710. Oregon: $113,440.
Acute Care Nurse
Trauma nursing is one of the most demanding and stressful roles a nurse can assume. RNs and APRNs on trauma units work under overwhelming pressure with patients in critical conditions.
Top Nursing Specialty Career Choices to Consider
The four primary fields of nursing, especially in the UK system where this distinction is formalized, are Adult Nursing, Children's Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, and Learning Disability Nursing, each requiring specific registration and training to care for distinct patient populations and needs. While specialties exist globally, these four cover the core areas of focus for registered nurses, focusing on different life stages and health challenges.
Top Highest-Paid Nursing Jobs in 2026
In Australia, the nursing specialties in the highest demand are Aged Care, driven by an aging population, and Mental Health, due to increasing need for psychological support, with high demand also for Critical Care/ICU, Paediatrics, Perioperative, and Midwifery, particularly in rural areas. These roles address key healthcare challenges, including chronic disease management in the elderly, rising mental health concerns, and ongoing needs in acute hospital settings, notes Superior Care Group.
Yes, $600,000 can be enough to retire at 60 in Australia for many, especially if you're a single person aiming for a comfortable lifestyle, but it depends heavily on your spending, assets, and eligibility for the Age Pension. While some sources suggest $600k covers a single's comfortable retirement (around $52k-$53k/year), it's near the lower end, and couples might need closer to $700k for a similar standard, making financial planning crucial for a stress-free retirement.
A low income in Australia varies, but generally involves earning below the median (around $1,425/week in Aug 2025) or below specific government thresholds, like the $948/week ($24,95/hr) National Minimum Wage (as of July 2025) for full-time work, with lower thresholds applying for benefits like the Low Income Health Care Card (around $800/week for singles). For tax purposes, incomes under $37,500-$45,000 might qualify for offsets, while affordable housing eligibility depends heavily on household size, with singles needing under $52,100 annually for low-cost options.
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.
High-paying jobs in Australia without a degree often involve skilled trades (electrician, plumber), technology (ethical hacker, ICT Manager), management (Construction Manager, HR Manager, Sales Manager), and specialized roles (Air Traffic Controller, Pilot, Drillers/Miners), relying on certificates, apprenticeships, or on-the-job training for high earning potential.
Ideally, the rate of return on your investments is enough for you to live off of, so you never need to touch your principal. With $200,000 in your retirement savings and factoring in the average annual rate of return between 10–12%, you'll have between $20,000 and $24,000 to live off of each year.
No experience $100,000 jobs
Here Are Highest Paying Jobs You Can Get with a BSN Degree
Career Growth
Nearly 28% of employers require new RNs to have their BSN, while 72% “strongly prefer” it, according to a survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). A bachelor's degree can also open doors to new opportunities, like roles in administration and research.
ADN — Career opportunities include entry-level RN positions in clinical settings, doctors' offices and home healthcare. BSN — Career opportunities include entry-level RN positions as well as advanced specialty positions in areas such as oncology, cardiology, pediatrics and more.