Nuclear medicine technologist salary: where does it sit against the national line?
If you are researching a nuclear medicine technologist salary in Australia, you will quickly find that a precise national figure is not published. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not release median weekly earnings for this occupation because it is a 6-digit ANZSCO code (251213) and the sample size is too small for a reliable estimate. That means we cannot place a single number on the line for this role. Instead, we can look at the factors that push pay up or down: the state you work in, the sector (public or private), and the award or enterprise agreement that sets your minimum.
The national benchmark
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 gives the national full-time adult ordinary-time average as $2,083.70 a week. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 a year. This is the line that this site uses to compare salaries. For men the average is about $113,412 a year; for women about $100,594. The full-time median across all occupations is about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), and the all-employees median is about $74,100. Nuclear medicine technologists, who are 68% female and have a median age of 34 (Jobs and Skills Australia), may earn differently from these broad averages.
State differences
Where you work matters. The ABS publishes full-time adult ordinary-time earnings by state. Using the on-site figures (derived from the May 2026 release):
- 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 nuclear medicine technologist in the ACT, where public sector employment is high, could expect pay closer to the ACT average. In Tasmania, the lower state average may reflect a different mix of industries and lower cost of living. The states and territories page on this site shows how each region compares to the national line.
Public vs private sector
The sector is another big factor. The ABS reports that public sector full-time adult ordinary-time earnings average $2,263.10 a week (about $117,681 a year), while the private sector average is $2,034.10 (about $105,773). Nuclear medicine technologists work in both: public hospitals (often under state health enterprise agreements) and private imaging centres (often under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award or individual contracts). Public hospital roles tend to pay more, especially in states with strong union agreements.
Award and minimum wage
From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week (Fair Work). Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 covers many nuclear medicine technologists, but actual pay is usually above the award rate. Enterprise agreements in public hospitals often set higher rates, and experienced technologists may earn well above the award minimum.
What the data does and doesn't tell us
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that there are about 830 nuclear medicine technologists employed nationally, with 70% working full-time and average full-time hours of 40 per week. The median weekly earnings field is marked N/A because the ABS does not produce a figure for 6-digit occupations. That means we cannot give a precise nuclear medicine technologist salary against the national line. However, we can say that the role is a skilled health profession, typically requiring a bachelor's degree and registration, so pay is likely above the all-employees median of $74,100. For a more tailored estimate, you would need to look at advertised roles in your state and sector.
How the figures are set
The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which is released twice a year (May and November). The medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, which is conducted every two years. The minimum wage is set by Fair Work each July. For more detail on how these numbers are compiled, see how the figures are set.
Summary
A nuclear medicine technologist salary cannot be pinned to a single published figure. Instead, it depends on your state, your employer (public or private), and the applicable award or agreement. The national full-time average of $108,352 is a useful benchmark, but your actual pay may be higher in the ACT or lower in Tasmania. To see where your salary sits on the line, use the tool on this site to enter your annual pay before tax.