THE SHIFT
1. What your week looks like
- 38 hours a week on averageShifts up to 10 hours on days, 11 on nights
- You work on a "ward"Led by the Nursing Unit Manager (NUM)
- 6 weeks of annual leaveIf you're rostered across all 7 days
Source: NSW public health nurses' award.
THE PAY
2. NSW public hospital RN pay
- Year 1: A$1,566.70 a weekAbout US$1,093 (about US$57K a year)
- Year 8+: A$2,199.60 a weekAbout US$1,535 (about US$80K a year)
- Extra for nights and weekendsNights +20%, Saturdays 1.5x, Sundays 1.75x
- Plus 12% superannuationEmployer-paid retirement savings
NSW Health rates from 1 July 2026. A$1 = US$0.6979 (RBA, Oct 9, 2026).
REGISTRATION
3. Getting your Australian license
- Start with the NMBA Self-check
- The US is a "comparable jurisdiction"
- 1,800+ hours of US practice since 2017?No NMBA exams on that pathway
- Most US-educated nurses skip the English testIf your schooling was in English
- Associate degree?Your path may include exams
Source: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
THE FEES
4. What registration costs
- IQNM assessment: A$410About US$286
- Application A$346 + registration A$201About US$382 together
- Clinical exam (OSCE): A$4,000Only if your pathway requires it
NMBA fees from Oct 9, 2026. Check before you apply.
THE VISA
5. How you get in
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)Employer-sponsored, up to 4 years, from A$4,015
- Registered Nurse is on the Core Skills listMedical, surgical, ICU and more
- Age 18 to 30? Working Holiday (462)Usually 6 months max with one employer
- Health insurance is a visa conditionThe US has no Medicare deal with Australia
Sources: Dept. of Home Affairs; Services Australia.
US TAXES
6. You still file a US return
- You're taxed on worldwide incomeLiving abroad doesn't change that
- Foreign earned income exclusionUp to $132,900 for tax year 2026
Source: IRS. Educational only, not immigration, legal or tax advice. Rules, pay and costs change; confirm with the country's nursing regulator and immigration authority.
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