Where the physiotherapist salary sits on the line
The national full‑time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 – about $108,352 a year on a 38‑hour week. This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses to show how any pay compares.
For physiotherapists, the most reliable published figure is the median full‑time weekly earnings of $1,888, from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to roughly $98,176 a year – about 9% below the national full‑time average. However, it is above the national full‑time median of $1,852 a week ($90,532 a year) and well above the all‑employees median of $1,425 ($74,100).
What the data tells us
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey gives the big‑picture average across all full‑time adults. It is not an occupation‑specific figure, so we rely on the median from the Employee Earnings survey for a clearer view of what a typical physiotherapist earns. The median is the middle point: half of full‑time physiotherapists earn more than $1,888 a week, half earn less.
Jobs and Skills Australia also provides context: 72% of physiotherapists work full‑time, the average full‑time hours are 41 per week, and the median hourly earnings are $50. The female share of the profession is 58%, and the median age is 33 – relatively young, which may pull the median down as early‑career salaries are lower.
What would move a physiotherapist’s pay above or below the average?
Several factors can push an individual physiotherapist’s salary above or below the national full‑time average of $2,083.70.
Public vs private sector
The public sector full‑time average across all occupations is $2,263.10 a week ($117,681 a year), while the private sector average is $2,034.10 ($105,773). Physiotherapists working in public hospitals or community health centres are often covered by enterprise agreements that set rates above the award. Those in private practice may earn less, especially if they are employees rather than business owners, but experienced practitioners or those with a strong client base can exceed the public sector average.
Location
State full‑time averages vary significantly:
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
- Western Australia: $115,825
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- South Australia: $102,450
- Tasmania: $96,098
A physiotherapist in the ACT or WA are already close to or above the national average. In Tasmania, the average is below the lowest, so even a median physiotherapist there would be near the state average, but still below the national line. States and territories shows how each region compares.
Experience and specialisation
The median age of 33 suggests many physiotherapists are in the first decade of their career. As they gain experience, specialise (e.g., sports, paediatrics, musculoskeletal), or move into management or ownership, earnings can rise well above the median. Conversely, new graduates often start on award rates or slightly above.
Award coverage
The Health Professionals and Support Services Award sets minimum rates for many physiotherapists. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide for that award (effective from 1 October 2026) shows weekly rates for support services employees ranging from $1,024.70 (Level 1) to $1,497.80 (Level 9). However, the award also covers health professional employees, and the actual classification rates for physiotherapists are not published in the summary guide. Most physiotherapists earn above the award minimum, but the award acts as a floor. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), so even the lowest award levels are above that.
How the line tool works
The Place a salary on the line tool lets you enter a yearly salary before tax. It then shows the weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38‑hour week, and the distance from the national full‑time average. For a physiotherapist earning the median $98,176, the tool would show a weekly figure of about $1,888 and an hourly rate of about $49.68, and indicate that this is about $10,176 below the average line.
Other benchmarks
- Full‑time median (all occupations): $1,852 a week ($90,532 a year) – physiotherapists are above this.
- All‑employees median: $1,425 a week ($74,100) – physiotherapists are well above this.
- National minimum wage: $1,004.90 a week ($52,255) – well below the physiotherapist median.
- Men’s full‑time average: $2,181.50 a week ($113,438) – physiotherapists, with a 58% female workforce, tend to earn less than this.
- Women’s full‑time average: $1,934.50 a week ($100,594) – the physiotherapist median is just below this.
For more context on how different occupations compare, see Job medians. Industry‑level averages are available at Industry medians.
Summary
The typical full‑time physiotherapist earns a median of $1,888 per week, which is below the national full‑time average of $2,083.70 but above the national full‑time median. Public sector work, location, experience, and specialisation are the main factors that can lift pay above the line. The award minimums and the national minimum wage are much lower, but most physiotherapists earn above those floors. Guides and How the figures are set explain more about the sources and methodology. About this site covers how the line is calculated and how to use it for your own salary.