Physiotherapy salary vs the national full-time average
Physiotherapy pay in Australia sits below the national full-time adult ordinary-time average, according to the most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Jobs and Skills Australia. The median full-time weekly earnings for physiotherapists is $1,888, while the national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week. That difference of about $195.70 per week places physiotherapy below the line drawn by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings measure.
Where the figures come from
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week (about $108,352 a year) comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, released in August 2026. This is the benchmark used by this site to show where a salary sits on the line.
The physiotherapy median of $1,888 per week is from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. It is a median for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, before tax. The median hourly earnings for physiotherapists is $50 per hour, compared to $47 for all occupations. The median age is 33 years, and 58% female share.
How physiotherapy pay compares
Physiotherapy pay is below the line. The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week. The median is $1,888. That is about 9.4% below the average. However, the median is not the same as the average; the average for all full-time adult employees is higher because it includes higher-paid occupations. For context, the full-time adult average weekly total earnings (including overtime) is $2,160.00 per week (seasonally adjusted). The physiotherapy median is below that too.
Award minimum rates for support services employees under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award (MA000027) from 1 October 2026 are lower: Level 8 pay point 1 is $1,283.50 per week ($33.78 per hour) and Level 9 pay point 2 is $1,485.90 per week ($39.10 per hour). These are minimums, not typical earnings.
What it means for take-home pay
Using the 2026-27 tax rates and the 38-hour week, the median $1,888 per week translates to about $98,176 per year. After tax and Medicare levy, the tax on $98,176 is about $18,200 tax-free, then 15% up to $45,000, then 30% up to $135,000. So tax on $98,176 is about $23,400. Medicare levy 2% is $1,963.60. After tax and Medicare, take-home is about $72,800. That is below the average take-home from the average.
Other context
State full-time averages: New South Wales $109,658; Victoria $106,106; Queensland $106,064; South Australia $102,450; Western Australia $115,825; Tasmania $96,008; Northern Territory $103,173; Australian Capital Territory $119,090. Physiotherapy median $98,176 is below all except Tasmania.
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