Counsellor salary: year, week and hour
This page shows how the typical counsellor salary compares with the national full‑time average. The site’s line is the ABS Average Weekly Earnings figure for May 2026: $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year for full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings. You can read any salary as a yearly figure, a weekly amount and an hourly rate on a 38‑hour week.
What the data says for counsellors
The most recent occupation‑specific data comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, published by Jobs and Skills Australia. For counsellors (ANZSCO 2721), the median weekly earnings for full‑time non‑managerial employees is $1,477. That translates to:
- Yearly: $76,804 (multiply by 52)
- Weekly: $1,477
- Hourly: about $39 (based on a 38‑hour week)
This is a median, meaning half of full‑time counsellors earn more and half earn less. It excludes managers and part‑time workers to give a clearer picture of typical full‑time pay.
For the narrower group “Other Counsellors and Life Coaches” (272199), median earnings are not published due to high standard error.
How it compares
The counsellor median of $1,477 a week is well below the national full‑time average of $2,083.70 a week. It is also below the all‑occupations full‑time median of about $1,741 a week ($90,532 a year).
Counsellors also work fewer full‑time hours on average (41 hours per week) compared with all occupations (44 hours), and only 60% work full‑time, against 69% across all jobs. The median hourly earnings of $39 are below the all‑occupations median of $43.
State and territory differences
State‑level averages for counsellors are not published, but the overall full‑time averages by state give a sense of regional pay levels. For example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest full‑time average at about $119,090 a year, while Tasmania is lowest at about $96,008. Counsellors in higher‑paying states may earn more, but the difference is likely smaller than for some other occupations. See States and territories for more detail.
Tax on a counsellor salary
For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (with possible reductions). A counsellor earning the median $76,804 would fall into the 30% bracket, with a total tax and Medicare liability of about $16,000–$17,000 depending on offsets.
Putting it on the line
You can Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares with the national average. The site also has Job medians for hundreds of occupations.
Bottom line
The typical full‑time counsellor earns about $76,800 a year, or $1,477 a week. That is roughly 29% below the national full‑time average of $108,352. Part‑time work is common in the profession, so actual take‑home pay can vary significantly.