South Australia Nurse Management (NUM / Director of Nursing) Pay 2025–26
South Australia's management track runs from associate unit managers up to directors of nursing, with pay set by the size and complexity of the service.
In South Australia public health, a nurse manager earns from $2,059.99 per week ($107,487 a year) to $3,373.22 ($176,010) 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 1 January 2026 (incl. 4% interim increase) — before penalties, allowances and overtime. Entry/each step shown (1 January 2026 (incl. 4% interim increase)).
| Grade | Weekly | Hourly | Annualised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager (Level 2) — 1st increment | $2,059.99 | $54.21 | $107,487 |
| Associate Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager (Level 2) — 2nd increment | $2,107.46 | $55.46 | $109,964 |
| Associate Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager (Level 2) — 3rd increment | $2,154.90 | $56.71 | $112,440 |
| Associate Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager (Level 2) — 4th increment | $2,202.38 | $57.96 | $114,917 |
| Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager; Nurse/Midwife Consultant; Nurse/Midwife Educator; Nurse/Midwife Manager (Level 3) — 1st increment | $2,495.09 | $65.66 | $130,190 |
| Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager / Consultant / Educator / Manager (Level 3) — 2nd increment | $2,550.84 | $67.13 | $133,099 |
| Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager / Consultant / Educator / Manager (Level 3) — 3rd increment | $2,606.63 | $68.60 | $136,010 |
| Advanced Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager / Consultant / Educator / Manager (Level 4) — 1st increment | $2,634.49 | $69.33 | $137,464 |
| Advanced Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager / Consultant / Educator / Manager (Level 4) — 2nd increment | $2,704.19 | $71.16 | $141,101 |
| Advanced Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager / Consultant / Educator / Manager (Level 4) — 3rd increment | $2,745.99 | $72.26 | $143,282 |
| Nursing/Midwifery Director (Level 5) — 5.1 | $2,871.42 | $75.56 | $149,827 |
| Nursing/Midwifery Director (Level 5) — 5.2 | $3,205.95 | $84.37 | $167,282 |
| Nursing/Midwifery Director (Level 5) — 5.3 | $3,373.22 | $88.77 | $176,010 |
| Director of Nursing/Midwifery (Level 6) — 6.2 | $3,038.68 | $79.97 | $158,554 |
Ways to earn more
- Management grades run from $2,059.99/wk (Associate Nurse/Midwife Unit Manager Level 2) to $3,373.22/wk (Nursing/Midwifery Director Level 5.3) — your grade rises with the size and complexity of the unit or facility.
- Moving from Associate N/MUM to a Level 3 Unit Manager/Consultant/Educator/Manager role lifts the base from about $2,060 to $2,495.09/wk — the clearest single step.
- Nominated coordination roles attract the Responsibility Allowance — up to $8,586/yr ($4.33/hr) — on top of base.
- Hold a relevant postgraduate qualification for the qualification allowance of $3,573.70–$5,615.70/yr, plus the $2,547.70/yr Professional Development Allowance.
- Take a rural/remote (Zone 2–4) posting for the Service Incentive Payment of up to $6,696.80/yr, plus a one-off relocation payment of $502–$837.
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 South Australia?
What is the starting nurse manager salary in South Australia?
Do South Australia 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 South Australia nurse pay & conditions guide.
Pay figures are drawn from the Nursing/Midwifery (SA Public Sector) Enterprise Agreement 2022. Confirm your exact classification, step and allowances against the current instrument and your payslip.