New South Wales Enrolled Nurse Pay 2025–26
Enrolled nurses in NSW have their own scale — and their own pay levers that many never claim: the medication-administration qualification, the EN Continuing Education Allowance, and the Special Grade.
In New South Wales public health, an enrolled nurse earns from $1,365.70 per week ($71,260 a year) to $1,563.00 ($81,555) across the scale — before shift penalties, allowances and overtime.
Becoming an enrolled nurse
An Enrolled Nurse (EN) is a registered nursing professional who provides care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, who keeps overall accountability for delegated care. The EN is still responsible for their own actions within their scope of practice.
Full pathway: how to become an enrolled nurse in Australia →
Pay scale
Base rates, in force from 1 July 2025 — before penalties, allowances and overtime.
| Step | Weekly | Hourly | Annualised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Without medication qual — 1st year | $1,365.70 | $35.94 | $71,260 |
| Without medication qual — 2nd year | $1,395.70 | $36.73 | $72,826 |
| Without medication qual — 3rd year | $1,425.40 | $37.51 | $74,375 |
| Without medication qual — 4th year | $1,455.80 | $38.31 | $75,962 |
| Without medication qual — 5th year & thereafter | $1,486.60 | $39.12 | $77,569 |
| Without medication qual — Special Grade | $1,532.80 | $40.34 | $79,979 |
| With medication qual — 1st year | $1,395.70 | $36.73 | $72,826 |
| With medication qual — 2nd year | $1,425.40 | $37.51 | $74,375 |
| With medication qual — 3rd year | $1,455.80 | $38.31 | $75,962 |
| With medication qual — 4th year | $1,486.60 | $39.12 | $77,569 |
| With medication qual — 5th year & thereafter | $1,516.60 | $39.91 | $79,134 |
| With medication qual — Special Grade | $1,563.00 | $41.13 | $81,555 |
Ways to earn more
- Get your medicines-administration qualification — it moves you off the lower ‘without medication’ scale (1st year $1,365.70/wk) onto the full EN scale (1st year $1,395.70/wk) and every step above.
- Claim the EN Continuing Education Allowance: $37.20/wk for a relevant Certificate IV, or $46.70/wk for an Advanced Diploma of Nursing — on top of base, paid on leave. A permanent top-up many ENs miss.
- Reach EN Special Grade ($1,563.00/wk) with an Advanced Certificate plus six years' experience (including three in the relevant clinical area).
- All the shift penalties, allowances and salary packaging apply to you too.
The current Diploma includes medicines education (unit HLTENN040). Since July 2010 there's no 'endorsed enrolled nurse' title — by default ENs may administer medicines, and a notation appears on the register only against those who can't.
Allowances you can claim
On top of base pay — the allowances most relevant to this role.
Where it leads next
Study to register as a registered nurse — the RN scale starts at $1,521.10/wk and runs to $2,135.50/wk.
Step up from here: Registered Nurse — see exactly what each step takes →
Frequently asked questions
How much does an enrolled nurse earn in New South Wales?
What is the starting enrolled nurse salary in New South Wales?
Do New South Wales nurses get paid more for nights and weekends?
Annual, parental, long-service and study leave, plus overtime, on-call and the full allowance list, are set out in the New South Wales nurse pay & conditions guide.
Pay figures are drawn from the Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' (State) Award 2025 (Serial C10152). Confirm your exact classification, step and allowances against the current instrument and your payslip.