An emergency nurse salary can vary significantly due to factors such as qualifications, experience, location and the type of role you are employed in.
In this article, we’ll provide you with details on:
On average, an emergency nurse salary for someone in a full-time permanent role is currently $85,334 a year. Emergency nurses are paid under the Nurses Award. This same award determines the salary of all other nurse specialisms.
Understanding what level and pay point you will receive as an emergency nurse can be difficult! Emergency nurse levels range between one and five, with up to eight pay points in each level.
Your level will be determined by your qualification and duties within your scope of practice. Generally, most registered nurses with a Bachelor of Nursing will receive a level one pay point. Additional studies are required to advance to the other levels, and this can include other clinical and teaching related qualifications.
The pay points within each level indicate your experience. An emergency nurse can upgrade to the next pay point once a year’s worth of experience has been gained. In nursing, this equates to 1786 hours. You may find you reach this number before a full year has passed.
For more information on emergency nurse pay points, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
If you are on a casual contract, your emergency nurse salary will consist of a base rate (your minimum hourly pay rate), with casual loading (additional payments on top) for any PM, night duty, weekend or Public Holiday shifts worked. Casual emergency nurse minimum base rates are below:
Emergency nurse level and pay point
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Pay point 8 and thereafter
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Permanent emergency nurses will receive a reduced hourly rate in comparison to emergency nurses working casually to account for annual and sick leave they accumulate across the year. Still eligible for increased weekend and Public Holiday rates, a permanent emergency nurse salary is as follows:
Emergency nurse level and pay point
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Minimum hourly (base) pay rate
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Emergency nurse salary and pay rates can vary depending on the state of Australia in which you work in. The above pay points are exact as per the Nurses Award, however, you will see a different in annual salaries between states due to the nature of work available.
States with more rural and remote areas, such as the Northern Territory, will generally offer higher rates because of workforce demands and shortages. Assignments in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne may offer lower pay rates as there are more nurses readily available.
Travel nursing is a popular choice for emergency nurses, as working in remote and rural areas of the country comes with additional travel and accommodation benefits, as well as various bonuses and allowances to increase your earnings.
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Australia Capital Territory
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The more experience you have as an emergency nurse, the greater your pay rate will be. Developing your skills and knowledge in a hospital setting will contribute to your hours worked and advance your hourly rate.
If you wish to upskill, there are many healthcare related courses you can take depending on the career pathway you wish to explore. Examples of qualifications include:
- Postgraduate course in Midwifery - train as both an emergency nurse and a midwife
- Master of Advanced Nursing - advance into roles such as nurse practitioner
- Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education - for leadership and teaching roles
Completing these qualifications will lead to nursing positions with a higher salary attached.
With Pulse, we have emergency nurse job opportunities located around the country. You can enjoy casual shifts that fit around your schedule and availability as well as travel nurse roles that allow you to explore regional, rural and remote parts of Australia whilst getting paid for your time.
For more information on working with Pulse, drop us a message or view emergency nurse vacancies on our job board to get started.