Psychologist salary: above the national line, but not uniform
Psychologists in Australia earn a median full-time weekly salary of $2,204, according to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025). That works out to about $114,608 a year before tax, which is above the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) from the Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. The national line on this site is that $108,352, so psychologists typically sit above it.
But the figure is a median, not an average, and it masks wide variation. Where you work and under which award can move your pay off that line.
How the award sets a floor
Most psychologists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 from. The award classifies psychologists as Health Professional employees, with minimum weekly rates depending on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level and years of experience. For example, a Level 1 psychologist with an AQF Level 5 qualification earns a minimum of $1,232.70 a week in the first year, rising to $1,541.30 after seven years. Those rates are well below the median, meaning most psychologists earn above the award floor. However, early-career psychologists or those in lower-paid sectors (e.g., community health) may be closer to the minimum.
The award also includes penalty rates for evening, weekend, and public holiday work, plus allowances for travel, uniforms, and qualifications. These can lift total earnings, but the base rate is the starting point.
State differences shift the line
The national full-time average hides big state gaps. The states and territories page shows the full-time adult ordinary-time average for each state:
- 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
Psychologists in the ACT and Western Australia are likely to earn more than those in Tasmania or South Australia, reflecting higher demand and cost of living. The national psychologist median of $114,608 is above every state average except the ACT, suggesting psychologists are a relatively well-paid profession nationwide.
How the national line is drawn
The national line on this site is the full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, May 2026: $2,083.70 a week, $108,352 a year. That is an average of all full-time adults, not a median. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 a year, and the full-time median is about $90,532 (ABS Employee earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, $52,255 a year on 38 hours.
Psychologists sit well above the minimum and above the full-time median. But the average is pulled up by high earners in other professions, so the psychologist median is actually higher than the national average.
What affects your individual salary
Beyond state and award, factors include:
- Sector: Public sector (e.g., hospitals, schools) often pays higher base rates than private practice. The public sector full-time average is $2,263.10 a week, compared to $2,034.10 in private.
- Experience: The award steps increase with years, and private practice earnings grow with client base.
- Specialisation: Clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, and those with higher AQF levels (e.g., master’s or doctorate) earn more.
- Hours: Many psychologists work part-time (only 50% work full-time, per JSA). Part-time earnings are lower per week but hourly rates can be high.
Where to go next
To see how your salary compares, place a salary on the line and see the distance from the national average. For a broader view of other professions, see job medians or industry medians. The guides explain how the figures are set, and about this site explains the methodology.
Summary
Psychologist salary in Australia is above the national full-time average, but the exact figure depends on where you work and under which award. The median of $2,204 a week is a strong benchmark, but your own pay may be higher or lower due to state, sector, and experience. Use the tools on this site to see where you sit on the line.