Understanding the Physio Salary in Australia
If you are researching the physio salary in Australia, the most reliable figure comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) via Jobs and Skills Australia. For full-time physiotherapists, the median weekly earnings are $1,888 (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). That works out to about $98,176 a year (52 weeks) and $50 an hour for a typical 38-hour week.
This median is a useful benchmark because it reflects the middle point of what full-time physiotherapists earn – half earn more, half earn less. It is not an average, so it is less affected by very high or very low salaries.
How Physio Pay Sits Against the National Line
On this site, the national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That is the line we use to compare every occupation. The physio median of $1,888 per week is $195.70 below that line – about 9.4% lower.
But the physio median is above the national full-time median of roughly $1,741 per week (about $90,532 a year). So physiotherapists typically earn more than the typical full-time worker, but less than the average full-time worker (which is pulled up by higher-paid industries like mining and professional services).
Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares to the national average.
Hourly and Weekly Breakdown
Because the site shows pay as a year, a week, and an hour on a 38-hour week, here is how the physio median converts:
- Yearly: $98,176 (median, before tax)
- Weekly: $1,888
- Hourly: $50
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 a year (Fair Work). The physio median is nearly double that. Even the lowest award rates for health support workers (Level 1 under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award) start at $26.97 per hour, which is only slightly above the minimum.
Award Coverage for Physiotherapists
Most physiotherapists in private practice or public hospitals are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award (MA000027). The award sets minimum pay rates for different classification levels. However, the pay guide published by Fair Work (October 2026) only shows rates for support services employees (e.g., administration, cleaning). Physiotherapists fall under the health professional classifications, which have higher minimum rates. For example, a newly qualified physiotherapist might be classified at a level that pays above the support services Level 8 rates shown in the guide. Always check the full award text for your specific classification.
State and Territory Differences
Physio salaries can vary by location. The national full-time average for each state (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026) gives a sense of local pay levels:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Physiotherapists in higher-paying states like WA and ACT may earn above the national median, while those in Tasmania may earn less. States and territories has more detail on regional averages.
Tax on a Physio Salary
Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates, a physiotherapist earning the median of $98,176 would pay:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 ($4,020)
- 30% on the next $53,176 ($15,953)
- Total tax before offsets: about $19,973
- Plus Medicare levy of 2% ($1,964)
- Take-home pay: roughly $76,239 per year, or $1,466 per week.
This is a rough estimate; individual circumstances (HELP debt, private health insurance, deductions) will change the final amount.
Where the Figures Come From
The median physio earnings are from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. The national averages are from ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Award rates are from Fair Work. How the figures are set explains the methodology.
Other Ways to Compare
You can also see how physio pay compares to other health professions using Job medians or Industry medians. For example, the median for all health professionals is higher than the national median, but physiotherapy sits near the middle of that group.
Summary
The typical physio salary in Australia is $1,888 per week ($98,176 per year). It is a solid income, above the national median but below the national average. Use the line tool to see exactly where your salary sits.
Guides has more articles on understanding pay data and award rates.