Paramedic pay in Perth and the national average
If you are looking at a paramedic salary in Perth, the first question is how it stacks up against the national full-time average. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts full-time adult ordinary time earnings at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. That is the line this site uses to place a salary on the line.
The award minimum for paramedics
The minimum pay for a paramedic in Australia is set by the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award. The Fair Work Commission’s pay guide, effective from 1 July 2026, lists weekly rates for a full-time ambulance officer or paramedic:
- Year 1: $1,309.50 per week ($34.46 per hour)
- Year 2: $1,319.50 per week ($34.72 per hour)
- Year 3 and above: $1,326.90 per week ($34.92 per hour)
Multiplying by 52 gives yearly figures of roughly $68,094, $68,614, and $68,999 respectively. These are the base rates before any allowances, penalties, or overtime. They apply nationally, including in Perth, unless a specific enterprise agreement overrides them.
How Perth compares to the state and national averages
Western Australia’s full-time adult average ordinary time earnings are $115,825 a year, the second-highest of any state or territory after the ACT States and territories. The national average is $108,352. The award minimum for a paramedic is about $68,000, which is well below both. Even after accounting for typical shift penalties and allowances, a paramedic’s salary in Perth may still sit below the WA average, though experienced paramedics with regular overtime can push their pay closer to or above the national line.
What moves paramedic pay above or below the average
Several factors can lift a paramedic’s earnings above the award minimum:
- Penalty rates: Saturday and Sunday work attracts a 50% loading (time-and-a-half), public holidays double time. Shift allowances add about $59.71 per shift for finishing between 6pm and 8am or starting between 6pm and 6.30am.
- Overtime: The first two hours of overtime are paid at time-and-a-half, after that double time. Working more than 12 shifts in a row triggers a higher rate.
- On-call and recall: On-call working time is paid at double the ordinary rate, recall at double time.
- Enterprise agreements: In Western Australia, St John Ambulance WA has its own agreement that sets higher base rates and conditions. These agreements are negotiated between the employer and the union and often exceed the award.
- Experience and classification: Progression from year 1 to year 3 increases the base rate, and moving into roles like intensive care paramedic or team leader brings higher pay.
Conversely, a paramedic working mostly standard weekday shifts with minimal overtime will earn close to the award minimum, which is significantly below the national average. The gap between the award floor and the average is about $40,000 a year.
The role of the national minimum wage and medians
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 per year on a 38-hour week). The award rates for paramedics are about 30% higher than the minimum wage. The full-time median earnings (from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025) are about $90,532 a year, while the all-employees median is about $74,100. A paramedic on the award minimum is below the full-time median, but with penalties and overtime many would reach or exceed it.
Tax considerations
Resident tax rates for 2026–27 are: nil up to $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy adds 2%. A paramedic earning $68,000 would pay about $11,067 in tax plus $1,360 Medicare levy, leaving about $55,573 after tax. A paramedic earning $90,000 (close to the full-time median) would pay about $19,717 tax plus $1,800 Medicare levy, leaving about $68,483.
Where to find more
For a deeper look at how different occupations compare, see job medians. To see how your salary measures up against the national line, use the Place a salary on the line tool. For state-by-state breakdowns, visit States and territories.
Summary
A paramedic salary in Perth starts at the award minimum of around $68,000–$69,000, but actual earnings depend on the employer, shift patterns, and experience. The WA full-time average of $115,825 is a high bar, but with penalties and overtime, paramedics can close the gap. The national average of $108,352 is a useful benchmark: award-only pay sits well below it, while experienced paramedics on good rosters may exceed it.