Physiotherapist salary in Melbourne: year, week, hour
If you are looking at a physiotherapist salary in Melbourne, the most reliable public figure is the national median for the occupation. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a Melbourne-specific average for physiotherapists, but the national data gives a solid benchmark.
National median for physiotherapists
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for physiotherapists are $1,888 (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). That works out to about $98,176 per year (multiply by 52 weeks) and $50 per hour based on the median hourly rate reported. The typical full-time physiotherapist works 41 hours a week, but the site's standard week is 38 hours, so the hourly equivalent on that basis is $1,888 ÷ 38 ≈ $49.68.
This median is higher than the all-occupations full-time median of about $90,532, but lower than the national full-time average of $108,352 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Remember: the median is the middle point—half of physiotherapists earn more, half earn less. The average is pulled up by higher earners in other fields.
How Melbourne compares
Victoria's full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,041.10, or about $106,137 per year (States and territories). That is slightly below the national average. If physiotherapists in Melbourne follow the national pattern, they would earn around the national median of $98,176, but local demand and cost of living can shift pay. Without a published Melbourne-specific figure, the national median is the best starting point.
Reading the same pay as a year, a week, and an hour
The site's line is the national full-time average: $2,083.70 per week, $108,352 per year, $54.83 per hour on a 38-hour week. A physiotherapist on the national median of $1,888 per week earns about $195 less per week than that line. That is a gap of roughly 9.4% below the average.
To see where any salary sits relative to the line, use the Place a salary on the line tool. You can enter a yearly, weekly, or hourly figure and see the distance from the national average.
Tax on a physiotherapist salary in Melbourne
For the 2026–27 income year, Australian residents pay no tax 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 physiotherapist earning $98,176 would fall in the 30% marginal bracket. The Medicare levy of 2% applies on top, though low-income earners may get a reduction. Take-home pay after tax and Medicare would be roughly $75,000–$78,000 depending on deductions.
Where the figures come from
The national average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, May 2026. Medians are from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025. The national minimum wage is set by Fair Work and from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour. Award rates for physiotherapists are higher and can be checked on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For more detail on how these figures are calculated, see How the figures are set.
Key takeaways
- National median physiotherapist: $1,888 per week, $98,176 per year, ~$50 per hour.
- National full-time average: $2,083.70 per week, $108,352 per year.
- Victoria full-time average: $2,041.10 per week, $106,137 per year.
- No Melbourne-specific physiotherapist figure is published; use the national median as a guide.
- The physiotherapist median is above the all-occupations median but below the national average.
If you are negotiating a salary or planning a move to Melbourne, these benchmarks give you a realistic starting point. Remember that experience, sector (public vs private), and location within Melbourne can all affect actual pay.