What is the average psychologist salary in Australia?

The ABS does not publish an average salary for psychologists, but the median full-time weekly earnings for psychologists and psychotherapists is $2,204, according to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to about $114,608 a year before tax. This median is above the national full-time adult average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026).

How does psychologist pay vary by state?

State full-time averages range from about $96,008 in Tasmania to $119,090 in the ACT. The national psychologist median of $114,608 is above every state average except the ACT and possibly Western Australia ($115,825). However, these are averages for all occupations, not psychologists specifically. Psychologist pay can also differ by state due to local demand, public sector employment, and cost-of-living adjustments in enterprise agreements.

What award covers psychologists in Australia?

Most psychologists are covered by the Psychologists Award 2020, which sets minimum wages and conditions. From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%, but the award rates are well below the median psychologist salary. Many psychologists are paid above the award through enterprise agreements (especially in public health) or individual contracts. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($52,255 a year on 38 hours), but psychologists typically earn much more.

Psychologist salary Australia: How it compares to the national average

Where the psychologist salary sits against the national line

The national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings are $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. That is the line this site uses to compare any salary.

For psychologists and psychotherapists, the median full-time weekly earnings are $2,204, based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to about $114,608 a year — roughly $6,256 above the national full-time average. The median is a useful benchmark because it is less affected by very high or low earners than the average.

Why the figure can move off the national line

A psychologist’s actual pay can differ from the national median for several reasons. The most important are state location, award coverage, and the type of employer.

State and territory differences

The national full-time average varies noticeably by state. For example, the ACT average is about $119,090, while Tasmania’s is about $96,008. A psychologist working in the ACT might earn close to or above the national psychologist median, while one in Tasmania might earn below it — even if both are paid at the same classification level. The ABS state averages cover all occupations, but they reflect the general wage environment. Public sector psychologists, who are common in state health departments, often have their pay set by enterprise agreements that include location allowances or higher rates in remote areas.

Award and agreement coverage

Most psychologists are covered by the Psychologists Award 2020, which sets minimum hourly rates and classifications (e.g., Psychologist Level 1 to 4). From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%, but they remain well below the median. For example, a Level 1 psychologist under the award might earn around $40–$45 per hour, while the median hourly rate for psychologists is about $60 (based on the median weekly earnings and average full-time hours of 42 hours per week). Many psychologists in public hospitals, community health, or government departments are paid under enterprise agreements that lift pay above the award. Those in private practice set their own fees, which can push earnings higher or lower depending on client volume.

Gender and hours

The psychology workforce is 82% female, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. The gender pay gap in the broader workforce means that female-dominated occupations can have lower median earnings, but the psychologist median is still above the national average. However, only 50% of psychologists work full-time, compared to 69% across all occupations. Part-time work reduces annual earnings, but the median figure here is for full-time employees only.

How the median compares to other benchmarks

National full-time average: $2,083.70 per week ($108,352) – the psychologist median is above this line.
Full-time median (all occupations): about $1,741 per week ($90,532) – psychologists are well above this.
All-employees median: about $1,436 per week ($74,672) – psychologists are significantly higher.
National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, $52,255 annually) – the psychologist median is more than double this.

Using this site to place your salary

You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, the median, and the minimum wage. The tool also shows the weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week. If you want to see how your state’s average differs, visit the states and territories page.

Important caveats

The $2,204 median is from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and applies to full-time non-managerial adult employees. It does not include self-employed psychologists or those working part-time. The national average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, May 2026, which measures ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults. Both are before tax. The figures are guides only; actual pay depends on experience, location, employer, and negotiation.

For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.