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Provisional psychologist salary: how it compares to the national average

The ABS does not publish a specific figure for provisional psychologists. For all psychologists and psychotherapists, the median full-time weekly earnings are $2,204, or about $114,608 a year, but provisional roles typically pay less, often near award or minimum wage rates.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Provisional psychologist salary and the national average

If you are a provisional psychologist in Australia, you are likely in the early stages of your career, completing supervised practice before full registration. Your salary may not yet match the national full-time average, but understanding where it sits can help you plan your next steps.

The national benchmark used on this site is the full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings published by the ABS in its Average Weekly Earnings release for May 2026. That figure is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the line we draw on our chart. Place a salary on the line to see how your pay compares.

What the data says about psychologist pay

The ABS does not publish a separate earnings figure for provisional psychologists. The closest occupation group is 'Psychologists and Psychotherapists', for which Jobs and Skills Australia reports a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,204 (about $114,608 a year) based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. That median is above the national full-time average, but it includes experienced, fully registered psychologists. Provisional psychologists are typically at the lower end of the pay scale.

For context, the national full-time median (all occupations) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 a year. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. Many provisional psychologists start on award rates that sit between the minimum wage and the all-employees median.

A take-home sketch using the average as a reference

Imagine a provisional psychologist earning exactly the national full-time average of $108,352 a year. Under the 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy), the weekly before-tax pay of $2,083.70 would yield an estimated take-home of about $1,520 per week. That is a rough guide; your actual tax may differ depending on your circumstances.

If your salary is lower, say around $70,000 a year (common for early provisional roles), the weekly before-tax pay would be about $1,346, and take-home around $1,050. Use our Job medians page to see how other roles compare.

State and territory differences

The national average masks big differences across Australia. The full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings for each state and territory (from the same ABS release) are:

  • New South Wales: $2,108.80/week ($109,658/year)
  • Victoria: $2,041.10/week ($106,137/year)
  • Queensland: $2,039.70/week ($106,064/year)
  • South Australia: $1,970.20/week ($102,450/year)
  • Western Australia: $2,227.40/week ($115,825/year)
  • Tasmania: $1,846.30/week ($96,008/year)
  • Northern Territory: $1,984.10/week ($103,173/year)
  • Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20/week ($119,090/year)

If you are a provisional psychologist in Western Australia or the ACT, the higher local average may reflect stronger demand and higher pay in those regions. In Tasmania, the lower average may mean provisional salaries are also lower. States and territories has more detail.

Where to find more information

For the most current award rates covering provisional psychologists, check Fair Work's Pay and Conditions Tool. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings release is published twice a year (May and November) and is the source for the national line on this site. The median figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, most recently for August 2025. How the figures are set explains the methodology.

Key takeaways

  • The national full-time average is $108,352 a year – the line on our chart.
  • The median for all psychologists is higher ($114,608), but provisional roles pay less.
  • Many provisional psychologists earn between the minimum wage ($52,255) and the all-employees median ($74,100).
  • Use our tools to see where your salary sits and estimate your take-home pay.

Questions

What is the average salary for a provisional psychologist in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate average or median figure for provisional psychologists. The most relevant published data is for the broader occupation group 'Psychologists and Psychotherapists', which had a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,204 in May 2025, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. However, provisional psychologists are generally in the early stages of supervised practice and typically earn less than fully registered psychologists. Many are employed under the Psychologists Award 2020 or similar awards, with pay rates that start below the national full-time average. For the most current award rates, check Fair Work.

How does a provisional psychologist salary compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 as of May 2026, which works out to about $108,352 a year. The median for all full-time employees is lower, at about $90,532 a year. For provisional psychologists, salaries are often below the national average, especially in the first year of supervised practice. Many provisional roles pay between the national minimum wage ($52,255 a year) and the all-employees median ($74,100 a year). As you gain experience and move toward full registration, earnings typically rise toward the psychologist median of $114,608 a year.

What is the take-home pay for a provisional psychologist earning the national average?

If a provisional psychologist earned exactly the national full-time average of $108,352 a year, their weekly before-tax pay would be $2,083.70. After deducting income tax and the Medicare levy (2%) for the 2026–27 financial year, the estimated weekly take-home pay would be about $1,520. This is a rough sketch; actual take-home depends on your exact salary, any tax offsets, and whether you have private health insurance that reduces the Medicare levy surcharge. Use our [Place a salary on the line](/line) tool to see your own take-home estimate.

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