Registered Nurse Jobs

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, Registered Nurses rank among the top five most in-demand occupations in the country — with over 3,000 active vacancies on SEEK at any given time and salaries ranging from AU$70,000 to AU$110,000 annually. The shortage is structural, not cyclical — an ageing population, rural staffing gaps, and high burnout rates mean that qualified RNs are being actively recruited across every state and territory, with sign-on bonuses and relocation packages now standard at many facilities.

Whether you are a new graduate, an experienced RN considering a specialty change, or an internationally trained nurse looking to register in Australia, this guide covers realistic salary expectations by setting, what AHPRA registration involves, which sectors are hiring most urgently, and where to find verified job listings today.

Salaries by Setting & Specialisation

What you earn as an RN depends heavily on where you work, which state you’re in, and whether you’re in a public or private facility — the spread is significant.

Public hospital system: award rates and career progression

In the public hospital system, RN salaries are governed by state-based enterprise agreements, which provide transparent pay scales and predictable progression. New South Wales, a Grade 1 RN starts at approximately AU$72,000 and reaches AU$86,000 at the top of the scale. Victoria, base rates are comparable, though enterprise bargaining outcomes vary between health services. Penalty rates for evening, night, and weekend shifts add a further 15–30% on top of base pay, meaning that many full-time RNs in public hospitals effectively earn AU$85,000–AU$100,000 when penalty loading is factored in. In addition, public sector employees benefit from defined superannuation arrangements and robust unfair dismissal protections.

Private hospitals and aged care: higher base, variable conditions

Private hospitals often advertise higher base salaries than their public counterparts — commonly AU$80,000–AU$100,000 for experienced RNs — but conditions vary considerably between providers. By contrast, aged care salaries have historically lagged behind acute care settings, though the 2024–2026 Fair Work Commission wage decisions mandated significant increases that brought registered nurses in residential aged care up to AU$68,000–AU$85,000 annually, with further adjustments scheduled. Furthermore, many aged care providers now offer salary packaging arrangements that reduce taxable income, effectively adding AU$5,000–AU$15,000 to the net value of the package.

Specialist and locum rates: where the highest earnings are

Specialist RNs — particularly those with ICU, emergency, theatre, or neonatal experience — consistently command premiums of AU$10,000–AU$25,000 above general ward rates. Locum and agency nursing offers the highest hourly rates of all: experienced ICU RNs working through agencies commonly earn AU$65–AU$85 per hour, equating to AU$120,000–AU$160,000 annualised for full-time hours. The trade-off, notably, is less job security and the absence of employer-funded superannuation top-ups and leave entitlements in some arrangements.

Find current RN roles here:

• Indeed Australia – Registered Nurse Jobs — Over 3,000 active listings with salary filters and shift-type options
• Nursing Australia Jobs — Specialist nursing job board with roles across hospitals, aged care and community health

Where RNs Are Being Hired Right Now

Not all sectors are equal when it comes to urgency — these are the settings with the most active hiring pressure in 2026.

Rural and remote: financial incentives that change the equation

Remote facilities are the most acutely understaffed settings in the country. In addition to base salaries that match or exceed metropolitan rates, many remote postings include rent-free or subsidised accommodation, vehicle allowance, fly-in fly-out arrangements, and retention bonuses of AU$5,000–AU$20,000 paid after 12 months of service. Moreover, the rural and remote experience is increasingly valued for career progression — it develops clinical autonomy and decision-making skills that urban facilities specifically look for when hiring for senior roles. The Australian Government’s rural health incentives provide additional financial support for nurses who commit to regional postings.

Aged care: mandated ratios driving sustained recruitment

The introduction of mandatory care minutes — requiring a minimum of 200 minutes of care per resident per day, including 40 minutes from a registered nurse — has created a sustained and legally-mandated demand for RNs across the residential aged care sector. Consequently, providers are actively recruiting at scale, with many offering signing bonuses, flexible rostering, and part-time arrangements that suit nurses returning to work or managing other commitments. The sector employs over 60,000 registered nurses nationally, and current modelling suggests a further 10,000 will be needed by 2027.

Community and primary health: growing and underrecognised

Community health nursing — including home nursing, wound care, chronic disease management, and mental health support in the community — is one of the fastest-growing segments of the workforce. These roles typically offer more regular hours than acute care settings, greater clinical autonomy, and the satisfaction of ongoing therapeutic relationships with patients. In practice, many experienced RNs move into community health after several years in hospital settings, valuing the change in pace without sacrificing professional complexity. Pay is generally competitive with hospital rates, and a growing number of community health organisations offer salary packaging.

AHPRA Registration: What You Need to Know

You cannot legally practise as an RN without current registration — here is what the process involves, whether you trained locally or overseas.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) manages all nursing registrations through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). For Australian-trained graduates, registration requires completion of an accredited nursing program, an NMBA-approved English language test (if applicable), and a national police check. Processing time is typically four to six weeks for straightforward applications.

For internationally trained nurses, the pathway is more involved. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) assesses whether overseas qualifications are substantially equivalent to Australian standards — a process that typically takes eight to sixteen weeks. Following a positive ANMAC assessment, applicants apply to AHPRA for provisional or general registration. Moreover, nurses from specified countries — including the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA — may be eligible for an expedited assessment pathway. English language proficiency, demonstrated by IELTS, OET, or equivalent, is mandatory for all internationally trained applicants unless exempt.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is also a registration requirement: all RNs must complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD per year to maintain registration. In addition, a practice attestation confirming recent clinical hours is required at renewal. Both are straightforward to meet for actively practising nurses and are tracked through AHPRA’s online portal.

RN Salaries by Setting: What to Expect in 2026