What is the minimum wage for a vet nurse in Australia?

The minimum wage depends on the classification under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020. For a Level 1 veterinary nurse (full-time), the minimum hourly rate is $26.44, which matches the national minimum wage. Introductory level employees receive $25.74 per hour for the first 6 months. Casual employees get a 25% loading on top of the base rate.

Do vet nurses get casual loading?

Yes. Under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award, casual veterinary nurses are paid a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For a Level 1 vet nurse, the casual rate is $33.05 per hour. This loading compensates for the lack of paid leave and other entitlements.

Are there junior rates for vet nurses?

Yes. The award sets junior rates as a percentage of the adult rate based on age. For example, a vet nurse under 17 years receives 50% of the adult rate, a 17-year-old receives 60%, an 18-year-old 70%, a 19-year-old 80%, and a 20-year-old 90%. These percentages apply to both full-time and part-time employees.

Vet nurse salary: award rates and minimum pay in Australia

The minimum hourly rate for a Level 1 veterinary nurse under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award is $26.44 per hour, with casual employees receiving $33.05 per hour including the 25% loading.

Understanding the vet nurse salary in Australia

When researching a vet nurse salary, the first step is to identify the correct pay floor. Most veterinary nurses in Australia are covered by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020, which sets minimum wages, penalty rates, and conditions. This guide explains how the award rates compare with the national minimum wage, what casual loading means, and how junior rates apply.

Legal minimum versus award rates

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, which from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee. However, a modern award can require a higher rate. For veterinary nurses, the award provides a classification structure with five levels (Introductory through Level 4) plus a Practice Manager level. The minimum rates in the award are:

Introductory level: $25.74 per hour (first 6 months only)
Level 1: $26.44 per hour (same as the national minimum)
Level 2: $28.24 per hour
Level 3: $29.45 per hour
Level 4: $32.13 per hour
Practice Manager (Level 5): $33.77 per hour

These rates are from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s summary of the award . The award also includes annual salaries for some classifications, such as $67,582 for Level 1A veterinary nurses.

Casual loading and penalty rates

Casual veterinary nurses receive a 25% loading on the base hourly rate. For a Level 1 vet nurse, the casual rate is $33.05 per hour. This loading is in lieu of paid leave entitlements. The award also specifies penalty rates for work on weekends and public holidays. For example, a Level 1 vet nurse working on a Sunday receives $52.88 per hour (double the base rate). Overtime rates apply after 38 ordinary hours per week.

Junior rates

Junior employees (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate based on their age. The award percentages are:

Under 17 years: 50%
17 years: 60%
18 years: 70%
19 years: 80%
20 years: 90%

For a 17-year-old Level 1 vet nurse, the minimum hourly rate is $15.86 (60% of $26.44). Casual juniors also receive the 25% loading on top of their junior rate.

Superannuation is on top

All minimum rates and award rates quoted are before tax. Employers must also pay superannuation contributions of 12% of ordinary time earnings into a complying super fund. This is an additional cost on top of the wage.

How actual salaries compare

The award rates are the legal minimum. Many veterinary nurses earn above the award, especially those with experience or in senior roles. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports average weekly earnings for full-time adults at $2,083.70 (May 2026), but this includes all occupations. There is no publicly available median salary specifically for vet nurses from the ABS. Enterprise agreements or individual contracts can set higher rates than the award. For more on how pay floors work, see Which minimum wage applies and Rate tables.

Key points to remember

The award minimum for a Level 1 vet nurse is $26.44 per hour, equal to the national minimum wage.
Introductory rates ($25.74) are only allowed for the first 6 months.
Casual loading adds 25% to the base rate.
Junior rates apply to employees under 21.
Super is paid on top of all wages.

For a detailed breakdown of award classifications and allowances, refer to the Guides section. If you need to calculate take-home pay after tax, see How the figures work.