Tasmania uses one numbered grade ladder for the whole profession. Assistant in nursing is Grade 1, enrolled nurse Grade 2, and a registered nurse is Grade 3, with the senior clinical and management grades above.
In Tasmania public health, a registered nurse earns from $1,543.24 per week ($80,524 a year) to $1,960.48 ($102,295) across the scale — before shift penalties, allowances and overtime.
The senior clinical grades start at $1,963.24/wk (Grade 4, Clinical Coach, Year 1), above the top of the base RN scale. Stepping into them is the largest pay jump beyond your annual increments, and Tasmania pays an ongoing postgraduate qualification allowance (from 4.0% for a Graduate Certificate up to 10.0% for a doctorate) calculated on your incremental point for as long as you work in the relevant area. 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 December 2025 — before penalties, allowances and overtime. Entry/each step shown (1 December 2025).
Step
Weekly
Hourly
Annualised
Grade 3, Year 1
$1,543.24
$40.61
$80,524
Grade 3, Year 2
$1,597.32
$42.03
$83,346
Grade 3, Year 3
$1,661.89
$43.73
$86,715
Grade 3, Year 4
$1,726.40
$45.43
$90,081
Grade 3, Year 5
$1,791.02
$47.13
$93,453
Grade 3, Year 6
$1,855.55
$48.83
$96,820
Grade 3, Year 7
$1,920.25
$50.53
$100,196
Grade 3, Year 8
$1,941.75
$51.10
$101,318
Grade 3, Year 9
$1,960.48
$51.59
$102,295
Ways to earn more
Climb your nine Grade 3 increments from $1,543.24 to $1,960.48/wk before penalties. That's roughly a $417/wk lift across the scale for time served alone.
Get a relevant postgraduate qualification and work in that area: the ongoing allowance adds 4.0% (Graduate Certificate) up to 10.0% (a doctorate) on your incremental point, and it is the most-overlooked money lever.
Step up to the senior clinical grades, which start at $1,963.24/wk (Grade 4, Clinical Coach, Year 1), above the top of the base RN scale and the biggest jump beyond your increments.
Work nights for a 27.5% penalty on base (55% on a permanent non-rotating night roster) and afternoons for 15%.
At a defined Remote Site, claim $3,797/yr plus a 10% salary allowance, and salary-package about $11,660/yr tax-free.
Allowances you can claim
On top of base pay — the allowances most relevant to this role.
Postgraduate qualification allowance (RN/Midwife)Graduate Cert 4.0% / PG Dip or Degree 6.5% / Masters 7.5% / PhD or Doctorate 10.0%
Probably the single most-overlooked money lever. If you hold a relevant postgraduate qualification AND work in an area relevant to it, you get an ongoing % allowance calculated on your salaried incremental point, paid for as long as you keep working in that relevant area.
Remote & Rural Professional Development Allowance, REMOTE sites$3,797/yr PLUS +10% of salaried incremental point
BIG one for remote nurses. If you work at a defined Remote Site you get a Professional Development Allowance of $3,797/yr AND an additional 10% salary allowance on your salaried incremental point, payable for the time you work there.
District (isolation) allowance, Category R remote$4,942.00/yr (with dependants) / $2,470.00/yr (no dependants)
If you are permanently stationed in a Category R remote location, including the Bass Strait Islands, Maria Island and Bruny Island, you can be paid a district allowance to help offset the higher cost of living in an isolated area.
Kilometreage add-ons (district / special vehicle)Cat R: $30.49/mo + $12.21 per 1600 km; Cat B: $20.18/mo + $12.21 per 1600 km
On top of the per-km rate, extra allowances if you're stationed in a district allowance area (Category R or B) or use a special vehicle. Includes utility/4WD/special-type vehicles, which attract an extra $12.21 per month.
District (isolation) allowance, Category B$2,470.00/yr (with dependants) / $1,235.00/yr (no dependants)
Category B covers locations under the Commonwealth Taxation Zone B description (an 'isolated area', which the award says includes King Island, Flinders Island, Cape Barren Island, Maria Island and Bruny Island).
Uniform allowance$500/yr
If you provide direct care but are required NOT to wear a uniform (the award names mental health and child & family health nurses as examples), you get a flat uniform allowance of $500/yr, paid from the first full pay period on or after 1 February each year (pro rata if you work part-time).
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 none of it reduces any penalty or allowance.
How much does a registered nurse earn in Tasmania?
In Tasmania public health, a registered nurse earns from $1,543.24 per week ($80,524 a year) to $1,960.48 ($102,295) across the scale — before shift penalties, allowances and overtime.
What is the starting registered nurse salary in Tasmania?
A first-step registered nurse in Tasmania starts at $1,543.24 per week — about $80,524 a year ($40.61 an hour) before penalties and allowances.
Do Tasmania nurses get paid more for nights and weekends?
Yes — on top of base pay, Tasmania public-health nurses receive shift loadings for afternoon, night and weekend work, plus overtime and a range of allowances.
Annual, parental, long-service and study leave, plus overtime, on-call and the full allowance list, are set out in the Tasmania nurse pay & conditions guide.