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 — before 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. 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 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 — 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.
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 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 — district / special vehicle add-onsCat 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 it doesn't reduce 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.