WA Nurse Pay Rates 2026: Registered Nurse Salary & Take-Home
WA nurse pay rates are set by the WA Health System – Australian Nursing Federation – Registered Nurses, Midwives, Enrolled (Mental Health) and Enrolled (Mothercraft) Nurses – Industrial Agreement 2024. From 12 October 2025 a new-graduate registered nurse or midwife earns $82,945 a year and the top of the RN scale pays $106,630 – about $2,525.85 to $3,143.33 a fortnight after tax, before shift penalties and salary packaging. The next pay rise is due on 12 October 2026.
Updated 2026-10-03 · rates in force from 12 October 2025 · ATO 2026–27 tax
| Instrument | WA Health System – Australian Nursing Federation – Registered Nurses, Midwives, Enrolled (Mental Health) and Enrolled (Mothercraft) Nurses – Industrial Agreement 2024 |
| Rates shown apply from | 12 October 2025 |
| Full-time hours | 38 a week |
| Employer super | 12% – 12% superannuation guarantee (GESB West State Super default). Public hospital employer: salary packaging is FBT-exempt up to the $17,000 grossed-up hospital cap (about $9,010 of benefits a year), plus a separate $5,000 grossed-up meal entertainment / holiday accommodation cap. Employer super is based on pre-packaging salary (cl. 25(13)). |
| Next pay rise | 12 October 2026 |
| Agreement nominal expiry | 11 October 2027 |
Western Australia nurse pay calculator
| Base salary | $82,945 |
| Hourly rate (ordinary) | $41.84 |
| Gross per fortnight | $3,180.00 |
| Salary packaged (tax-free) | $9,000 |
| Income tax | $12,704 |
| Medicare levy | $1,479 |
| Take-home a year | $68,763 |
| Employer super (12%) | $9,953 |
- Take-home $68,763 82.9%
- Income tax $12,704 15.3%
- Medicare $1,479 1.8%
Your result is ready
Western Australia nurse pay scale from 12 October 2025
| Classification | Step | Annual | Hourly | Take-home / fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse / Midwife Level 1 | Level 1.1 Level 1, year 1 | $82,945 | $41.84 | $2,525.85 |
| Level 1.2 | $85,815 | $43.29 | $2,600.68 | |
| Level 1.3 | $88,800 | $44.80 | $2,678.50 | |
| Level 1.4 | $92,413 | $46.62 | $2,772.69 | |
| Level 1.5 | $96,151 | $48.50 | $2,870.14 | |
| Level 1.6 | $99,509 | $50.20 | $2,957.68 | |
| Level 1.7 | $103,001 | $51.96 | $3,048.72 | |
| Level 1.8 Level 1, top step | $106,630 | $53.79 | $3,143.33 | |
| Registered Nurse / Midwife Level 2 (Clinical Nurse) | Level 2.1 | $109,599 | $55.29 | $3,220.73 |
| Level 2.2 | $111,584 | $56.29 | $3,272.48 | |
| Level 2.3 | $113,613 | $57.31 | $3,325.38 | |
| Level 2.4 | $115,682 | $58.36 | $3,379.32 | |
| Senior Registered Nurse / Midwife (SRN/M) | SRN 1 SRN/M Level 1 | $129,203 | $65.18 | $3,731.81 |
| SRN 2 SRN/M Level 2 | $133,185 | $67.19 | $3,835.63 | |
| SRN 3 SRN/M Level 3 | $137,294 | $69.26 | $3,936.59 | |
| SRN 4 SRN/M Level 4 | $141,535 | $71.40 | $4,035.78 | |
| SRN 5 SRN/M Level 5 | $145,914 | $73.61 | $4,138.19 | |
| SRN 6 SRN/M Level 6 | $154,854 | $78.12 | $4,347.26 | |
| SRN 7 SRN/M Level 7 | $164,360 | $82.91 | $4,569.58 | |
| SRN 8 SRN/M Level 8 | $174,470 | $88.01 | $4,806.01 | |
| SRN 9 SRN/M Level 9 | $184,080 | $92.86 | $5,030.76 | |
| SRN 10 SRN/M Level 10 | $194,235 | $97.98 | $5,255.26 |
Not shown in full: Enrolled Mental Health Nurse $72,902–$80,075; Enrolled Nurse (Mothercraft Nursing only) $69,076–$74,858 (use the calculator for any step).
Rates: WA Health System – Australian Nursing Federation – Registered Nurses, Midwives, Enrolled (Mental Health) and Enrolled (Mothercraft) Nurses – Industrial Agreement 2024, in force from 12 October 2025. Hourly = annual ÷ 52.1666 weeks ÷ 38 hours. Take-home is for an Australian resident in 2026–27 with the tax-free threshold, Medicare levy, no HELP debt and private hospital cover (no Medicare levy surcharge). Employer super is paid on top and not included.
Midwives are paid on the same scale as registered nurses. Compare with Western Australia teacher pay or see every state on the nurse salaries hub.
Take-home pay at the start and top of the scale
| Pay point | Gross a year | Take-home a year | Take-home a fortnight | With HECS-HELP | Employer super |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New-graduate RN | $82,945 | $65,883 | $2,525.85 | $2,448.70 | $9,953 |
| Top RN increment | $106,630 | $81,988 | $3,143.33 | $2,929.96 | $12,796 |
| Clinical nurse (Level 2.1) | $109,599 | $84,007 | $3,220.73 | $2,990.29 | $13,152 |
| Senior RN/M Level 1 | $129,203 | $97,338 | $3,731.81 | $3,388.64 | $15,504 |
Moving from new-graduate rn ($82,945) to top rn increment ($106,630) adds $23,685 a year before tax, or $617.48 a fortnight after tax. Employer super of 12% is paid on top.
Salary packaging: the public hospital cap
Public hospitals and health services are FBT-exempt up to a grossed-up cap of $17,000, which lets staff pay up to $9,010 a year of living expenses (rent, mortgage, bills) from pre-tax salary, plus up to $2,650 of meal entertainment and venue hire. For a new-graduate rn on $82,945, packaging both caps in full lifts spendable income by about $3,731 a year ($143.05 a fortnight). The packaged amount is reported on your income statement as a reportable fringe benefit, which counts towards HELP repayments and some income tests. Try your own numbers in the salary packaging calculator.
Shift and weekend rates
Dollar amounts are for new-graduate rn ($41.84 an hour).
| When | Rate | Per hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday (ordinary hours) | 100% | $41.84 | Casual loading 25%; shift, weekend and public holiday loadings are calculated on the ordinary rate (cl. 16(1)(a)), so they add to the 25% |
| Afternoon shift | 115% | $48.12 | 15% for a complete weekday shift starting no earlier than 12pm and finishing after 6pm (cl. 26(1)) |
| Night shift | 135% | $56.49 | 35% for a complete weekday night shift between 6:30pm and 7:30am (cl. 26(2)) |
| Saturday | 150% | $62.76 | 50% loading, midnight Friday – midnight Saturday (cl. 26(3)) |
| Sunday | 175% | $73.22 | 75% loading; continues to 7:30am Monday for a shift that started Sunday (cl. 26(4)). Day workers (Mon–Fri) called in on Sunday: double time (cl. 26(7)) |
| Public holiday | 150% | $62.76 | Permanent staff: 50% loading for hours worked, and 11 days' public holiday leave a year (cl. 37(1), (3)). Casuals: 150% loading (cl. 37(4)) – shown here added to the 25% casual loading |
Good to know
- Western Australia pays a 35% night-shift loading – the highest of the states covered here.
- Permanent staff get 11 days' public holiday leave a year that they can take on a day of their choice, plus a 50% loading for hours worked on a public holiday (cl. 37).
- Rates convert annual → weekly by ÷ 52.1666 (cl. 18).
Western Australia nurse pay rises – next on 12 October 2026
| From | Increase | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 October 2024 | 5.0% | Paid | About 5% (Level 1.1 $75,957 → $79,755), more on some upper steps |
| 12 October 2025 | 4.0% | Paid | About 4% (Level 1.1 → $82,945) – current rates |
| 12 October 2026 | – | Scheduled | Scheduled: 3.5% on Level 1.1–1.3 and SRN/M levels (≈3.8–3.9%), larger restructure rises on Level 1.4–2.4 (e.g. Level 1.8 → $112,644, Level 2.4 → $124,087, +7.3%); EMHN/mothercraft +3.5% |
How pay progression works
- Level 1 RNs/midwives progress one increment a year (1.1 → 1.8), recognising skills gained through experience (cl. 17(9)).
- Staff averaging 24 hours a week or less need a further 12 months per increment, unless they reach 1,976 hours (full-time equivalent) sooner (cl. 17(9)–(10)).
- Previous relevant nursing/midwifery experience counts when you are appointed; the onus of proof is on the employee (cl. 17(11)).
- Level 2 (clinical nurse) and Senior Registered Nurse levels are promotional positions; nurse practitioners are classified SRN/M Level 3 or higher by a work-value assessment (cl. 17(7)).
- Professional development allowance: $700 a year (Level 1.1–1.7), $1,100 (Level 1.8–2.4 and SRN 1–5), $1,400 (SRN 6–10) (cl. 60).
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Professional development allowance | $700 / $1,100 / $1,400 a year | By level, full-time and part-time RNs/midwives (cl. 60) |
Western Australia vs other states
| State | New-graduate RN | Top RN increment | Take-home / fortnight (top) | Rates from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | $82,945 | $106,630 | $3,143.33 | 12 October 2025 |
| New South Wales | $81,692 | $114,694 | $3,355.07 | 1 July 2026 |
| Victoria | $84,420 | $107,806 | $3,175.42 | 11 May 2026 |
| Queensland | $87,367 | $112,063 | $3,284.24 | 1 April 2026 |
| South Australia | $77,824 | $106,187 | $3,131.77 | 1 January 2026 |
Related
- Nurse salaries by state
- Salary packaging calculator (hospital cap)
- Salary sacrifice calculator
- Hourly pay calculator
- Salary calculator
- Teacher salaries in Western Australia
WA nurse pay from 12 October 2026
The third and last scheduled rise under the 2024 agreement takes effect on 12 October 2026. It is not a flat percentage: Level 1.1 to 1.3 rise by about 3.5% and the senior SRN/M levels by about 3.9%, while Level 1.4 to 2.4 are restructured with larger rises of up to 7.3%. Examples:
| Pay point | Until 11 Oct 2026 | From 12 Oct 2026 | Rise | Take-home a fortnight (new) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1.1 (graduate) | $82,945 | $85,848 | 3.5% | $2,601.54 |
| Level 1.8 (top RN step) | $106,630 | $112,644 | 5.6% | $3,300.12 |
| Level 2.4 (clinical nurse, top) | $115,682 | $124,087 | 7.3% | $3,598.44 |
| SRN/M Level 1 | $129,203 | $134,225 | 3.9% | $3,862.74 |
Night shifts, public holidays and who this agreement covers
WA's 35% night loading is worth $14.64 an hour extra to a graduate on $41.84 an hour, or about $111.30 on a 7.6-hour night shift. Permanent staff also get 11 days of public holiday leave a year that they can take on a day of their choice, plus the 50% loading if they work the public holiday itself.
The agreement covers registered nurses, midwives, enrolled mental health nurses and mothercraft nurses. General enrolled nurses and assistants in nursing are covered by a separate WA Health – United Workers Union agreement, so their rates are not on this page. The ANF agreement expires on 11 October 2027, so bargaining for the next one is due in 2027.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse earn in Western Australia?
$82,945 a year as a new graduate and $106,630 at the top RN increment, from 12 October 2025. Shift, weekend and public holiday penalties are paid on top, and public hospital staff can salary package up to $9,010 a year tax-free.
What is the take-home pay of a graduate nurse in Western Australia?
About $2,525.85 a fortnight after income tax and Medicare levy on base pay, or $2,448.70 with a HECS-HELP debt. Penalty rates and salary packaging usually lift this.
When is the next nurse pay rise in Western Australia?
12 October 2026: Scheduled: 3.5% on Level 1.1–1.3 and SRN/M levels (≈3.8–3.9%), larger restructure rises on Level 1.4–2.4 (e.g. Level 1.8 → $112,644, Level 2.4 → $124,087, +7.3%); EMHN/mothercraft +3.5%.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.