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Perfusionist salary Australia: How it compares to the national average

No specific perfusionist salary is published, but the closest occupation category, Medical Technicians, has a median full-time weekly earnings of $1,539, below the national full-time average of $2,084.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Perfusionist salary in Australia

Perfusionists operate the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and are classified under the Medical Technicians occupation group (ANZSCO 3112). The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a specific earnings figure for perfusionists, but the closest available data comes from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey and Jobs and Skills Australia.

Where the national average sits

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts the national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the benchmark used by Average line. The full-time median (from the ABS Employee Earnings survey, August 2025) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week.

Medical Technicians median earnings

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for Medical Technicians (including perfusionists) was $1,539 in May 2025. That works out to roughly $80,028 a year – below the national full-time median of about $1,741 per week. The median hourly earnings for Medical Technicians were $39, compared to $47 for all occupations. Only 59% of Medical Technicians work full-time, which is lower than the 69% average across all jobs.

What would move this pay above or below the average

Several factors can push a perfusionist’s pay above or below the Medical Technicians median:

  • Sector: Public hospitals tend to pay more. The public sector full-time average is $2,263.10 per week, while the private sector is $2,034.10. Many perfusionists work in public teaching hospitals.
  • State: Full-time averages vary by state. Western Australia ($2,227.40 per week) and the Australian Capital Territory ($2,290.20) are above the national average, while Tasmania ($1,846.30) is below. See state breakdowns.
  • Overtime and on-call: Cardiac surgery often requires after-hours or emergency work, which can significantly boost weekly earnings.
  • Experience and qualifications: Senior perfusionists or those with additional certifications can earn more than the median.
  • Enterprise agreements: Many hospital-based perfusionists are covered by collective agreements that set higher rates than the minimum.

Because perfusionists are a small, specialised group, their actual earnings may cluster above the Medical Technicians median. However, without a dedicated ABS publication, the best guide is the Medical Technicians figure.

How the figures are set

Perfusionist pay is not governed by a single award. It is typically set by enterprise agreements at individual hospitals or health networks, or by individual contracts. The ABS collects earnings data through surveys, and Jobs and Skills Australia uses that data to produce occupation profiles. Learn more about how the figures are set.

If you want to see how your own salary compares to the national full-time average, you can place a salary on the line.

Key takeaways

  • No specific perfusionist salary is published by the ABS.
  • The closest category, Medical Technicians, has a median full-time weekly earnings of $1,539.
  • That is below the national full-time average of $2,084, but above the minimum wage.
  • Factors like public sector work, overtime, and location can lift earnings above the median.

Questions

What is the average salary for a perfusionist in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate figure for perfusionists. The closest occupation group is Medical Technicians (ANZSCO 3112), which includes perfusionists. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for Medical Technicians was $1,539 in May 2025, which equates to about $80,028 a year before tax. This is a median for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, so actual perfusionist salaries may vary.

How does perfusionist pay compare to the national average?

The national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year. The Medical Technicians median of $1,539 per week is about 26% below that average. However, perfusionists often work in specialised hospital roles that may attract higher pay through enterprise agreements, overtime, or on-call allowances, so individual earnings can be above the median.

What factors influence perfusionist earnings?

Perfusionist pay can vary by state, sector, and experience. For example, the public sector full-time average is $2,263.10 per week, higher than the private sector average of $2,034.10. States like Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory have higher full-time averages. Overtime and on-call work are common in cardiac surgery, which can lift weekly earnings. Experience and advanced qualifications also play a role. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but perfusionists earn well above that.

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