Dentist salary Australia: how the national line compares

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, drawn from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, sits at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. For dentists, the picture is different. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time earnings for dental practitioners (the occupation group that includes dentists) is $3,232 a week. That is a median, not an average, and it applies to full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. On a 38‑hour week, that weekly figure translates to roughly $168,064 a year. The national line on this site is the average; the dentist median sits well above it.

But a single number can be misleading. Why might a dentist’s actual pay differ from that median? Two big reasons: the state or territory they work in, and the industrial instrument – award or enterprise agreement – that covers their employment.

State and territory differences

The ABS publishes average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults by state. These are averages across all industries, not just health, but they give a sense of how location affects pay. The on-site notes list the state full-time averages:

New South Wales: about $109,658 a year
Victoria: about $106,137
Queensland: about $106,064
South Australia: about $102,450
Western Australia: about $115,825
Tasmania: about $96,008
Northern Territory: about $103,173
Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090

A dentist in the ACT, where the overall average is highest, might earn more than one in Tasmania, where the average is lowest. The dentist median from Jobs and Skills Australia is a national figure; within that, state distributions vary. The ABS data also show that the public sector average ($2,263.10 a week) is higher than the private sector ($2,034.10. Many dentists work in private practice, but some public dental clinics also employ dentists. That sector mix can shift the state figure.

Awards and enterprise agreements

Dentists may be covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, or by enterprise agreements in public hospitals or larger practices. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, but award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time. The award for dentists sets minimum rates that are higher than the national minimum. For example, a dentist classified under the award might have a minimum hourly rate above $40, depending on experience and classification. Enterprise agreements can set even higher rates. So the actual salary a dentist receives depends on the specific award classification or agreement, not just the occupation median.

How the site uses the national line

When you Place a salary on the line, the tool compares your yearly before‑tax income to the national full‑time average of $108,352. If you are a dentist earning the median $168,064, you would appear well above the line. But if you work in a lower‑paying state or under a less generous agreement, your pay might be closer to the average. The line is a benchmark, not a target.

Other benchmarks

The site also shows the full‑time median ($90,532) and the all‑employees median ($74,100) from the ABS Employee Earnings survey (August 2025). The national minimum wage is $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Dentist pay typically exceeds all of these, but the gap varies. For a dentist starting out, the award minimum might be the floor; for an experienced specialist, earnings can be much higher.

Why the national average matters

The ABS average weekly earnings figure is a snapshot of the whole economy. It includes all full‑time adults, from CEOs to junior clerks. That is why the dentist median is higher – dentists are a skilled profession with relatively high pay. But the average is useful as a reference point. If your salary is below it, you might be in a lower‑paid industry or region; if above, you are in a higher‑paid one.

For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set and About this site. You can also explore States and territories to see how your location compares.

Questions

What is the average dentist salary in Australia?

The ABS does not publish an average salary for dentists. The best available figure is the median full-time earnings for dental practitioners, which is $3,232 a week according to Jobs and Skills Australia (based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). That is a median, not an average, and applies to full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. On a 38-hour week it equates to about $168,064 a year.

How does state affect a dentist's salary compared to the national average?

State full-time averages from the ABS (May 2026) range from about $96,008 in Tasmania to $119,090 in the ACT. The national full-time average is $108,352. A dentist's pay can vary by state due to differences in public vs private sector mix, cost of living, and local demand. For example, a dentist in the ACT may earn more than one in Tasmania, but the national median for dentists ($168,064) is above all state averages, indicating the profession pays well regardless of location.

Can an award change a dentist's salary?

Yes. Dentists may be covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 or by enterprise agreements. The award sets minimum rates that are higher than the national minimum wage ($26.44/hour from 1 July 2026). For example, a dentist under the award might have a minimum hourly rate above $40, depending on classification. Enterprise agreements in public hospitals or large practices can set even higher rates. So the actual salary depends on the specific industrial instrument, not just the occupation median.