Physiotherapist salary Sydney: How it compares to the national average

Physiotherapist salary Sydney: where it sits against the national average

If you are looking at a physiotherapist salary in Sydney, the most reliable starting point is the national median for the occupation. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, reports that the median full-time physiotherapist earns $1,888 per week before tax. That works out to about $98,176 a year (multiply by 52). This is the middle point: half of full-time physiotherapists earn more, half earn less.

How does that compare to the national full-time average? The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, puts the full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week – about $108,352 a year. So the typical physiotherapist earns about $10,000 a year less than the average across all full-time workers.

Sydney and NSW context

No official source publishes a physiotherapist salary specifically for Sydney. The best proxy is the New South Wales full-time average from the same ABS release: $2,108.80 per week (about $109,658 a year). That is slightly above the national average, reflecting Sydney’s higher cost of living and wage premium in some sectors. However, physiotherapists in Sydney may earn more or less than that NSW average depending on experience, employer (public vs private), and specialisation.

For comparison, the national full-time median across all occupations is about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The physiotherapist median of $98,176 is above that, meaning the profession pays better than the typical full-time job.

Award minimums and typical pay

Physiotherapists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award (MA000027). From 1 October 2026, the minimum weekly rates range from $1,024.70 (Level 1) to $1,485.90 (Level 9, pay point 2). A newly qualified physiotherapist would typically start at Level 2 ($1,065.20 per week) or Level 3 ($1,106.20). These are legal minimums; most employers pay above award, especially in private practice or hospitals.

The median of $1,888 per week is well above the highest award rate, confirming that experienced physiotherapists earn significantly more than the minimum.

Take-home pay sketch

Using the national median of $98,176 a year, a resident in Sydney would pay:

Income tax (2026–27 rates): about $20,467
Medicare levy (2%): $1,964
Total tax: $22,431
After-tax income: about $75,745

If you earn the national full-time average of $108,352, the after-tax figure is roughly $82,000. These are estimates; your actual take-home depends on deductions, HELP repayments, and other factors.

Where to find more

States and territories – see how pay varies across Australia
Job medians – compare physiotherapist pay to other professions

The bottom line

A physiotherapist salary in Sydney is not separately published, but the national median of $1,888 per week ($98,176 a year) is a solid benchmark. It sits below the national full-time average of $2,083.70 but above the all-jobs median. In NSW, the average full-time worker earns about $109,658, so a Sydney physiotherapist on the national median is about $11,500 below that state average. Experience, sector, and negotiation will move the number up or down.

Questions

What is the typical pay for a physiotherapist in Sydney?

No Sydney-specific figure is published by the ABS or Jobs and Skills Australia. Nationally, the median full-time physiotherapist earns $1,888 per week (before tax), based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. That is about $98,176 a year. The national full-time average for all occupations is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 a year). In New South Wales, the full-time average is about $2,108.80 per week ($109,658 a year).

What are the minimum award rates for physiotherapists?

Physiotherapists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award. From 1 October 2026, minimum weekly rates range from $1,024.70 (Level 1) to $1,485.90 (Level 9, pay point 2). Most qualified physiotherapists would be classified at Level 2 or higher, with a minimum of $1,065.20 per week ($28.03 per hour). These are minimums; actual pay is often higher.

How much take-home pay would a physiotherapist earning the national median get in Sydney?

Assuming the national median full-time salary of $98,176 a year, a resident in Sydney would pay about $20,467 in income tax plus $1,964 in Medicare levy (2%), leaving roughly $75,745 after tax. This is a sketch; actual tax depends on deductions and offsets. The national full-time average of $108,352 would leave about $82,000 after tax.