How much does a WHS officer earn?
WHS officers – also called occupational health and safety (OHS) advisers or environmental health officers – inspect workplaces, develop safety policies, and ensure compliance with health and safety laws. Their pay is not published as a single figure, but the ABS provides useful data.
The ABS groups these roles under Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals (ANZSCO 2513). According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, the median full-time earnings for this occupation group is $2,284 per week. That is about $118,768 a year before tax (multiplying by 52 weeks).
This is a median, meaning half of full-time WHS officers earn more and half earn less. It is higher than the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week (about $108,352 a year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. So the typical WHS officer earns above the line.
WHS officer pay vs national averages
To put that in perspective:
- National full-time average: $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 a year) – the line on this site.
- Full-time median (all occupations): about $1,741 per week ($90,532 a year) – lower than the WHS officer median.
- All-employees median (including part-time): about $1,425 per week ($74,100 a year).
- National minimum wage (from 1 July 2026): $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week on 38 hours, about $52,255 a year.
The WHS officer median sits well above the minimum wage and above the national full-time average. However, remember that the national average includes all full-time workers, including managers and professionals in high-paying fields. The WHS officer median is a more specific benchmark for this occupation.
Award coverage and pay rates
Fair Work notes that WHS officers may be covered by an industry award if their employer operates in a defined industry. Examples include the Electrical Power Award, Black Coal Award, Mining Award, Health Services Award, and Manufacturing Award. Each award has its own pay rates and classifications.
If no industry award applies, a WHS officer might be covered by the Clerks Award (if the role is mainly clerical) or the Miscellaneous Award. The Miscellaneous Award does not cover managerial or professional employees – a professional employee is someone whose role requires a degree, such as a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. Many WHS officers hold degrees in OHS or environmental health, so they may be award-free and negotiate their own salary.
Because award rates vary by industry and classification, there is no single award rate for WHS officers. The median from the ABS gives a better picture of typical pay.
State and territory differences
Pay for WHS officers can differ by location, just like the national averages. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, shows state full-time averages:
- New South Wales: $109,658 a year
- 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
WHS officers in the ACT and Western Australia may earn more, reflecting higher overall pay in those states. The median of $118,768 is close to the ACT average, suggesting WHS officers in Canberra might earn around that figure or higher.
Tax considerations
For the 2026–27 financial year, a WHS officer earning the median of $118,768 would fall into the 30% tax bracket (income between $45,001 and $135,000). They would also pay the 2% Medicare levy (reductions may apply for low-income earners). After tax and Medicare, take-home pay would be roughly $88,000–$90,000, depending on deductions and offsets.
Where to next?
If you want to see how your own salary compares, Place a salary on the line. You can also explore States and territories to see how pay varies across Australia, or check Job medians for other occupations.
Key takeaways
- The median full-time WHS officer salary is $2,284 per week (ABS, May 2025), above the national full-time average.
- Actual pay depends on industry, award coverage, experience, and location.
- Award rates vary; many WHS officers are award-free or covered by industry-specific awards.
- The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026).
About the data
The figures in this article come from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026) for the national average, and the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) for occupation medians. The minimum wage is from Fair Work (1 July 2026). Award coverage information is from the Fair Work Ombudsman. How the figures are set explains the methodology. About this site has more on our approach.