What is the average salary for a cardiovascular perfusionist in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a specific average or median salary for cardiovascular perfusionists (ANZSCO 311212). The occupation falls under Medical Technicians, but the ABS only releases median earnings for broader 4-digit groups. Jobs and Skills Australia also notes that median weekly earnings are not produced for 6-digit occupations like Cardiac Technicians, which includes perfusionists. As a result, no official figure is available. The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) as of May 2026, which can serve as a benchmark.

How does the cardiovascular perfusionist salary compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year for a 38-hour week. Even without a specific figure for cardiovascular perfusionists, it is reasonable to assume that qualified perfusionists earn well above the minimum wage, given the specialised training and responsibility. The full-time adult average of $108,352 is more than double the minimum wage, and the all-employees median of $74,100 is also significantly higher.

What is the take-home pay for someone earning the national full-time average?

For the 2026–27 financial year, a resident earning the national full-time average of $108,352 would pay approximately $24,467 in income tax (using the brackets: nil up to $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, 30% on the next $90,000, and 37% on the remaining $8,152) plus a 2% Medicare levy of $2,167, for total deductions of about $26,634. The estimated weekly take-home pay would be around $1,571, or $81,718 per year. This is a rough guide; individual circumstances vary.

Cardiovascular perfusionist salary: how it compares with the national average

Cardiovascular perfusionist salary: where does it sit against the national line?

Cardiovascular perfusionists operate heart-lung machines and other equipment during cardiac surgery. It is a highly specialised role within the Medical Technicians group (ANZSCO 3112). But if you are trying to benchmark a cardiovascular perfusionist salary against the national average, you will quickly find that official sources do not publish a specific figure for this 6-digit occupation.

The national full-time average as a reference

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year. The latest release, for May 2026, shows that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings (seasonally adjusted) are $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that works out to $108,352 per year. This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses as its benchmark.

For context, the full-time adult average total earnings (which includes overtime) are $2,160.00 per week, or about $112,320 per year. But the site uses ordinary time earnings as the standard measure.

Medians and the minimum wage

The ABS also provides medians. From the Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025), the median weekly earnings for all employees were $1,436, or about $74,100 per year. For full-time employees, the median was $1,741 per week, or about $90,532 per year. These medians are lower than the average because high earners pull the average up.

At the bottom end, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year for a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date.

Why no specific figure for cardiovascular perfusionists?

The ABS only releases median weekly earnings for occupations at the 4-digit ANZSCO level or higher. Cardiovascular perfusionist is a 6-digit code (311212) under Medical Technicians (3112). Jobs and Skills Australia, which draws on ABS data, explicitly states that median weekly earnings are not produced for 6-digit occupations. Their profile for Cardiac Technicians (which includes perfusionists) lists median weekly earnings as "N/A".

This means any specific salary figure you see online for a cardiovascular perfusionist is likely an estimate from private surveys or job advertisements, not an official statistic. The most reliable approach is to compare against the national averages and medians.

A resident take-home sketch using the average

If a cardiovascular perfusionist earned exactly the national full-time average of $108,352, what would their take-home pay look like? Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

Tax-free threshold: $18,200
15% on the next $26,800 ($4,020)
30% on the next $90,000 ($27,000)
37% on the remaining $8,152 ($3,016)
Total income tax: $34,036 (but note the 30% bracket caps at $135,000, so the calculation is: $0 + $4,020 + $27,000 + $3,016 = $34,036? Wait, let's recalc carefully: The brackets are: $0–$18,200 nil; $18,201–$45,000 15% (tax on $26,800 = $4,020); $45,001–$135,000 30% (tax on $90,000 = $27,000); $135,001–$190,000 37%. Since $108,352 is below $135,000, the 37% bracket does not apply. So total tax = $4,020 + $27,000 = $31,020. Plus Medicare levy 2% = $2,167. Total deductions = $33,187. Take-home = $75,165 per year, or about $1,445 per week.

This is a rough guide. Actual take-home depends on deductions, HELP repayments, and other factors.

State variations

The full-time average varies by state. For example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at $119,090, while Tasmania has the lowest at $96,008. A cardiovascular perfusionist working in a major cardiac unit in Sydney or Melbourne might earn closer to the state average for their location. See the States and territories page for a full breakdown.

Using the site's tools

If you have an actual salary offer or current wage, you can Place a salary on the line to see how it compares with the national full-time average, the median, and the minimum wage. The tool also shows the weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week.

Summary

While a precise cardiovascular perfusionist salary is not published by the ABS or Fair Work, the national full-time average of $108,352 provides a useful benchmark. Most specialised medical technicians are likely to earn between the all-employees median ($74,100) and the full-time average, depending on experience, location, and employer. For the most accurate comparison, use the site's line tool with your own figure.