Nurse Practitioner Salary Australia: Award Rates vs National Minimum Wage

Nurse Practitioner Salary Australia: Award Coverage and Minimum Rates

When researching a nurse practitioner salary Australia, the first thing to understand is which pay floor applies. Most nurse practitioners are covered by the Nurses Award 2020, a modern award made by the Fair Work Commission. This award sets legally enforceable minimum wages, penalty rates, and conditions. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide summarising the current rates.

Award Minimum Rates for Nurse Practitioners

Under the Nurses Award 2020, a nurse practitioner is classified separately from registered nurses. The minimum weekly and hourly rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2026 are:

• 1st year: $1,877.00 per week / $49.39 per hour
• 2nd year: $1,932.70 per week / $50.86 per hour

These rates apply to full-time employees working 38 ordinary hours per week. Part-time employees are paid pro-rata. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the hourly rate, and penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays are also apply.

How the Award Compares to the National Minimum Wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.94 per week for adults. The award rate for a 1st-year nurse practitioner is nearly double that. However, if a nurse practitioner is not covered by any award or enterprise agreement (very unlikely), the national minimum would apply. The award backstop ensures that no classification falls below the national minimum.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

When discussing a nurse practitioner salary Australia, remember that superannuation is an employer contribution on top of the base pay. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a 1st-year nurse practitioner earning $49.39 per hour, the employer must pay an extra $5.93 per hour into a super fund. This is not deducted from the employee’s pay.

Award-Free or Agreement-Free? Rare for Nurse Practitioners

Nurse practitioners are highly skilled and almost always covered by the Nurses Award or an enterprise agreement. Enterprise agreements can set higher rates than the award. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) provides median weekly earnings for full-time non-managerial employees, but specific median figures for nurse practitioners are not published at the 6-digit ANZSCO level. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile notes that the median age is 48 and 83% are female, but does not give a median salary figure. Therefore, we cannot report a survey average or median for nurse practitioners.

Negotiated Salaries vs Award Minimums

Many nurse practitioners earn above the award minimum, especially those with experience, in senior roles, or working in private hospitals or through agencies. The award minimum is the floor, not the ceiling. Employers and employees can negotiate higher pay, but must not go below the award.

Which Minimum Wage Applies?

To determine the correct pay floor, check if you are covered by the Nurses Award 2020. If you are, the award rates apply. If you are award-free (unlikely), the national minimum wage applies. For more details, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also explore Rate tables for other classifications.

Summary

The legal minimum nurse practitioner salary Australia under the Nurses Award 2020 is $49.39 per hour for a 1st-year practitioner, plus 12% superannuation. Actual earnings can be higher depending on experience, location, and enterprise agreements. Always check the award or your agreement for the exact rate.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.