Operating theatre technician salary: Where it sits against the Australian full-time average
Operating theatre technicians (also known as surgical technicians or theatre support workers) prepare and maintain operating theatres and equipment, assist the surgical team during operations, and support patients in recovery. If you are looking for a precise salary figure for this role, you will find that the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish median weekly earnings for operating theatre technicians. This is because the occupation is classified at the 6-digit ANZSCO level (311214), and the ABS only releases median earnings for broader 4-digit groups where the data is reliable.
What the official data says
The Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for operating theatre technicians (311214) lists median weekly earnings as N/A. The source is the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report. The ABS explains that median weekly earnings figures are not produced for ANZSCO 6-digit occupations, senior non-commissioned defence force officers, defence force members – other ranks, and 4-digit occupations where the relative standard error is 25% or higher. This means there is no publicly available official median or average salary for operating theatre technicians.
However, we can place the role in context using broader national benchmarks. The national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings (the figure used as the line on this site) is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, multiplied by 52). This is the average for all full-time adult employees across all occupations and industries.
Other useful benchmarks include:
- Full-time median earnings: about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025)
- All-employees median earnings: about $74,100 per year
- National minimum wage from 1 July 2026: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week
How operating theatre technicians are paid
Operating theatre technicians are typically employed in public and private hospitals, day surgery centres, and specialist clinics. Their pay is usually set by an award or enterprise agreement. The relevant award may be the Health Professionals and Support Services Award or a state-based public sector award. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026, in line with the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review. Actual pay can vary depending on experience, shift penalties, overtime, and location.
State and territory comparisons
If you are considering where operating theatre technician pay might sit relative to state averages, here are the full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings by state (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, annualised):
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- 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
These figures are averages for all full-time adult workers, not specific to operating theatre technicians. They can give you a sense of how wages vary across the country.
What about the median for Medical Technicians?
The broader occupation group Medical Technicians (ANZSCO 3112) includes anaesthetic technicians, cardiac technicians, medical laboratory technicians, pharmacy technicians, pathology collectors, and other medical technicians. The ABS does publish median earnings for this 4-digit group. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, the median weekly earnings for Medical Technicians (full-time non-managerial adult employees) were $1,436.00 (all employees median). However, this figure is not broken down to the operating theatre technician level. It gives a rough indication that the role likely pays around or below the national full-time median of $1,740 per week.
How to get a more precise figure
If you need a precise salary for a specific job or location, the best sources are:
- Job advertisements on employer or recruitment websites
- Enterprise agreements published by the Fair Work Commission
- Award rates from Fair Work Ombudsman
- State health department pay scales for public hospital employees
You can also Place a salary on the line to see how a specific offer compares to the national full-time average.
Key takeaways
- The ABS does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for operating theatre technicians (ANZSCO 311214).
- The national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings are $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year).
- The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($52,255 per year on 38 hours).
- Operating theatre technicians are likely paid under an award or agreement, with rates above the minimum wage.
- For state comparisons, see States and territories for full-time averages.
- For median earnings of related occupations, see Job medians.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any official data on operating theatre technician pay? No. The ABS does not release median weekly earnings for 6-digit occupations like operating theatre technicians. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile also lists median weekly earnings as N/A.
How does this role compare to other medical technicians? The broader Medical Technicians group (3112) had a median weekly earnings of $1,436 for all employees in May 2025. Operating theatre technicians may earn similar amounts, but individual pay depends on experience, location, and employer.
What is the best way to estimate a salary for this role? Check current job advertisements, enterprise agreements, or award rates. You can also use the Guides on this site to understand how pay is set in the health industry.