Veterinary nurse salary: what you take home after tax and Medicare

Understanding the veterinary nurse salary award

If you work as a veterinary nurse in Australia, your minimum pay is set by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020. The award covers practice managers, veterinary nurses, receptionists, animal attendants, and assistants. A full-time employee works an average of 38 ordinary hours per week. The rates shown below are effective from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, as published by .

Classification levels and hourly rates

The award has five classification levels for veterinary nurses and receptionists, plus a separate Level 5 for practice managers. The minimum weekly and hourly rates are:

• Introductory level: $978.10 per week ($25.74 per hour)
• Level 1: $1,004.90 per week ($26.44 per hour)
• Level 2: $1,073.10 per week ($28.24 per hour)
• Level 3: $1,119.10 per week ($29.45 per hour)
• Level 4: $1,221.10 per week ($32.13 per hour)
• Level 5 (Practice manager): $1,283.10 per week ($33.77 per hour)

These are the base rates for full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, so their hourly rates are higher. For example, a Level 1 veterinary nurse casual earns $33.05 per hour (including the loading). Penalty rates also apply for weekend, public holiday, and overtime work. You can find the full penalty rate tables in the pay guide.

From gross to net: what changes your fortnightly take-home

Your gross salary is what you earn before any deductions. But what lands in your bank account each fortnight is your net pay after income tax and the Medicare levy. The Australian tax system uses progressive brackets, meaning you pay more tax as you earn more. For the 2026–27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:

• Up to $18,200: nil
• $18,201 to $45,000: 15c for each dollar over $18,200
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each dollar over $45,000
• $135,001 to $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each dollar over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c for each dollar over $190,000

You may also be entitled to the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). The maximum LITO is $700 for taxable incomes up to $37,500, then it phases out by 5c per dollar until $45,000, then reduces further until it reaches zero at $66,667. The LITO can only reduce your tax to zero, not create a refund.

The Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is an additional 2% of your taxable income, but there are lower thresholds for singles. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your taxable income is below $28,011, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a shading rate of 10c per dollar over the lower threshold. Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. Most full-time veterinary nurses will be above $35,013, so you will pay the full Medicare levy.

Example: Level 1 veterinary nurse take-home pay

Let's take a full-time Level 1 veterinary nurse earning $1,004.90 per week. That's $52,254.80 per year (52 weeks). Using the 2026–27 tax rates:

• Tax on first $18,200: $0
• Tax on $18,201 to $45,000: ($45,000 - $18,200) × 0.15 = $4,020
• Tax on $45,001 to $52,254.80: ($52,254.80 - $45,000) × 0.30 = $2,176.44
• Total tax before offsets: $6,196.44
• LITO: Since taxable income is $52,254.80, the LITO is $325 minus 1.5c per dollar over $45,000. That's $325 - (($52,254.80 - $45,000) × 0.015) = $325 - $108.82 = $216.18. So tax after LITO: $6,196.44 - $216.18 = $5,980.26
• Medicare levy: 2% of $52,254.80 = $1,045.10 (full levy as income > $35,013)
• Total deductions: $5,980.26 + $1,045.10 = $7,025.36
• Net annual pay: $52,254.80 - $7,025.36 = $45,229.44
• Fortnightly take-home: $45,229.44 ÷ 26 = $1,739.59

This is an estimate only. Your actual take-home may differ if you have HELP/HECS debt, salary sacrifice arrangements, or other deductions. Use our Take-home pay guide for a more personalised calculation.

The role of superannuation

Superannuation is not deducted from your salary; it is paid by your employer on top. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a Level 1 veterinary nurse earning $52,254.80, your employer would contribute an additional $6,270.58 per year to your super fund. This money is preserved until retirement, so it does not affect your fortnightly take-home pay. However, it is an important part of your total remuneration. Learn more about Super on our site.

Comparing your veterinary nurse salary to benchmarks

It is helpful to see how your pay compares to national benchmarks. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week, which is exactly the Level 1 veterinary nurse rate. So a Level 1 veterinary nurse earns the minimum wage. Higher classifications earn above the minimum. The average full-time adult ordinary time earnings in Australia (May 2026) are $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. Most veterinary nurses will earn below this average, reflecting the award-based nature of the role. Check our Benchmarks page for more comparisons.

Factors that can change your take-home pay

Several factors can increase or decrease your net pay:

• Penalty rates: Working weekends, public holidays, or overtime can boost your gross pay significantly. The award specifies penalty rates ranging from 150% to 200% for certain shifts.
• Casual loading: Casual employees get a 25% loading on the base rate, which increases gross pay but may also push you into a higher tax bracket.
• Salary packaging: Some employers offer salary packaging for items like cars or laptops. This reduces your taxable income and can lower your tax and Medicare levy.
• HELP/HECS debt: If you have a student loan, repayments are deducted from your pay once your income exceeds the repayment threshold (around $51,550 for 2026–27). This reduces your take-home pay.
• Medicare levy surcharge: If you do not have appropriate private hospital cover and your income exceeds $93,000 (single), you may pay an extra 1% to 1.5% Medicare levy surcharge.

Our Tax and Medicare guide explains these in more detail.

Using our tools

To get a precise estimate of your take-home pay, use our Clearance tool. It calculates your net pay after tax, Medicare, and the LITO, based on your gross salary and circumstances. You can also explore Salary packaging options to see how they affect your net income.

Summary

Your veterinary nurse salary is determined by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020. The base rates range from $25.74 to $33.77 per hour depending on your classification. After income tax and the Medicare levy, your fortnightly take-home pay will be lower than your gross salary. Superannuation is paid on top and does not reduce your take-home. Use the tools on this site to calculate your exact net pay and plan your budget.