Skip to content
  • Subscribe to our scrubs Newsletter & Save 10% on Your First Order.

  • Free Shipping On Scrubs Orders $100+

  • Free Embroidery on Scrub Tops

10 Highest Paid Nurses in Australia

10 Highest Paid Nurses in Australia
Nurses are an integral part of the country’s health service. Nursing salaries in Australia range from around $70,000 for an entry-level position right up to $250,000 for a specialist full time practitioner.

 

Thanks to the current cost of living crisis, nurses from South Australia to Queensland are feeling the pinch. To help nurses across the country make the most of their skills, we’re taking a look at the highest paying nursing positions in Australia.

 

10 Highest Paid Nursing Jobs in Australia

Highest Paid Nurses  

1. Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist (CRNA) – $77k to $258k

Certified registered nurse anaesthetists earn an average of just over $104,000 per year. That works out to an hourly rate of $50 and a monthly salary of $8,668. 

  • What Does a Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist  
Certified registered nurse anaesthetists are highly skilled nurses who specialise in administering anaesthesia for surgical and medical procedures. CRNAs work alongside anaesthesiologists to assess a patient’s health and prepare them for anaesthesia.
  • What Are the Education Requirements for a Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist?

Nurses who want to become CRNAs will need to complete a number of nursing courses including a Master’s in Nursing. 

  • What Is the Employment Outlook for a Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist?

Current forecasts predict a 9% growth in CRNA jobs in the coming years, making this a great specialty to enter.

 

2. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - $101k to $121k

Clinical nurse specialists are highly trained and highly skilled. This is reflected in the job’s impressive average salary of just under $103,000. A clinical nurse specialist can expect to make $49.38 per hour and take home $8,559 per month.

  • What Does a Clinical Nurse Specialist Do?

Clinical nurse specialists are advanced practice registered nurses who have specialist knowledge in a particular area of patient care. CNSs are considered clinical experts in their field.

  • What Are the Education Requirements for a Clinical Nurse Specialist?

 CNSs are required to complete a Master’s in Nursing and gain relevant experience in their field.

  •  What Is the Employment Outlook for a Clinical Nurse Specialist?

 The employment outlook for clinical nurse specialists is excellent, with experts predicting a 9% increase in Australian CNSs jobs in the coming years.

 

3. Nurse Educator - $99.5k to $124k

The average annual salary of a nurse educator is $102,343. That works out to $49.20 per hour and $8,528.58 per month.

  • What Does a Nurse Educator Do?

A nurse educator is a registered nurse who trains other healthcare professionals. They’re among the highest paid nurses in Australia because they’re responsible for creating educational materials, organising courses, running training sessions and providing continuing educational opportunities for their colleagues.

  • What Are the Education Requirements for a Nurse Educator?

Like many of the highest paying nursing jobs, nurse educators are required to have a Master’s in Nursing. They also need to obtain a further qualification in education.

  • What Is the Employment Outlook for a Nurse Educator?

Nurse educators are in high demand, and it’s predicted the position will grow 9% in the coming years.

 

4. Mental Health Nurse - $80k to $120k

The average mental health nurse salary is almost $98,000 per annum. That breaks down to $8,157.58 per month and $47.06 per hour.

  • What Does a Mental Health Nurse Do?

A mental health nurse works with people who are experiencing mental health issues. Mental health nurses work in specialist healthcare facilities, general hospitals and other medical settings. These highly trained nurses work closely with psychiatrists, psychologists and other healthcare providers to give patients the personalised care they need.

  • What Are the Education Requirements for a Mental Health Nurse?

The most important step on the career path to becoming a mental health nurse is completing a Master’s of Mental Health Nursing.

  • What Is the Employment Outlook for a Mental Health Nurse?

Mental health is one of the fastest growing specialties in medicine, with an expected growth forecast of 15.6%.

 

5. Travel Nurse - $88.5k to $155.5k

With an average hourly rate of $46.45, weekly earnings of just over $8,000 and an average annual income of $96,616, travel nurses are among the most highly paid nurses in Australia.

  • What Does a Travel Nurse Do?

Travel nurses are registered nurses who take short term roles in various healthcare settings. Because they’re required to work in a variety of wards, hospitals, clinics and medical centres, travel nurses need to be versatile.

  • What Are the Education Requirements for a Travel Nurse? 

    Travel nurses need years of experience under their belts in order to build up relevant expertise. They also need a Bachelor of Nursing.

    • What Is the Employment Outlook for a Travel Nurse?

    The number of jobs in travel nursing in Australia is expected to increase 7% in the next few years.

     

    6. Public Health Nurse – $78k to $124k

    Public health nurses earn an average salary of $95,935 per year, $7,994 per week and $46 per hour. 

    • What Does a Public Health Nurse Do?

    Public health nurses focus on improving the health and wellbeing of people in the local community. They provide a range of services including educational resources, screenings and training sessions.

    • What Are the Education Requirements for a Public Health Nurse?

    Anyone who wants a nursing career in public health will need a Bachelor’s in Nursing

    • What Is the Employment Outlook for a Public Health Nurse?

    The job growth forecast for public health nursing is 5.4%.

     

    7. Paediatric Nurse – $78k to $119k

    On average, paediatric nurses earn $91,444 per year, $7,620 per month and $44 per hour.

    • What Does a Paediatric Nurse Do?

    Paediatric nurses provide specialist care to infants and children (very young babies are treated by neonatal nurses). Paediatric nurses work in specialist wards as well as in hospitals, emergency departments and medical clinics.

    •  What Are the Education Requirements for a Paediatric Nurse?

    Paediatric nurses are required to study nursing up to degree level

    • What Is the Employment Outlook for a Paediatric Nurse?

    Paediatric nursing is expected to grow 13.9% in the coming years.

     

    8. Cardiac Nurse - $79k to $110k

    The average annual salary of a cardiac nurse is just under $89,000. This equates to $7,406 per month and around $43 per hour.

    • What Does a Cardiac Nurse Do?

    Cardiac nurses specialise in treating patients with heart disease and other heart-related issues. Because they’re experts in their area, they earn more than the average registered nurse salary.

    • What Are the Education Requirements for a Cardiac Nurse?

    Cardiac nurses require a Graduate Diploma in Nursing Science (Cardiac Nursing).

    • What Is the Employment Outlook for a Cardiac Nurse?

    The job growth forecast for cardiac nurses is 9%.

     

    9. Nurse Midwife - $79k to $118k

    On average, nurse midwives earn around $84,611 per year, $7,050 per month and $40 per hour.

    • What Does a Nurse Midwife Do?

    Nurse midwives are an integral part of the midwifery team. They provide specialist obstetric, gynaecological and newborn care.

    • What Are the Education Requirements for a Nurse Midwife?

    Nurse midwives need to complete a Bachelor’s in Nursing.

    • What Is the Employment Outlook for a Nurse Midwife?

    The specialty has a good employment outlook with expected growth of 9%.

     

    10. Oncology Nurse - $79k to $119k

    Oncology nurses in Australia earn an average of $6,947 per month and $40 per hour. This adds up to an average annual income of $83,372.

    • What Does an Oncology Nurse Do?

    Oncology nurses work with patients who have cancer. They help with pain management, emotional support and treatment plans.

    • What Are the Education Requirements for an Oncology Nurse?

    A Bachelor’s in Nursing is required for oncology nurses.

    • What Is the Employment Outlook for an Oncology Nurse?

     The number of oncology nurses is forecast to grow 9%.

     

    Highest Paying Cities for Registered Nurses

     

    The amount a nurse practitioner, nurse manager or even director of nursing can earn varies considerably across the country. These are the cities where nursing staff can find the best salaries. 

    City

    Salary

    Canberra

    $91,133 per year

    Cairns 

    $89,823 per year

    Adelaide

    $87,151 per year

    Gold Coast

    $86,233 per year

    Perth

    $86,155 per year

    Melbourne

    $85,714 per year

    Sydney

    $82,534 per year

    Westmead

    $78,697 per year

     

     

    Highest Paying Industries for Registered Nurses

     

    Anaesthesiology  

    $105k to $250k

    Family practice

    $96k to $137k

    Informatics

    $77 to $136k

    Geriatrics

    $70k to $128k

    Critical care

    $75k to $121k

    Orthopaedic nurse

    Up to $120k

    Pain management

    Up to $120k

    Mental health

    Up to $120k

    Whether you work in aged care in Victoria or an ICU in NSW, you can find a fantastic range of affordable, high quality nursing scrubs in the ScrubsIQ collection. Get more registered nurses insights, and find the perfect scrubs for your role, by taking a look around today.

    Your cart is empty