Living on an Australia RN salary?

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I am a US RN with a BSN and a CCRN and 15 years of experience in adult and pediatric ICU as well as some ER experience. I am thinking about working in Australia for a year or so. However, based on the salaries I see online ($45-70k/year) I simply don't see how a single RN could live comfortably, considering the high cost of living (I'm thinking Sydney or Brisbane). Am I missing something? Are the salary figures I see AFTER taxes by any chance? What could I afford to pay in rent? I currently make $100k before taxes ($60/hr day shift, $70/hr night shift) in the most expensive area of the US to live in, and the cost of living here is still cheaper than in Australia.

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Hi Holly! I have a colleague in the process of moving to Melbourne as an RN. I'll try to find out some details for you. Where abouts in the US are you?

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I'm in San Francisco.

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Actually, after studying the state agreements/awards more closely, it looks like I would be making around $40/hr, not including shift and weekend differentials/allowances. Can anyone tell me how much of that would be take-home, based on a gross salary of $3000/fortnight? I currently bring home about 55-60% of my gross pay.

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There's lots of different factors in play here.

1. we work on a grading system. Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 etc.

2. every state pays differently.

3. Public and private systems pay differently.

Sydney is very expensive plus a night mare to travel through- traffic is horrendous.

Brisbane is cheaper in comparison.

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Thank you. I actually found the estimated tax rates on the Australia Taxation Office website. It was very helpful. But I am surprised that you said that public and private hospitals pay differently. I thought that private hospitals had to subscribe to the same salary guidelines as the public hospitals. Do the private hospitals tend to pay more or less?

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Thank you. I actually found the estimated tax rates on the Australia Taxation Office website. It was very helpful. But I am surprised that you said that public and private hospitals pay differently. I thought that private hospitals had to subscribe to the same salary guidelines as the public hospitals. Do the private hospitals tend to pay more or less?

Less. Although the rates are more similar then they used to be.

But I would avoid private hospitals, the working conditions in public are much better for nurses.

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There is also salary packaging for nurses , which is available in public hospitals and some private hospitals, it is a great tax saving

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There is also salary packaging for nurses , which is available in public hospitals and some private hospitals, it is a great tax saving

Gotta love salary sacrificing!

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