Clinical coder salary: Where does it sit on the line?
Clinical coders play a vital role in Australia’s health system, translating medical records into standardised codes for funding, research and statistics. But where does their pay sit against the national full-time average? The answer depends on award classifications, state location and whether you work in the public or private sector.
The national benchmark
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week. That works out to about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the line that Average line uses as its reference point. For comparison, the median weekly earnings for all employees (including part-time) was $1,436 in August 2025, and the full-time median was about $1,741 per week ($90,532 a year).
Clinical coders are not separately reported in the ABS earnings releases, so there is no official average or median for the occupation. Instead, their pay is largely governed by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, which Fair Work updates each year after the Annual Wage Review. The 2026 award data, available from the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database, includes minimum rates for classifications such as Health Information Manager and Clinical Coder. The minimum rates for a Grade 1 clinical coder might be around $1,200 per week for a 38-hour week, but the exact figure is not published in a simple summary.
How award rates compare to the national line
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week. Award minimums for clinical coders are higher than the national minimum, reflecting the skilled nature of the work. However, even at the top of the award classification, the minimum rate is likely below the national full-time average of $108,352. For example, a Health Information Manager Grade 2 might earn around $1,600 per week, which is about $83,200 a year – still below the line. Many clinical coders are employed in public hospitals, where enterprise agreements may lift pay above the award. The ABS data shows public sector full-time ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,263.10 per week ($117,681 a year), while private sector averaged $2,034.10 ($105,773). So a clinical coder in a public hospital could be closer to or even above the national average.
State and territory differences also matter. The state full-time averages from the ABS May 2026 show wide variation: New South Wales $109,658, Victoria $106,137, Queensland $106,064, South Australia $102,450, Western Australia $115,825, Tasmania $96,008, Northern Territory $103,173, Australian Capital Territory $119,090. A clinical coder in the ACT, where the average is highest, may have a better chance of earning above the national line. In Tasmania, the average is lower, so a clinical coder there may be below the line unless the employer pays above the award.
Medians and the line
The line is the full-time ordinary-time average. For men, $113,438, for women $100,594. The all-employees median $74,100 (all employees). A clinical coder on the award minimum is likely below the line, but one with experience and experience may be near the full-time median.
How to place a salary on the line
If you are a clinical coder, you can use the Average line tool to Place a salary on the line. You can also compare your salary to the national full-time average, state averages, and the all-employees median. The tool shows the weekly and hourly on a 38-hour week and the distance from the line.
How the figures are set
The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, for May and November. The Fair Work Commission sets the minimum wage and award rates after the Annual Wage Review. The ATO provides tax brackets and tax rates. For more details, see How the figures are set.
Guides and guides
For more about clinical coder salary, see Guides and About this site.
Summary
Clinical coder salary is not a single figure from the ABS, but is typically set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. The minimum rates vary by classification and experience. The national full-time average is $108,083.7 a year, the all-employees median $74,100. The state averages range from $96,008 to $119,090. The minimum wage is $26.44 per hour. The clinical coder salary is likely below the national full-time average unless the employer pays above the award.