Registered Nurse Salary in Melbourne (2026)

Last updated

Registered Nurses in Melbourne earn a median salary of $96,418 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $80,000 and $125,000. That sits 5% above Melbourne's all-roles median of $91,520. Figures are based on 145 jobs advertised on Seek.com.au in Melbourne in the last 30 days.

▲ High demand Top 2% of roles by listing volume in Melbourne ↑ +51 listings vs last month
💰 Registered Nurse · Melbourne
ADVERTISED RANGE
$80,000 – $125,000
Median: $96,418
Apr $100k
May $96k
↓ Trending down

Based on 2-month data — short-term movement only.

Mid level $80,000 – $125,000
Overall $80k–$125k Mid $80k–$125k $77k $87k $98k $108k $118k $128k
High confidence 145 listings (+51 vs last month) · 01/06/2026

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from advertised employer bands on Seek.com.au. Figures represent what employers publicly advertise and may differ from actual compensation.

Where does your salary sit?
Enter your salary to see where you rank.
Bottom 10%  $80,000 Median  $96,418 $125,000  Top 10%

Understanding the Melbourne Market

Registered Nurses in Melbourne earned $96,418 at the median in May, down $3,582 from April, with 145 listings (up 51). Melbourne has the largest single-month listing increase for any RN city in this dataset, and the 51-listing surge likely explains the median decline: a large influx of new, typically lower-paid positions entering the market. At 5.4% above Melbourne's all-roles median, RN earns a modest premium in the city. The 47% spread ($80,000-$125,000) reflects the full nursing career range from early-career to specialist senior roles.

Take Home Pay (based on median $96,418)

Weekly (net)
~$1,398
Monthly (net)
~$6,057
Annual (net)
~$72,687
Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $107,506

Take-home calculated using 2025-26 ATO tax rates, no HECS debt, full Australian residency. Total package adds 11.5% superannuation to base salary. Adjust for your situation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good starting salary for a junior Registered Nurse in Melbourne?
Registered Nurses in Melbourne start at around $80,000 at the p10. Victorian public health enterprise agreement rates set the floor for most public hospital roles. New graduates typically start below this through the Transition to Practice program before moving into standard RN classification rates. Private hospital rates in Melbourne are broadly comparable to the public health agreement at the base.
Is $96,418 a good salary in Melbourne?
Modestly yes. At $96,418, a Melbourne RN earns 5.4% above the city's all-roles median. Melbourne is expensive, and the premium is narrow. The 51-listing volume surge may indicate Melbourne's healthcare system is ramping up to address nursing shortages, which could improve compensation over the coming months if the shortfall is not fully resolved.
How much does a Senior Registered Nurse make in Melbourne?
Experienced Registered Nurses in Melbourne reach $125,000 at the p90. Senior clinical nurses, ICU and ED specialists, and Clinical Nurse Consultants in major metropolitan health networks earn in this range. Moving into Nursing Unit Manager or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) roles with prescribing authority typically adds $10-$25k above the senior clinical RN rate.

Other roles in Melbourne

Registered Nurse salaries in other cities

City Median salary vs Melbourne
Melbourne (this page) $96,418 —
Adelaide $100,000 +4%
Newcastle $100,000 +4%
Perth $100,000 +4%
Brisbane $99,536 +3%

Uncover hidden salary ranges on Seek

Paste any job URL to bypass the "competitive salary" text and see the exact employer budget instantly.

Check a Listing Install Extension

Data sourced from publicly listed job advertisements. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Seek or any third-party platforms. Salary ranges represent advertised figures and may differ from actual compensation. Updated monthly.