Oral health therapist salary in Australia
Oral health therapists are registered dental practitioners who focus on preventive care, treatment of gum disease, and oral health education. Their pay is set under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, which covers both health professional and support services employees. The award’s minimum rates are updated annually following the Fair Work Commission’s wage review.
Where the salary sits against the national average
The national full‑time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the site’s reference line. The full‑time median is about $90,532, and the all‑employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
Because the provided sources do not publish a specific average salary for oral health therapists, we cannot place the role exactly on the line. However, the award provides a floor. For example, a support services employee at Level 1 earns a minimum of $1,024.70 per week ($53,284 per year), while higher classifications (Level 8 or 9) can exceed $1,400 per week ($72,800 per year). Health professional employees – including oral health therapists – are classified separately and typically earn more, reflecting their qualifications and registration.
Take‑home pay: a resident sketch
Using the national full‑time average of $108,352 as a reference, a resident earning that amount would pay:
- Tax (2026–27 rates): nil on the first $18,200; 15% on the next $26,800; 30% on the next $90,000; 37% on the next $55,000; 45% above $190,000. For $108,352, the tax is roughly $24,867 plus Medicare levy (2% of $108,352 = $2,167, but reduced by low‑income offsets). Total tax plus Medicare is about $27,034.
- After‑tax income: approximately $81,318 per year**, or about $1,564 per week.
An oral health therapist earning near the award minimum would have a lower tax bill and a larger gap to the average.
State and territory comparisons
State full‑time averages vary. The highest is the ACT at $119,090; the lowest is Tasmania at $96,008. An oral health therapist’s pay may differ by location, but the award rates are national. The ABS publishes state averages for all industries:
- 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
How the figures are set
The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, released twice a year (May and November). The award minimums are set by the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review. The 2026 review increased award rates by 4.75%, and the Health Professionals and Support Services Award saw additional changes from 1 October 2026 due to the gender‑based undervaluation review.
Key takeaway
While an exact oral health therapist salary is not available in the provided sources, the role is well‑paid relative to the national minimum wage and likely sits above the all‑employees median. Using the national full‑time average of $108,352 as a benchmark, you can estimate where your pay falls. Place a salary on the line to see your distance from the average. For more on how the data is collected, see How the figures are set.