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Medical laboratory scientist salary: weekly, hourly and annual pay

The median full-time medical laboratory scientist earns $2,056 a week, or about $106,912 a year, slightly below the national full-time average of $2,084 a week.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Medical laboratory scientist salary: weekly, hourly and annual pay

Medical laboratory scientists perform vital diagnostic work in pathology labs, hospitals and research facilities. If you are looking at this career or already working in it, you probably want to know how the pay stacks up. The most current public figure comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) via Jobs and Skills Australia: the median full-time weekly earnings for a medical laboratory scientist is $2,056. That is about $106,912 a year before tax, or $54.11 an hour on a standard 38-hour week.

This median is based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and covers full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. It is a median, meaning half earn more and half earn less. It is not an average, so it is not pulled up by very high salaries.

How the national full-time average compares

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 a week, or $108,352 a year. That is the figure this site uses as the line. The medical laboratory scientist median of $2,056 is about $28 a week less than that average. Given that medians are usually lower than averages, this occupation sits very close to the national benchmark. You can place your salary on the line to see exactly where you stand.

Where the figures come from

  • National full-time average: ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. This is the average weekly ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults, seasonally adjusted. It is published twice a year, for May and November.
  • Occupation median: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised for medical laboratory scientists (ANZSCO 2346) and reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. This is the most recent occupation-specific figure.
  • Minimum wage: Fair Work Ombudsman. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, about $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date.

Award minimums and enterprise agreements

Medical laboratory scientists are usually covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 or by enterprise agreements in public hospitals and private labs. The Fair Work pay guide for that award (effective 1 October 2026) lists rates for support services employees, not scientists. For example, a Level 9 support employee at the top pay point earns $1,497.80 a week ($39.42 an hour). Scientists are classified at higher levels, so the award minimum is a floor. Most medical laboratory scientists earn well above the award, often between $2,000 and $2,300 a week depending on experience and location.

State variations

National medians do not break down by state, but the ABS publishes average weekly earnings for each state and territory. The full-time averages (annualised) are:

  • 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

Medical laboratory scientist pay may vary similarly, with higher rates in the ACT and Western Australia and lower rates in Tasmania. For state-by-state comparisons, see our states and territories page.

Tax on a medical laboratory scientist salary

For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are:

  • Nil on the first $18,200
  • 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
  • 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
  • 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
  • 45% on income above $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (before any reductions). On a median salary of $106,912, the tax would be roughly $24,000 plus Medicare, leaving about $80,000 after tax. Use the ATO’s tax calculator for a precise estimate.

How this occupation compares to others

The all-occupations full-time median is about $90,532 a year, so medical laboratory scientists earn about 18% more than the typical full-time worker. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100. The occupation also sits above the average for health care and social assistance ($2,037 a week) and below the average for professional, scientific and technical services ($2,390 a week). For more occupation comparisons, visit our job medians page.

Key takeaway

A medical laboratory scientist’s median salary of $2,056 a week is very close to the national full-time average of $2,084. It is a solid, above-median income with good prospects. Whether you are entering the field or negotiating a raise, knowing the median and the average gives you a clear benchmark.

Questions

What is the average salary for a medical laboratory scientist in Australia?

The ABS does not publish an average salary specifically for medical laboratory scientists. The most reliable figure is the median full-time weekly earnings of $2,056, from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to about $106,912 a year before tax, or $54.11 an hour on a 38-hour week. The national full-time average across all occupations is $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year), so the median for this occupation is close to the average.

What is the minimum wage for a medical laboratory scientist under the award?

Medical laboratory scientists are typically covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, but the award’s published rates in the Fair Work pay guide (effective 1 October 2026) are for support services employees, not scientists. For example, a Level 9 support employee (pay point 3) earns $1,497.80 a week ($39.42 an hour). Scientists are usually classified at higher levels or under enterprise agreements, so the award minimum is a floor, not a typical rate. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week.

How does a medical laboratory scientist salary compare to other health professions?

The median full-time medical laboratory scientist earns $2,056 a week, which is above the all-occupations full-time median of about $1,741 a week ($90,532 a year). It is also higher than the median for health care and social assistance workers overall, which is around $1,852 a week. However, it is below the average for professional, scientific and technical services ($2,389.60 a week) and below the average for public sector health professionals. For a direct comparison with other occupations, see our [job medians](/occupations) page.

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