What is the average salary for a speech pathologist in Melbourne?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a specific average weekly earnings figure for speech pathologists at the national or state level. Jobs and Skills Australia reports that median weekly earnings for this occupation are not available due to data limitations. However, the Health Professionals and Support Services Award sets minimum rates for speech pathologists, which range from about $1,024.70 per week (Level 1) to $1,497.80 per week (Level 9 pay point 3) as of October 2026. Actual salaries in Melbourne are typically above award rates and influenced by experience, sector, and employer.

How does the speech pathologist salary compare to the national average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 ($108,352 per year) according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Speech pathologists often work part-time (only 56% work full-time), which pulls average earnings below the full-time average. The occupation is 97% female, and the gender pay gap in Australia means women's full-time average earnings ($100,594 per year) are lower than men's ($113,412). Many speech pathologists are employed in health care and social assistance, where the full-time average is $2,037.20 per week ($105,934 per year), slightly below the national average.

What factors affect speech pathologist pay in Melbourne?

Key factors include: (1) Employment sector – public sector (e.g., hospitals, schools) typically pays higher than private practice; the public sector full-time average is $2,263.10 per week ($117,681 per year). (2) Experience and classification under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award – higher pay points reward seniority. (3) Location – Melbourne's state average (Victoria) is $106,137 per year, close to the national average. (4) Full-time vs part-time work – part-time roles reduce weekly earnings but may offer flexibility. (5) Specialisation and demand – speech pathologists are in high demand, which can push pay above award rates.

Speech Pathologist Salary Melbourne: How It Compares to the National Average

Speech Pathologist Salary Melbourne: Where It Sits Against the National Average

Understanding how a speech pathologist salary in Melbourne compares to the national full-time average requires looking at the available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Jobs and Skills Australia, and the Fair Work Ombudsman. While a precise average or median for this occupation is not published, we can piece together the factors that would move pay above or below the line.

The National Full-Time Average

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings (seasonally adjusted) are $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that is about $108,352 per year. This is the benchmark used on this site. For context, the full-time adult total earnings (including overtime) are $2,160.00 per week, and all employees (including part-time) average $1,579.20 per week.

What the Data Says About Speech Pathologists

Jobs and Skills Australia provides a profile for Speech Pathologists (ANZSCO 252712) based on the 2021 Census and a customised ABS survey. Key points:

Employment: About 11,000 speech pathologists are employed nationally, with 97% being female.
Full-time share: Only 56% work full-time hours, compared to 64% across all occupations. The average full-time hours are 40 per week, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours.
Median weekly earnings: The ABS does not publish median weekly earnings for this 6-digit occupation due to high relative standard error. This means we cannot give a precise figure for the typical speech pathologist’s pay.
Age: The median age is 33, younger than the all-occupations median of 40, suggesting many are early in their careers.

Because the median is not available, we rely on award minimums and industry averages to gauge where pay sits.

Award Minimums Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award

Speech pathologists are typically covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award (MA000027). The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide effective from October 2026 lists minimum weekly rates for support services employees. While speech pathologists are health professionals, the classification structure in the award includes levels that apply to allied health professionals. The rates range from $1,024.70 per week (Level 1) to $1,497.80 per week (Level 9 pay point 3) for full-time employees. These are minimums; actual salaries in Melbourne are often higher, especially in public hospitals or private practice.

How Melbourne Compares to the National Average

Melbourne is in Victoria, where the state full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are about $106,137 per year (based on the on-site notes). This is slightly below the national average of $108,352. The public sector in Victoria tends to pay above the private sector, and many speech pathologists work in public health or education. The national public sector full-time average is $2,263.10 per week ($117,681 per year), while the private sector average is $2,034.10 per week ($105,773 per year).

What Would Move Pay Above or Below the Average

Several factors influence whether a speech pathologist’s salary in Melbourne exceeds or falls short of the national full-time average:

Part-time work: With only 56% working full-time, many speech pathologists earn less than the full-time average because they work fewer hours. Part-time employees are included in the “all employees” average of $1,579.20 per week, which is much lower.
Gender pay gap: The occupation is overwhelmingly female. Women’s full-time average earnings nationally are $100,594 per year, about $7,758 below the national average. This gap persists even within the same occupation.
Industry: Most speech pathologists work in health care and social assistance, where the full-time average is $2,037.20 per week ($105,934 per year), just below the national average. Those in education and training earn $2,197.90 per week ($114,291 per year), above the average.
Experience and classification: Entry-level speech pathologists may start at award rates around $1,024–$1,106 per week ($53,248–$57,512 per year), well below the average. With experience and higher classification (Level 8 or 9), pay can exceed $1,400 per week ($72,800 per year) but still below the national average unless supplemented by overtime or allowances.
Public vs private sector: Public sector roles in hospitals or schools often pay above award and include benefits like superannuation and leave loading. Private practice may offer higher hourly rates but less job security and fewer hours.
Location within Melbourne: Salaries can vary by region. The ABS does not provide city-level data, but the Victorian average is a reasonable proxy for Melbourne.

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Conclusion

While a precise speech pathologist salary for Melbourne is not publicly available, the evidence suggests that many speech pathologists earn below the national full-time average due to high rates of part-time work, the gender pay gap, and the industry mix. Those in full-time public sector roles with senior classifications may approach or exceed the average. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($52,255 per year on 38 hours), so even entry-level speech pathologists earn well above the minimum. For a personalised comparison, use the site’s calculator with your own salary figure.