Pediatric Nurse Salary: Award Rates, Take-Home Pay, and What You Actually Receive

Pediatric Nurse Salary: What You Need to Know

If you are looking at a pediatric nurse salary in Australia, you will quickly notice that job ads often quote a gross figure, a package including super, or a rate per hour. The amount that actually reaches your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy can be quite different. This guide explains the award minimums, how to estimate your take-home pay, and common mix-ups between gross salary, package, and net pay.

Award Minimum Rates for Paediatric Nurses

The Fair Work Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) sets minimum weekly and hourly rates for registered nurses. These rates apply from 1 August 2026. For a paediatric nurse classified as a Registered Nurse Level 1, the minimum weekly pay ranges from $1,219.50 (pay point 1) to $1,465.50 (pay point 8 and thereafter). The corresponding hourly rates are $32.09 to $38.57. Higher classifications pay more: a Level 3 nurse at pay point 4 earns at least $1,720.10 per week ($45.27 per hour).

These are minimums. Many paediatric nurses earn above award, especially in public hospitals or with specialist qualifications. Jobs and Skills Australia does not publish a specific median weekly earnings figure for paediatric nurses, but the award provides a reliable floor. The same source shows that 96% of paediatric nurses are female, the median age is 35, and only 45% work full-time hours (average 40 hours per week).

From Gross Salary to Take-Home Pay

Your gross salary is the amount before tax and Medicare. For example, a full-time paediatric nurse at RN Level 1 pay point 1 earns $1,219.50 per week, or about $63,414 annually (38 hours × 52 weeks). To find your take-home pay, you need to subtract:

• Income tax using the 2026–27 resident rates: nil on the first $18,200, then 15c per $1 up to $45,000, then $4,020 plus 30c per $1 up to $135,000, and so on.
• Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income. If you earn less than $28,011 (single), you pay no Medicare. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate (10c per $1 over the lower threshold). Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%.
• Tax offsets like the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) may reduce your tax. For 2026–27, LITO is up to $700 for incomes below $37,500, then phases out.

Using the $63,414 example, the estimated annual tax is about $9,000–$10,000 (depending on LITO), and Medicare is about $1,268. That leaves a take-home of roughly $52,000–$53,000 per year, or about $2,000 per fortnight. For a precise calculation, use our Take-home pay tool.

Superannuation and Salary Packaging

Super is not deducted from your bank account. If your contract says “$80,000 plus super”, the employer pays 12% (from 1 July 2026) on top of that, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Your take-home is based on the $80,000 gross, not the total package.

Salary packaging (e.g., for a car or living expenses) can reduce your taxable income, increasing your take-home pay. However, it also reduces your super guarantee base in some cases. See our Salary packaging guide for details.

Common Mix-Ups

• Gross vs net: A job ad quoting $75,000 does not mean you take home $75,000. After tax and Medicare, you might receive around $58,000–$60,000.
• Package vs salary: A $90,000 package might include super (e.g., $80,000 salary + $10,000 super). Your take-home is based on the $80,000 salary.
• Hourly vs annual: An hourly rate of $35.51 (RN Level 1 pay point 5) for 38 hours gives $70,000 annual. But if you work fewer hours, your annual pay is lower.

For more on how tax and Medicare affect your pay, see our Tax and Medicare page. You can also compare your salary to benchmarks like the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week) or the full-time adult ordinary time earnings ($2,083.70 per week) on our Benchmarks page.

Final Thoughts

Understanding your pediatric nurse salary means looking beyond the headline figure. Use the award rates as a starting point, then estimate your take-home using the tax and Medicare rules for 2026–27. Remember that super is extra, and salary packaging can change the numbers. Always check your pay slip and consult a tax professional if you are unsure.