Average vet salary Australia: what the data says
If you are a veterinarian in Australia, your pay is likely above the national full‑time average. The most recent official figure comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), which gives a median full‑time weekly earnings of $2,413 for veterinarians. That works out to about $125,476 a year (before tax) if you work 52 weeks.
How the vet median sits against the national line
The site’s line is the national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings release for May 2026: $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 a year. The vet median is about $329 a week higher. That means the typical full‑time veterinarian earns roughly 16% more than the average across all occupations.
For context, the full‑time median for all workers (from the same ABS survey) is about $90,532 a year, and the all‑employees median (including part‑time) is about $74,100. The vet median is well above both.
Award minimums: the floor for vet pay
Even the minimum rates under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award (MA000118) are above the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026:
- Veterinary surgeon Level 1A: $34.20 per hour → $1,299.60 per week → about $67,579 a year
- Veterinary surgeon Level 4: $48.38 per hour → $1,838.44 per week → about $95,599 a year
The national minimum wage from the same date is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, $52,255 a year). So even the entry‑level vet award rate is about 29% above the minimum.
Breaking it down: year, week and hour
On a standard 38‑hour week, the vet median of $2,413 per week translates to an hourly rate of about $63.50. That is more than double the national minimum wage and well above the national full‑time average hourly equivalent of about $54.83 ($2,083.70 ÷ 38).
| Measure | Vet median | National full‑time average |
|---|---|---|
| Per year (52 weeks) | $125,476 | $108,352 |
| Per week | $2,413 | $2,083.70 |
| Per hour (38‑hour week) | $63.50 | $54.83 |
Where the data comes from
The median figure is from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, as published by Jobs and Skills Australia. The national average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Award rates are from Fair Work’s Pay Guide for the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award, effective 1 July 2026.
What about state differences?
The national full‑time average varies by state. For example, the average in Western Australia is about $115,825 a year, while in Tasmania it is about $96,008. The vet median of $125,476 would be above every state average except the ACT ($119,090) – and even there it is higher. See States and territories for more.
Is this an average or a median?
The ABS does not publish a specific average salary for veterinarians. The $2,413 figure is a median – the middle point where half of full‑time vets earn more and half earn less. Medians are less affected by very high or low earners, so they give a better picture of typical pay. The national line uses an average (mean), which can be pulled up by high incomes in some industries.
How your take‑home pay is taxed
For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (with possible reductions). On a vet median of $125,476, most of the income falls in the 30% bracket, so the effective tax rate is roughly 23–24% before offsets.
Where to next?
- Place a salary on the line to see how your pay compares
- Job medians for other occupations
- Guides for more on award rates and negotiations
- How the figures are set for methodology
- About this site for the full picture