What is the minimum wage for a paramedic in Melbourne under the award?

Under the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award, a qualified ambulance officer (paramedic) in year 3 and above earns a minimum of $1,326.90 per week, or $34.92 per hour for a full-time employee from 1 July 2026. This is the base rate before penalties or allowances.

How does a paramedic's salary compare to the Victorian full-time average?

The Victorian full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,041.10 ($106,137 per year) according to the ABS for May 2026. A paramedic on the award minimum of $1,326.90 per week ($68,999 per year) earns about 65% of the state average. Many paramedics earn above the award due to experience, penalties, or enterprise agreements.

What is the take-home pay for a paramedic earning the award rate after tax?

For a paramedic earning the award minimum of $68,999 per year in 2026–27, the estimated take-home pay after income tax and Medicare levy is about $55,600 per year (roughly $1,069 per week). This uses the resident tax rates: nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus 2% Medicare. Actual take-home pay varies with deductions and offsets.

Paramedic Salary Melbourne: Award Rates and Take-Home Pay Compared to the National Average

Paramedic Salary in Melbourne: Award Minimums and the National Average

If you are looking for a paramedic salary in Melbourne, the most reliable public figure is the minimum rate set by the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award, a national award that covers paramedics across Australia including Victoria. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish an average salary specifically for paramedics in Melbourne, but we can compare the award rate to the national full-time average and the Victorian state average to give you a sense of where this pay sits.

The National Full-Time Average as a Benchmark

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings across Australia are $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the line on this site. The full-time median is lower at about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week.

Award Minimums for Paramedics (Ambulance Officers)

Under the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award, a qualified ambulance officer (paramedic) in year 3 and above earns a minimum weekly rate of $1,326.90 as of the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. This equates to $34.92 per hour for a full-time employee. The award also provides higher rates for casual employees (25% loading) and penalty rates for weekends, public holidays, and shift work. For example, a casual paramedic year 3 earns $43.65 per hour on ordinary time, and $61.11 on Saturdays and Sundays.

These are minimum rates. Many paramedics in Melbourne are covered by enterprise agreements that pay above the award, especially in public ambulance services. The actual average salary for paramedics in Melbourne is likely higher than the award minimum, but no official average figure is published by the ABS or Fair Work.

Take-Home Pay Sketch for a Melbourne Paramedic

Using the award minimum of $68,999 per year, a resident paramedic in Melbourne would pay income tax and the Medicare levy under the 2026–27 rates. The tax brackets 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, plus 2% Medicare levy. The estimated tax on $68,999 is about $11,400, plus Medicare of $1,380, leaving take-home pay of roughly $56,200 per year ($1,080 per week). This is before any deductions or tax offsets.

If the paramedic earns above the award—say $80,000 per year—the take-home pay would be about $63,500 per year ($1,221 per week). Compare this to the national full-time average of $108,352, which after tax yields about $80,000 per year ($1,538 per week). The gap is significant, but paramedics often receive penalty rates and allowances that boost their gross pay.

How the Award Rate Compares to State and National Averages

The Victorian full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,041.10 ($106,137 per year) according to the ABS for May 2026. The award minimum for a paramedic ($1,326.90 per week) is about 65% of the state average. The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week. Even if a paramedic earns $80,000 per year ($1,538 per week), that is still below the national average.

For more context, Place a salary on the line to see how any income compares to the national full-time average. You can also explore States and territories to see how Victoria's average stacks up against other regions.

Remember that the award minimum is a floor. Actual paramedic salaries in Melbourne vary by employer, experience, and hours worked. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database provides the full schedule of rates, allowances, and penalties for the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award.

Key Takeaways

The average paramedic salary in Melbourne is not separately published by the ABS or Fair Work.
The award minimum for a qualified paramedic (year 3+) is $1,326.90 per week ($68,999 per year) from July 2026.
The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year).
The Victorian full-time average is $2,041.10 per week ($106,137 per year).
Take-home pay on the award minimum is roughly $56,200 per year after tax and Medicare.
Many paramedics earn above the award through enterprise agreements or penalty rates.

For further reading, see Job medians for other occupations or How the figures are set for methodology.