Rate of pay can be described in two categories depending on type of employer.

1. Hospitals Rate of Pay:

Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) is the nursing body who represents Nursing workers when negotiating rates of pay and nursing employees benefits with different hospitals and nurses employers. It's members are elected by nurses.

ANF has agreements with all public and private hospitals which set the rates of pay and other nurses benefits including annual leave, sick pay, maternal leave, and superannuation (an employer's contribution towards the employee's retirement fund account).

Public hospitals annual pay for a registered nurse based on level 1RNs (Public Hospitals Nurses Award) between 36,666$-47,132$

Private hospitals rates of pay based on level 1 RNs (Private Hospitals Nurses Award) range between 34,000$-46,000$ per year.

The following penalties apply on top of the basic rate of pay.

Shift Loading:

For AM shift, no loading on basic rate of pay per hour.
For PM shift, 12.5 % loading on basic rate per hour.
For Night shift, 20% loading on basic rate per hour.

Weekends loading:

Saturday: 50% loading on basic rate per hour + shift loading. For example, rate of pay per hour for a night shift on Saturday = basic rate + 50% of basic rate + 20% of basic rate.

Sunday: 75% loading on basic rate of pay per hour. No other shift loadings.

2. Nursing Agencies Rate of Pay:

Nursing Agencies are another possible employer for nurses, these agencies work as a third party between the nurse and the hospital. The nurse is employed by an agency who arranges and secures work for the nurse in a public or a private hospital.

Agencies rate of pay can go higher than hospital's pay up to 80%. But there are no other benefits like annual leave, sick leave or maternal leave. The agency employs the nurse on a casual basis, that is the nurse will be appointed to work certain amount of hours in a hospital subject to availability of work and hospital's need for agency staff. The agency doesn't guarantee work for a nurse, it is only subject to availability and hospital's demand, but in fact, agency work is available most of the time due to shortage of staff and that is why agency work has become a popular choice for local nurses.

Nursing Agency rate of pay varies depending on which agency you join. Generally, the rates are in the following ranges (based on level 1.5 RN):

Am shift:
26-32$ per hour for general nurses.
33-38$ per hour for specialist nurses.
Normally, RNs work 6-8 hours for AM shift.


PM shift:
28-34$ per hour for general nurses.
35-42 $ per hour for specialist nurses.
Normally, RNs work 6-8 hours for PM shift.

Night shift:
32-38$ per hour for general nurses
39-45$ per hour for specialist nurses
Normally, RNs work 10 hours for Night shift.

Saturday shift:
44-51$ per hour for general nurses
52-58$ per hour for specialist nurses

Sunday shift:
51-55$ per hour for general nurses
60$-65$ per hour for specialist nurses.
Number of hours normally worked on weekends depends on the shift worked as mentioned above.

Agencies rates of pay are fixed, no other shift loadings apply.

The criteria for Registered Nurses to be paid specialist rates by an agency depend on the agency's policy. Generally, RNs are required to have at least one-year experience in the specialty area to qualify for specialist rate.