What is the typical salary for a clinical psychologist in Australia?

The ABS does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for the 6-digit occupation of clinical psychologists (ANZSCO 272311). The most recent data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) excludes 6-digit occupations. However, the broader category 'Psychologists and Psychotherapists' may have data, but it is not broken down to clinical psychologists specifically. 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 serves as a benchmark. Clinical psychologists are highly skilled professionals, and their earnings are likely above this average, but no official figure is available.

How does a clinical psychologist's pay compare to the national average?

Without a published median for clinical psychologists, a direct comparison is not possible. The national full-time average is $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Clinical psychologists typically require a master's or doctoral degree and are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. Given the high skill level and demand, their earnings are generally above the national average. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile notes that 51% of clinical psychologists work full-time, and the median age is 43. The female share of employment is 81%, which may influence average earnings due to the gender pay gap (women's full-time average is $100,594 vs men's $113,412).

What would a clinical psychologist take home after tax if earning the national average?

If a clinical psychologist earned the national full-time average of $108,352 per year, their estimated take-home pay for 2026–27 would be approximately $78,500 after tax and Medicare levy, assuming no other deductions. This calculation uses the 2026–27 resident tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, 30% on the next $90,000, and 37% on the remainder up to $190,000, plus a 2% Medicare levy. The actual take-home will vary based on individual circumstances, such as private health insurance, deductions, and tax offsets. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($52,255 per year), so a clinical psychologist would earn well above that.

Clinical Psychology Salary in Australia: How It Compares to the National Average

Clinical Psychology Salary: What the Data Shows

Clinical psychologists are highly trained professionals who assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. In Australia, they must complete a minimum of six years of university study and supervised practice. Given this level of expertise, you might expect their salary to be above the national average. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a median weekly earnings figure specifically for the 6-digit occupation of clinical psychologists (ANZSCO 272311). This means we cannot give a precise salary figure for this role.

The National Full-Time Average as a Benchmark

The most reliable benchmark is the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings, which stood at $2,083.70 per week or $108,352 per year as of May 2026 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, Australia). This is the figure used by Average line as the reference point. For comparison, the full-time median earnings (all occupations) are about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

Clinical psychologists are classified under the broader group 'Psychologists and Psychotherapists' (ANZSCO 2723). For that 4-digit group, the ABS may have data, but it is not published at the 6-digit level. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for clinical psychologists notes that median weekly earnings are 'N/A' for this specific occupation. This is common for detailed occupations where sample sizes are too small to produce reliable estimates.

What We Know About Clinical Psychologists

According to the 2021 Census (the most recent detailed data), there were about 22,000 employed clinical psychologists in Australia. Key characteristics include:

Median age: 43 years (compared to 40 for all occupations)
Female share: 81% (compared to 49% for all occupations)
Full-time workers: 51% (compared to 64% for all occupations)
Average full-time hours: 42 hours per week (compared to 44 for all occupations)

The high proportion of women and part-time work may affect average earnings. The gender pay gap in Australia means women earn less on average: women's full-time ordinary time earnings are $1,934.50 per week ($100,594 per year) compared to men's $2,181.00 per week ($113,412 per year). Since clinical psychology is a female-dominated profession, the average salary for the occupation may be lower than the overall national average, but this is speculative without direct data.

How Clinical Psychologists Are Paid

Clinical psychologists may work in public hospitals, private practice, community health centres, or universities. Those in private practice often charge per session, and their income can vary significantly based on client volume, Medicare rebates, and private health insurance. Those employed under awards, such as the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, have minimum rates set by Fair Work. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database contains classification rates for health professionals, but these are minimums and many clinical psychologists earn above award.

Resident Take-Home Pay Sketch

If we assume a clinical psychologist earns the national full-time average of $108,352 per year, their estimated take-home pay for the 2026–27 financial year would be approximately $78,500 after tax and the Medicare levy. This calculation uses the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

Nil on the first $18,200
15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000)
30% on the next $90,000 (up to $135,000)
37% on the remainder up to $190,000
Plus 2% Medicare levy (with possible reductions for low-income earners)

Actual take-home pay depends on individual circumstances, such as private health insurance, work-related deductions, and tax offsets. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($52,255 per year on a 38-hour week), so a clinical psychologist earning the average would be well above that.

Comparing to Other Occupations and Industries

The national full-time average varies by state and territory. For example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest average at $119,090 per year, while Tasmania has the lowest at $96,008. Clinical psychologists in the ACT (where many work in public service) may earn more than those in other states, but again, no occupation-specific data is available.

If you want to see how your own salary compares to the national average, you can place a salary on the line. For a broader view of median earnings by occupation, visit our job medians page.

Why No Published Figure?

The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) provides median weekly earnings for 4-digit occupations but not for 6-digit occupations like clinical psychologists. This is because the sample size is too small to produce statistically reliable estimates. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile also notes that median weekly earnings are not produced for 6-digit occupations. Therefore, any specific salary figure for clinical psychologists would be an estimate, not an official statistic.

Summary

While we cannot give a precise clinical psychology salary, the national full-time average of $108,352 per year provides a useful reference. Clinical psychologists are likely to earn above this average given their advanced qualifications and high demand, but the lack of published data means we cannot confirm this. For the most accurate picture, individual salary data from employers or professional bodies may be more helpful. The ABS will release the next Average Weekly Earnings report in February 2027, which may provide updated benchmarks.