Registered nurse — level 5 — grade 6 pay rate 2026
Minimum rate for Registered nurse — level 5 — grade 6 under the Nurses Award (MA000034) from 1 July 2026: $2,706.90 a week full-time, $141,138 a year (weekly × 52.14). Casual: $89.04 an hour, loading included.
Rate table in the pay database: Registered nurse—Levels 1–5—other than aged care employees.
Minimum pay rates
| Employment type | Hourly | Weekly | Annual (× 52.14) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time / part-time | $71.23 | $2,706.90 | $141,138 |
| Casual (loading included) | $89.04 | — | — |
How this rate compares
This is the highest adult rate in the Nurses Award: rank 1 of 41 distinct hourly rates.
The next rate down is Registered nurse — level 5 — grade 5 at $65.11 an hour, $6.12 (8.6%) lower.
It is $44.79 an hour (169.4%) above the national minimum wage of $26.44. That is more than a quarter above the legal floor for adult employees.
What changed on 1 July 2026
The hourly rate rose $3.22 (4.7%) from $68.01 on 30 June 2026 to $71.23, and the full-time weekly rate rose $122.70.
Penalty rates
| When | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hoursMinimum hourly rate | $71.23100% | $89.04125% |
| Saturday | $106.85150% | $133.56187.5% |
| Sunday | $124.65175% | $155.82218.75% |
| Public holiday | $142.46200% | $178.08250% |
Resulting hourly rates as published in the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database. Casual figures include the casual loading. Percentages are of the minimum hourly rate.
A week with weekend shifts
| Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 4 weekday hours | $89.04 | $356.16 |
| 8 Saturday hours | $133.56 | $1,068.48 |
| 8 Sunday hours | $155.82 | $1,246.56 |
| Total | $2,671.20 |
That week pays $2,671.20, which is $890.40 (50%) more than the same 20 hours worked on weekdays at the casual rate ($1,780.80). A full-time week of 38 ordinary hours pays $2,706.90.
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. FWC pay database, MA000034, checked (how). General information only: your award or enterprise agreement prevails if it differs.