Northern Territory Nurse Management (NUM / Director of Nursing) Pay 2025–26
The NT's management grades (N6 and above) cover senior nurses up to directors of nursing, with strong remote and retention money available on top.
In Northern Territory public health, a nurse manager earns from $2,870.24 per week ($149,765 a year) to $3,625.93 ($189,196) across the scale — before shift penalties, allowances and overtime.
Becoming a nurse manager
The nursing leadership and operations track. A Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) runs a single ward or unit — staffing, roster, budget, clinical governance — while staying a registered nurse; a Nurse Manager / Director of Nursing (DON) leads nursing across a facility or service, up to Executive Director of Nursing.
Full pathway: how to become a nurse manager in Australia →
Pay scale
Base rates, in force from 19 August 2025 — before penalties, allowances and overtime. Entry/each step shown (19 August 2025).
| Grade | Weekly | Hourly | Annualised |
|---|---|---|---|
| N6 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 1 | $2,870.24 | $75.53 | $149,765 |
| N6 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 2 | $2,985.08 | $78.55 | $155,757 |
| N6 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 3 | $3,015.20 | $79.35 | $157,329 |
| N7 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 1 | $3,224.43 | $84.85 | $168,246 |
| N7 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 2 | $3,340.05 | $87.90 | $174,279 |
| N7 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 3 | $3,373.78 | $88.78 | $176,039 |
| N8 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 1 | $3,473.32 | $91.40 | $181,233 |
| N8 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 2 | $3,589.71 | $94.47 | $187,306 |
| N8 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife) increment 3 | $3,625.93 | $95.42 | $189,196 |
Ways to earn more
- Management grades run $2,870.24/wk (N6.1) to $3,625.93/wk (N8.3); your grade tracks the size and complexity of the unit, facility or health service you lead.
- N6 is Nurse/Midwife Consultant or Nurse Practitioner, N7 Director of Nursing/Midwifery, and N8 Senior/Executive Director — each step to a larger remit is a direct pay band move.
- Acting up pays the gap: the Higher Duties Allowance covers the full difference up to the higher classification's salary while you relieve in it.
- Penalties and the remote loadings still apply — a remote posting adds the Attraction & Retention Incentive (up to $9,000 over 24 months) and a 100% rental concession on top of these rates.
- Salary-package about $11,660/yr tax-free without reducing any penalty or allowance.
Pay grade in most public awards is driven by the size/complexity of the unit or facility you manage (a role-evaluation/'span of control' assessment), not by years of service — so moving to a larger hospital is often the real mechanism for a pay step up.
Allowances you can claim
On top of base pay — the allowances most relevant to this role.
Where it leads next
Step up from here: Nurse Manager → Director of Nursing — see exactly what each step takes →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse manager earn in Northern Territory?
What is the starting nurse manager salary in Northern Territory?
Do Northern Territory 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 Northern Territory nurse pay & conditions guide.
Pay figures are drawn from the Northern Territory Public Sector Nurses and Midwives' 2022-2026 Enterprise Agreement. Confirm your exact classification, step and allowances against the current instrument and your payslip.