South Australian registered nurses are paid on a single Level 1 scale of nine increments, then step up to the clinical (Level 2+) and management grades. SA pays notable rural and remote incentives on top.
In South Australia public health, a registered nurse earns from $1,491.50 per week ($77,824 a year) to $2,035.07 ($106,187) across the scale — before shift penalties, allowances and overtime.
Stepping into the senior clinical grades (Clinical Nurse/Midwife Level 2 from $1,742.34/wk — above the top of the base RN scale) is the largest pay jump beyond your annual increments, and it needs only 3 years' post-registration experience plus demonstrated coordination, quality, leadership and clinical-teaching capability — not necessarily a postgraduate qualification. On top of that, SA's qualification allowance pays $3,573.70–$5,615.70/yr for relevant postgraduate study. Far more accessible than people assume — and most who are eligible never apply.
Becoming a registered nurse
A Registered Nurse (RN, Division 1) practises to the full scope of nursing — assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating care, autonomously and in teams. RNs delegate to and supervise Enrolled Nurses and AINs, and stay accountable for the decision to delegate.
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)).
Climb your nine annual increments: Level 1 runs $1,491.50 to $2,035.07/wk — about $543/wk between bottom and top before penalties.
Step up to Clinical Nurse/Midwife (Level 2) from $1,742.34/wk — the biggest jump beyond your increments — which needs at least 3 years' post-registration experience.
Hold a relevant postgraduate qualification: the qualification allowance pays $3,573.70/yr (grad cert), $4,594.60/yr (grad diploma) or $5,615.70/yr (second degree, Masters or PhD) — only the highest applicable is paid.
Work nights and weekends: ordinary night-shift hours attract a 20.5% loading, Saturdays 50%, Sundays 75% and public holidays 250%.
Take a rural/remote (Zone 2–4) post for the Service Incentive Payment — up to $6,696.80/yr — plus a one-off relocation payment of $502–$837.
Salary-package about $11,660/yr tax-free — it doesn't reduce any penalty or allowance.
Allowances you can claim
On top of base pay — the allowances most relevant to this role.
Qualification allowance — Registered Nurses/Midwives$3,573.70 / $4,594.60 / $5,615.70 per yr (from Jan 2025).
Annual allowance for a relevant additional qualification held beyond your base registration: 3.5% (hospital certificate or graduate certificate) = $3,573.70; 4.5% (graduate diploma) = $4,594.60; 5.5% (second degree, Masters or PhD) = $5,615.70 (from Jan 2025). Only the highest applicable allowance is paid.
Professional Development Allowance$2,547.70/yr (from 1 July 2025)
Paid into salary fortnightly (including during paid leave) to fund CPD for AHPRA registration. Increased each July 2023–2025 by $400 plus salary increases: it reached $2,547.70/yr from 1 July 2025.
Responsibility AllowanceUp to $8,586/yr ($4.33/hr) (from Jan 2025)
Annual/hourly allowance for nominated coordination/responsibility roles. From Jan 2025: DON-M classifications 6.1–6.3 = $4,294/yr ($2.17/hr); DON-M 6.4–6.5 = $7,162/yr ($3.61/hr); and up to $8,586/yr ($4.33/hr) for the highest band.
Rural & Remote Service Incentive PaymentUp to $6,696.80/yr (Zone 4, Yr 5, from Jan 2025).
Annual incentive paid fortnightly to nursing/midwifery staff at sites in Zones 2, 3 or 4, escalating by year of service (Years 1–5; nothing after the 5th year in a specific Zone).
Rural & Remote — one-off incidental (relocation) paymentZone 2 $502 / Zone 3 $668 / Zone 4 $837 (from Jan 2025).
A one-off incidental payment paid when you take up an appointment at a Zone 2, 3 or 4 site, on top of the annual Zone incentive. From first full pay period on/after 1 January 2025. Paid only once, at the time of taking up the appointment, and applies separately to each Zone.
On-call allowance$38.70 weekday / $67.60 weekend-PH-RDO (from Jan 2025).
Paid per on-call period (between rostered shifts, max 24h). Mon–Fri $38.70; Weekends/Public Holidays/RDOs $67.60 from Jan 2025. If a period spans two days at different rates, a single payment of the higher rate is made.
Salary packaging~$11,660/yr tax-free
As a public-hospital employee you can package about $9,010 of everyday expenses plus ~$2,650 of meal entertainment FBT-free, plus a novated car lease — and it doesn't reduce any penalty or allowance.
How much does a registered nurse earn in South Australia?
In South Australia public health, a registered nurse earns from $1,491.50 per week ($77,824 a year) to $2,035.07 ($106,187) across the scale — before shift penalties, allowances and overtime.
What is the starting registered nurse salary in South Australia?
A first-step registered nurse in South Australia starts at $1,491.50 per week — about $77,824 a year ($39.25 an hour) before penalties and allowances.
Do South Australia nurses get paid more for nights and weekends?
Yes — on top of base pay, South Australia public-health nurses receive shift loadings for afternoon, night and weekend work, plus overtime and a range of allowances.