Podiatry pay and the national average
Where podiatry sits on the line
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a median or average weekly earnings figure specifically for podiatrists (ANZSCO 2526). The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for podiatrists reports that median full-time earnings are not available due to a high standard error. This means we cannot place podiatry pay precisely on the line, but we can examine the factors that would push it above or below the national full-time average.
The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings stood at $2,083.70 in May 2026, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey. That works out to about $108,352 a year on a 38-hour week. The full-time median (from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100.
Podiatrists are classified under the health care and social assistance industry. In May 2026, the full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings for that industry were $2,037.20 – slightly below the national average. Within the industry, there is a notable gender gap: men averaged $2,474.10 per week, while women averaged $1,875.50. Since 58% of podiatrists are female (Jobs and Skills Australia), the industry average may not fully reflect podiatrist earnings.
What would move podiatry pay above or below the average
Sector: public vs private
The public sector full-time average is $2,263.10 per week, well above the national average. Podiatrists working in public hospitals or community health centres are likely to earn more than those in private practice, where the private sector full-time average is $2,034.10. The public sector also tends to have more structured pay scales and penalty rates.
Location
State averages vary considerably. The table below shows full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings by state (annualised from ABS May 2026 data):
- 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
Podiatrists in the ACT or Western Australia could earn above the national average, while those in Tasmania or South Australia may earn below. The cost of living and demand for services also play a role.
Experience and qualifications
Podiatrists with advanced clinical skills, specialisations (e.g., sports podiatry, paediatric podiatry), or management roles can command higher pay. The median age of podiatrists is 43, suggesting many have substantial experience. Those who own their practice may have higher earnings but also bear business costs.
Award coverage
Podiatrists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. From 1 July 2026, award minimum rates increased by 4.75% following the Annual Wage Review. The national minimum wage is now $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week on 38 hours). Award rates for health professionals are higher than the minimum but still below the national full-time average. Many podiatrists earn above award through enterprise agreements or individual contracts.
How the line works
Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares to the national full-time average. The site shows the weekly and hourly equivalent on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the average. You can also explore job medians for other occupations where ABS data is available.
For podiatrists, the absence of a published median means we rely on industry and sector comparisons. The health care industry average is a useful benchmark, but individual earnings depend on the factors above.
Key takeaways
- No specific podiatry salary figure is published by the ABS or Jobs and Skills Australia.
- The health care and social assistance industry full-time average ($2,037.20 per week) is slightly below the national average ($2,083.70).
- Public sector podiatrists likely earn above the national average; private sector podiatrists may earn below.
- Location matters: podiatrists in the ACT or WA have higher average earnings potential.
- Award rates set a floor, but many podiatrists earn above award.
For more detail on how earnings are measured, see How the figures are set. To compare by state, visit States and territories.