Pharmacy salary: award rates, medians and the national line
Pharmacy salary in Australia depends on the role, classification and experience. The Pharmacy Industry Award sets minimum rates for pharmacists, pharmacy interns, pharmacy students and pharmacy assistants. Meanwhile, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes median earnings for the occupation, and the national full-time average provides a benchmark. This article reads pharmacy pay as a year, a week and an hour, and shows where it sits against the line.
Award minimums for pharmacists
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pharmacy Industry Award sets these minimum hourly rates for full-time and part-time pharmacists:
- Pharmacist: $41.74 per hour, $1,586.30 per week
- Experienced pharmacist: $45.72 per hour, $1,737.40 per week
- Pharmacist in charge: $46.80 per hour, $1,778.40 per week
- Pharmacist manager: $52.15 per hour, $1,981.60 per week
These rates are before penalty loadings for morning, evening, Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and overtime work. For example, a pharmacist working Monday to Friday before 8am receives $62.61 per hour, and on a public holiday the rate is $62.61 per hour (or $83.48 for overtime). The award also covers pharmacy interns at $33.99 per hour ($1,291.50 per week) and pharmacy assistants at lower levels.
Pharmacy assistant award rates
Pharmacy assistants are classified from Level 1 to Level 4. The weekly minimums (38-hour week) are:
- Level 1: $1,056.80 ($27.81 per hour)
- Level 2: $1,081.00 ($28.45 per hour)
- Level 3: $1,119.10 ($29.45 per hour)
- Level 4: $1,165.10 ($30.66 per hour)
Penalty rates apply for early morning, evening, Saturday and Sunday work. For instance, a Level 1 assistant working Saturday morning (7am to 8am) receives $55.62 per hour, and on a public holiday $62.57 per hour.
Median earnings for pharmacists
The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), reported by Jobs and Skills Australia, gives a median full-time weekly earnings for pharmacists of $1,956. That equates to about $101,712 per year (52 weeks) and an hourly median of $52 (based on 38 hours). This is the midpoint: half of full-time pharmacists earn more, half earn less. The median is lower than the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026.
How pharmacy pay compares to the national line
The national full-time average line on this site is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year. A pharmacist on the award minimum ($1,586.30 per week) sits about $497 below the line. An experienced pharmacist on award ($1,737.40) is about $346 below. A pharmacist manager on award ($1,981.60) is about $102 below. The median pharmacist ($1,956) is about $128 below the line. By contrast, a pharmacy assistant at Level 1 ($1,056.80) is more than $1,000 below the line.
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. All award pharmacy rates are above that minimum.
State differences
The national full-time average varies by state. For example, the ACT has the highest average at $119,090 per year, while Tasmania has the lowest at $96,008. A pharmacist earning the median $101,712 would be above the Tasmanian average but below the ACT average. States and territories shows the full list.
Reading pharmacy salary as a year, week and hour
Whether you are an employer setting pay or an employee checking your rate, it helps to see the same figure in three timeframes. The award gives weekly and hourly rates. The ABS gives weekly medians. To convert:
- Multiply the weekly rate by 52 for a yearly figure (before tax).
- Divide the weekly rate by 38 for an hourly rate (ordinary hours).
- Multiply the hourly rate by 38 for a weekly rate.
For example, a pharmacist on $41.74 per hour earns $1,586.30 per week and about $82,488 per year at base rate (excluding penalties). The median pharmacist earns $1,956 per week, $101,712 per year, and about $51.47 per hour.
Tax on pharmacy salary
Income tax for 2026–27 is progressive: nil on the first $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. A Medicare levy of 2% applies (with possible reductions). A pharmacist earning the median $101,712 would fall in the 30% bracket plus Medicare, giving a marginal rate of 32%. Use Place a salary on the line to see your take-home pay.
Other pharmacy roles
The award also covers pharmacy students and interns. A pharmacy student rate is not listed in the summary table but is referenced in the award. Pharmacy interns receive $33.99 per hour ($1,291.50 per week). These rates are below the national full-time average and below the median for qualified pharmacists.
Where to find more
For detailed classification definitions and penalty rates, see the full Pharmacy Industry Award on the Fair Work Ombudsman website. For occupation-specific medians, visit Job medians. For industry comparisons, see Industry medians. The Guides section explains how award rates are updated each year.
Summary
Pharmacy salary in Australia ranges from around $27.81 per hour for a Level 1 assistant to over $52 per hour for a pharmacist manager. The median full-time pharmacist earns $1,956 per week, below the national average of $2,083.70. Award minimums are set by Fair Work and increase annually. Use this site to see where your pharmacy pay sits on the line.