Nurses Award penalty rates 2026
Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and evening rates for every classification in the Nurses Award (MA000034), from 1 July 2026.
Nursing is often round-the-clock work, so higher penalty rates commonly apply for afternoon and night shifts, weekends and public holidays, with overtime for hours worked beyond the roster.
Full-time and part-time penalty rates
Casual penalty rates
Casual figures include the casual loading.
Resulting hourly rates as published in the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database.
How the Nurses Award compares
| Day | Nurses | Median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 150% | 150% | 2 of 19 |
| Sunday | 175% | 187.5% | 11 of 20 |
| Public holiday | 200% | 250% | 21 of 22 |
The Sunday rate of 175% is lower than the median of 187.5% across the 20 awards with a Sunday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 11th.
The public holiday rate of 200% is lower than the median of 250% across the 22 awards with a public holiday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 21st.
What one shift pays
| Shift | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday (7.6 hours) | $204.97 | $256.20 |
| Saturday (7.6 hours) | $307.50 | $384.33 |
| Sunday (7.6 hours) | $358.72 | $448.32 |
| Public holiday (7.6 hours) | $409.94 | $512.39 |
A full-time saturday shift pays $307.50, $102.53 more than the same shift on a weekday.
A full-time sunday shift pays $358.72, $153.75 more than the same shift on a weekday.
A full-time public holiday shift pays $409.94, $204.97 more than the same shift on a weekday.
Work out a shift
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. FWC pay database, Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034), checked (how). General information only: your award or enterprise agreement prevails if it differs.