Average Healthcare Salaries
Healthcare salaries in Australia vary enormously depending on profession, classification level, and years of experience. Nurses and midwives are covered by state-based enterprise agreements that specify salary bands, while doctors progress through a separate classification system. Allied health professionals (physiotherapists, pharmacists, occupational therapists) fall under their own award or enterprise agreement structures.
| Role | Salary Range (Annual) |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse — Year 1 | $72,000 |
| Registered Nurse — Year 8 | $95,000 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | $100,000 – $110,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $115,000 – $130,000 |
| Junior Doctor (Intern / HMO) | $85,000 – $100,000 |
| Registrar | $120,000 – $160,000 |
| Specialist (Consultant) | $250,000 – $500,000+ |
| Physiotherapist | $70,000 – $90,000 |
| Pharmacist | $75,000 – $100,000 |
| Aged Care Worker | $55,000 – $65,000 |
These figures represent base salaries before penalty rates and allowances. Nurses and doctors who work regular evening, night, and weekend shifts can earn 15–30% more than the base salary through penalty rate loadings. Use the Average Salary Australia page to compare healthcare pay against other industries.
Penalty Rates & Shift Allowances
Healthcare workers, particularly nurses and midwives, receive significant penalty rate loadings for working outside standard business hours. These rates are set out in enterprise agreements (EAs) that vary by state and employer, but typically follow a similar structure across public hospitals.
| Shift Type | Loading (FT/PT) |
|---|---|
| Saturday | +25% |
| Sunday | +50% |
| Public Holiday | +150% |
| Evening Shift (after 6pm) | +12.5% |
| Night Shift (after 10pm) | +15% |
| Permanent Night Shift | +25% |
A registered nurse on Year 4 rates ($85,000 base) who works a regular night shift roster can earn an additional $12,000–$18,000 per year through penalty loadings alone. Emergency department and intensive care nurses often attract additional allowances of $2,000–$5,000 per year for working in high-acuity environments. See the Overtime Pay Calculator to model your shift pattern and penalty rates.
Salary Packaging for Health Workers
Salary packaging (also called salary sacrifice) is one of the most valuable financial benefits available to healthcare workers employed in public hospitals and not-for-profit health organisations. It allows you to pay for certain expenses with pre-tax dollars, reducing your taxable income and increasing your take-home pay.
Public Hospital FBT Exemption
Public hospital employees can salary package up to $15,900 per FBT year for general living expenses (rent, mortgage repayments, credit card payments, school fees) without incurring fringe benefits tax. This is a significant advantage over private sector workers, who cannot access this exemption. On top of the $15,900, an additional $2,650 per year can be salary packaged for meal entertainment and holiday accommodation expenses.
Worked Example: Salary Packaging Impact
Consider a registered nurse earning $85,000 per year who salary packages the full $15,900 plus $2,650 meal entertainment:
| Component | Without Packaging | With Packaging |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $85,000 | $85,000 |
| Salary Packaged Amount | $0 | $18,550 |
| Taxable Income | $85,000 | $66,450 |
| Income Tax + Medicare | $19,717 | $14,150 |
| Annual Benefit | — | +$5,567 per year |
That is an extra $214 per fortnight in take-home pay simply by structuring existing expenses through salary packaging. Read the full Salary Packaging Guide for eligibility criteria and step-by-step setup instructions.
Take-Home Pay Examples
Below are take-home pay estimates for common healthcare roles in FY2025-26, calculated on base salary before penalty rates. Actual take-home will be higher for workers doing shift work.
| Role | Gross Salary | Tax + Medicare | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged Care Worker | $60,000 | $10,967 | $49,033 |
| RN Year 1 | $72,000 | $14,567 | $57,433 |
| RN Year 8 | $95,000 | $21,717 | $73,283 |
| Registrar | $140,000 | $35,867 | $104,133 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How this guide works▼
Healthcare salary data is sourced from ABS average weekly earnings, published enterprise agreements (NSW Health, Victoria Health, Queensland Health), and the Nurses and Midwives Award. Salary packaging calculations use ATO FBT exemption thresholds for public hospitals. Tax calculations use FY2025-26 marginal rates including the 2% Medicare levy. Penalty rate percentages reflect typical public hospital enterprise agreement provisions.
Sources & References
- 1Nurses Award— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 2Salary packaging— Australian Taxation Office
- 3Healthcare earnings— Australian Bureau of Statistics
Last verified: 14 March 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Penny Ward
Verified AuthorEmployment & Workplace Rights Editor
B.Com (Hons), Cert IV Financial Planning
Penny is a financial journalist and workplace compliance specialist with over a decade of experience writing about Australian employment law, Fair Work entitlements, and payroll. She has contributed to publications covering industrial relations and personal finance, and previously advised small businesses on award interpretation and pay compliance.
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