Veterinary nurse: salary vs cost of living
Job Outlook publishes a full-time weekly-earnings figure of $1100 for Veterinary Nurses. After estimated PAYG income tax, the 2% Medicare levy and any HECS-HELP compulsory repayment, take-home pay is approximately $914.15 per week.
From gross to take-home
| Component | Annual AUD | Weekly AUD |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $57,200 | $1100 |
| Income tax (2024-25 resident scale) | -$7,948 | -$153 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | -$1,144 | -$22 |
| HECS-HELP compulsory repayment | -$572 | -$11 |
| Take-home pay | $47,535.8 | $914.15 |
| Without HECS | $48,107.8 | $925.15 |
Sanity check: income tax 7948 AUD plus Medicare and HECS-HELP repayment of $572 AUD.
Rent as a share of take-home pay
The 30% threshold is the conventional definition of rental stress. Anything below is considered comfortable; anything above squeezes everything else.
| City | Unit rent (/wk) | % of take-home | House rent (/wk) | % of take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $460 | 50% | $580 | 63% |
| Brisbane | $580 | 63% | $650 | 71% |
| Canberra | $580 | 63% | $700 | 77% |
| Darwin | $600 | 66% | $700 | 77% |
| Geelong | $460 | 50% | $520 | 57% |
| Gold Coast | $620 | 68% | $800 | 88% |
| Hobart | $480 | 53% | $560 | 61% |
| Melbourne | $580 | 63% | $600 | 66% |
| Newcastle | $560 | 61% | $640 | 70% |
| Perth | $600 | 66% | $670 | 73% |
| Sydney | $720 | 79% | $780 | 85% |
Weekly earnings figure is sourced from Job Outlook (jobsandskills.gov.au). Tax and Medicare estimates use the 2024-25 ATO resident scale; HECS-HELP repayment uses the 2024-25 ATO Schedule. ExamExplained does not provide financial advice. For tailored advice, see a licensed financial adviser or registered tax agent.