Where the national line sits
The national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. This is the line that Average line uses to show how any salary compares. The full‑time median (the middle point for full‑time workers) is about $90,532 a year, and the all‑employees median is about $74,100 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
Pharmacist pay: award minimums and what pharmacists actually earn
Pharmacist salaries in Australia are covered by the Pharmacy Industry Award, which sets minimum rates for different classifications. From 1 July 2026, the award rates for pharmacists are:
| Classification | Weekly minimum | Hourly minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $1,586.30 | $41.74 |
| Experienced Pharmacist | $1,737.40 | $45.72 |
| Pharmacist in charge | $1,778.40 | $46.80 |
| Pharmacist manager | $1,981.60 | $52.15 |
These are the legal minimums. Most full‑time pharmacists earn more. The Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full‑time pharmacist earns $1,956 a week (about $101,712 a year), and the median hourly rate is $52. That median is above the award minimums but still below the national full‑time average of $108,352.
Why a state can move the figure off the line
State full‑time averages vary across Australia. Using the on‑site figures from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026:
- New South Wales: $109,658 Victoria: $109,137 Queensland: $106,064 South Australia: $102,450 Western Australia: $102,450 Tasmania: $96,008 Northern Territory: $103,173 Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
A pharmacist working in Western Australia or the ACT is likely to earn more than one in Tasmania or South Australia, simply because the whole labour market in those states pays more. The award rates are national, but above‑award pay, penalty rates, and the mix of hospital, community, and industrial pharmacists push actual earnings up or down.
How the national line compares with pharmacist pay
The national full‑time average is $108,352. The pharmacist median of $101,712 is about $6,640 lower. But a pharmacist manager under the award earns $1,981.60 a week ($103,043 a year), which is close to the line. An experienced pharmacist in a high‑paying state like the ACT could easily exceed the national average.
Tax on a pharmacist salary
For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates 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
- 45% above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A pharmacist earning the median $101,712 would pay about $23,467 in tax plus $2,034 Medicare levy, leaving about $76,211 after tax (before any offsets).
Putting your salary on the line
You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares with the national full‑time average, state averages, and the minimum wage. The site also shows job medians and industry medians so you can see where your pay sits in the broader market.
The bottom line
Pharmacist pay is above the national minimum wage but below the national full‑time average for a typical pharmacist. Experience, classification, and location all matter. The award sets a floor; the market sets the ceiling.
How the figures are set
The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, conducted twice a year (May and November). The pharmacist median comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025. Award rates are from Fair Work’s Pharmacy Industry Award, effective 1 July 2026. For more detail, see How the figures are set.