Medical Receptionist Salary Under the Award
A medical receptionist salary in Australia is not published as a single figure by the Australian Bureau of Statistics or the Fair Work Ombudsman. Instead, pay for this role is typically set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, a modern award that covers employees in health settings including receptionists. Under this award, medical receptionists are classified as support services employees, with minimum weekly rates determined by the level of responsibility and skill required.
As of the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2026, the award minimums for full-time support services employees (38 hours per week) are:
- Level 1: $1,024.70 per week ($26.97 per hour)
- Level 2: $1,065.20 per week ($28.03 per hour)
- Level 3: $1,106.20 per week ($29.11 per hour)
- Level 4: $1,119.10 per week ($29.45 per hour)
Most medical receptionists would be classified between Level 1 and Level 4, depending on duties such as patient intake, billing, and administrative support. Annualised, these minimums range from about $53,284 (Level 1) to $58,193 (Level 4) before tax. Actual pay may be higher if an enterprise agreement applies or if the employer chooses to pay above the award.
How It Compares to the National Average
The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings stood at $2,083.70 in May 2026, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings release. That equates to roughly $108,352 per year (multiplying by 52 weeks). This is the figure used by Average line as the benchmark line.
A medical receptionist at the award’s Level 4 – the highest of the entry-level support services classifications – earns about $1,119.10 per week, or $58,193 per year. That is only 54% of the national full-time average. Even if an employer pays above the award, it is unlikely that a medical receptionist would reach the average without significant overtime or a more senior classification.
For context, the full-time median earnings (from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025) are about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The award minimums for medical receptionists fall well below both medians. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, $52,255 per year), so a Level 1 medical receptionist earns only slightly more than the minimum wage.
Other Benchmarks
State full-time averages also highlight the gap. For example, the highest state average is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090 per year, while the lowest is Tasmania at about $96,008. Even in Tasmania, a medical receptionist at Level 4 would earn only about 61% of the state average. In Western Australia, where the full-time average is about $115,825, the gap is even wider.
Men’s full-time average earnings are about $113,412 per year, and women’s about $100,594. The medical receptionist workforce is predominantly female, and the award rates reflect a role that is often part-time or casual, which can further reduce annual earnings compared to full-time averages.
Where to Go From Here
If you are a medical receptionist or employer trying to understand where a specific salary sits, you can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, medians, and minimum wage. You can also explore states and territories to see how pay varies across Australia. For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.
Remember that the award rates are minimums. Many medical receptionists may receive higher pay through experience, negotiation, or enterprise agreements. The figures discussed here are before tax; the 2026–27 tax rates apply with a tax-free threshold up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus the 2% Medicare levy.
In summary, a medical receptionist salary under the award is significantly below the national full-time average. It is closer to the minimum wage than to the average, reflecting the entry-level nature of many reception roles in health settings.