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Western Australia Registered Nurse Pay 2025–26

WA registered nurses are paid on a Level 1 scale (Levels 1.1–1.8), then Level 2 and the senior registered nurse levels. WA also has some of the strongest remote-nursing allowances in the country.

In Western Australia public health, a registered nurse earns from $1,589.64 per week ($82,945 a year) to $2,217.04 ($115,682) across the scale — before shift penalties, allowances and overtime.

Enrolled Nurse Clinical Nurse (senior clinical grades)Nurse Management (NUM / Director of Nursing)

Estimate your take-home →

★ The qualification allowance most RNs leave on the table

A relevant postgraduate qualification pays a standing qualification allowance under the agreement — $3,732/yr for a Graduate Certificate (Level 1), $4,798 for a Graduate Diploma (Level 2) or $5,865 for a Masters or PhD (Level 3), from 12 October 2025. It is paid fortnightly on top of your base rate for as long as the qualification stays relevant to your role, yet many eligible RNs never lodge the claim. Only the highest single allowance is payable, so a Masters is worth claiming over a stacked set of lower quals.

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.

Full pathway: how to become a registered nurse in Australia →

Pay scale

Base rates, in force from 12 October 2025 — before penalties, allowances and overtime. Entry/each step shown (12 October 2025).

Step	Weekly	Hourly	Annualised
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 1.1	$1,589.64	$41.83	$82,945
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 1.2	$1,644.64	$43.28	$85,815
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 1.3	$1,701.85	$44.79	$88,800
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 1.4	$1,771.09	$46.61	$92,413
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 1.5	$1,842.73	$48.49	$96,151
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 1.6	$1,907.09	$50.19	$99,509
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 1.7	$1,974.01	$51.95	$103,001
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 1.8	$2,043.56	$53.78	$106,630
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 2.1	$2,100.46	$55.28	$109,599
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 2.2	$2,138.50	$56.28	$111,584
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 2.3	$2,177.39	$57.30	$113,613
Registered Nurse/Midwife Level 2.4	$2,217.04	$58.34	$115,682

Ways to earn more

Climb your Level 1 increments: 1.1 to 1.8 runs $1,589.64 to $2,043.56/wk — roughly $454/wk just for time served.
Earn a postgraduate qualification relevant to your practice: the WA qualification allowance pays 3.5%/4.5%/5.5% of base, i.e. $3,732 (Grad Cert), $4,798 (Grad Dip) or $5,865/yr (Masters/PhD) on top of your rate.
Progress to the Level 2 senior-RN band ($2,100.46–$2,217.04/wk), appointed to take on clinical, education or portfolio duties delegated by a senior nurse.
Work nights and weekends: a complete night shift adds 35% and a Saturday 50% on your ordinary rate; Sunday is 75%, and a day-roster nurse called in on a Sunday is paid double time.
Consider a remote-area post: remote area nurses receive 25% of base salary in lieu of overtime plus isolation leave — among the strongest remote loadings in the country.
Salary-package about $11,660/yr tax-free without touching your penalties or allowances.

Allowances you can claim

On top of base pay — the allowances most relevant to this role.

Qualification allowance3.5% / 4.5% / 5.5% of base; $3,732 / $4,798 / $5,865 a year (from 12 October 2025).

Paid to full-time and part-time RNs and Midwives who hold/acquire a qualification relevant to their current practice. Three levels: Level 1 = Graduate Certificate; Level 2 = Graduate Diploma; Level 3 = a Masters or PhD relevant to the area of practice.

Remote Area Nurse — overtime buy-out allowance25% of base salary, paid fortnightly.

Remote area nurses (employed as the 24-hour health-care provider in an isolated community at listed Group A/B sites) are paid an annual allowance equal to 25% of base salary, paid fortnightly in lieu of overtime, and pro-rated where the nurse is not employed in a remote area full-time.

Remote Area Nurse — isolation leave1 week per 12 weeks (Group A); 1 week per 24 weeks (Group B).

Isolation leave compensates remote area nurses for long continuous on-call periods and is taken as recreation leave (not for staff development). Group A sites: 1 week after every 12 weeks worked; Group B sites: 1 week after every 24 weeks.

Recall to work minimum paymentMinimum 3 hours at the appropriate overtime rate.

A recalled non-casual employee is paid a minimum of 3 hours at the appropriate overtime rate. Free transport home-to-hospital-and-return is provided, or the motor vehicle allowance is paid for the journey instead.

Uniform allowance$10.90 per week (12 Oct 2025)

Where the Employer does NOT provide a uniform free of charge, it reimburses a weekly uniform allowance provided the employee conforms to the employer's uniform standard.

Laundry allowance$3.49 per week (12 Oct 2025)

Where a uniform is required and is NOT laundered by the hospital, the employee is reimbursed a weekly laundry allowance. Claimable in addition to the uniform allowance.

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.

Where it leads next

Step up from here: Senior clinical roles — CNS, CNC, Nurse Educator, Nurse Practitioner · Nurse management — NUM, Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing — see exactly what each step takes →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a registered nurse earn in Western Australia?

In Western Australia public health, a registered nurse earns from $1,589.64 per week ($82,945 a year) to $2,217.04 ($115,682) across the scale — before shift penalties, allowances and overtime.

What is the starting registered nurse salary in Western Australia?

A first-step registered nurse in Western Australia starts at $1,589.64 per week — about $82,945 a year ($41.83 an hour) before penalties and allowances.

Do Western Australia nurses get paid more for nights and weekends?

Yes — on top of base pay, Western Australia 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 Western Australia nurse pay & conditions guide.

Pay figures are drawn from the WA Health System – ANF Industrial Agreement 2024. Confirm your exact classification, step and allowances against the current instrument and your payslip.