Minimum pay by job, 2026–27
The award minimum is for the classification named in the second column; each job page explains why that classification fits and lists every other level. The median is Jobs and Skills Australia’s figure for full-time employees in the occupation. Jobs are grouped by sector; several — chefs, baristas, lab technicians — are covered by different awards depending on the employer, and their pages show each one.
Health and care
| Job | Award / classification | Minimum hourly | Casual hourly | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aged Care Worker | MA000018Direct care level 3 — Qualified | $36.23 | $45.29 | $1,761 |
| Audiologist | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 9 — 1st year | $38.02 | $47.53 | $2,003 |
| Dental Assistant | MA000027Level 6 — Certificate III or 4+ years' experience | $30.63 | $38.29 | $1,211 |
| Dental Hygienist | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year | $34.44 | $43.05 | $2,210 |
| Dietitian | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year | $34.44 | $43.05 | $1,667 |
| Disability Support Worker | MA000100Level 2 pay point 1 | $36.22 | $45.28 | $1,761 |
| Doctor | MA000031Intern | $33.62 | $42.03 | $2,446 |
| Medical Receptionist | MA000027Level 3 | $29.11 | $36.39 | $1,229 |
| Midwife | MA000034Registered nurse level 1 — Pay point 1 | $32.09 | $40.11 | $2,114 |
| Nurse | MA000034Registered nurse level 1 — Pay point 1 | $32.09 | $40.11 | $2,192 |
| Occupational Therapist | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year | $34.44 | $43.05 | $1,913 |
| Pathology Collector | MA000027Level 6 — qualified (Certificate III) | $30.63 | $38.29 | $1,539 |
| Pharmacist | MA000012Pharmacist | $41.74 | $52.18 | $1,956 |
| Pharmacy Assistant | MA000012Pharmacy assistant level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1,112 |
| Physiotherapist | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year | $34.44 | $43.05 | $1,888 |
| Podiatrist | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year | $34.44 | $43.05 | — |
| Psychologist | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 9 — 1st year | $38.02 | $47.53 | $2,204 |
| Radiographer | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year | $34.44 | $43.05 | $2,360 |
| Social Worker | MA000100Level 3 pay point 4 | $43.42 | $54.28 | $2,172 |
| Sonographer | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 8 — 1st year | $35.19 | $43.99 | $2,360 |
| Speech Pathologist | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year | $34.44 | $43.05 | $2,003 |
| Vet Nurse | MA000118Level 4 | $32.13 | $40.16 | $1,667 |
| Veterinarian | MA000118Level 1A | $34.20 | $42.75 | $2,413 |
| Youth Worker | MA000100Level 2 pay point 2 | $37.36 | $46.70 | — |
Hospitality, retail and personal services
| Job | Award / classification | Minimum hourly | Casual hourly | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barista | MA000119Food and beverage attendant grade 2 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $1,500 |
| Bartender | MA000009Food and beverage attendant grade 2 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $1,500 |
| Chef | MA000009Cook grade 3 (tradesperson) — commis chef | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,423 |
| Cleaner | MA000022Cleaning Services Employee Level 1 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $1,254 |
| Hairdresser | MA000005Level 3 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,209 |
| Personal Trainer | MA000094Level 4A | $32.13 | $40.16 | $1,500 |
| Retail Manager | MA000004Retail Employee Level 6 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $1,620 |
| Retail Worker | MA000004Retail Employee Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1,241 |
| Security Guard | MA000016Security Officer Level 1 | $28.42 | $35.53 | $1,818 |
Trades, transport and technical
| Job | Award / classification | Minimum hourly | Casual hourly | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Electrician | MA0000251st year — completed Year 12 | $17.97 | — | — |
| Boilermaker | MA000010C10 — Tradesperson Level I | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,688 |
| Bricklayer | MA000020Bricklayer (CW3) — general building and construction | $31.99 | $39.99 | $2,317 |
| Bus Driver | MA000063Grade 4 | $30.59 | $38.24 | $1,795 |
| Carpenter | MA000020Carpenter (CW3) — general building and construction | $32.30 | $40.38 | $1,760 |
| Crane Operator | MA000032Mobile crane employee level 2 (MCE2) | $32.06 | $40.08 | $3,411 |
| Electrician | MA000025Electrical worker grade 5 | $31.13 | $38.91 | $2,191 |
| Excavator Operator | MA000020Excavator up to 0.5 m³ — civil and general building (CW/ECW 4) | $32.15 | $40.19 | $1,900 |
| Fitter and Turner | MA000010C10 — Engineering Tradesperson (Mechanical) Level I | $29.45 | $36.81 | $2,606 |
| Flight Attendant | MA000047Cabin crew member | $28.88 | $36.10 | — |
| Forklift Operator | MA000084Storeworker grade 2 | $27.97 | $34.96 | $1,340 |
| Lab Technician | MA000027Level 1 — AQF 5 — 1st year | $32.44 | $40.55 | $1,539 |
| Landscaper | MA000101Level 4 | $29.45 | $36.81 | — |
| Mechanic | MA000089R6 — Tradesperson Level I (motor mechanic) | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,622 |
| Plumber | MA000036Plumbing and mechanical services tradesperson level 1 (registered) | $32.80 | $41.00 | $1,990 |
| Truck Driver | MA000038Transport Worker Grade 6 | $29.00 | $36.25 | $1,960 |
| Welder | MA000010C10 — Tradesperson Level I | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,688 |
Office, property and professional
| Job | Award / classification | Minimum hourly | Casual hourly | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | Award-free (National Minimum Wage) | $26.44 | $33.05 | $2,003 |
| Actuary | No award names this job (National Minimum Wage floor) | $26.44 | $33.05 | $2,072 |
| Architect | MA000079Level 2(b) Registered Architect — Entry | $39.77 | $49.71 | $2,308 |
| Bookkeeper | MA000002Level 3 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $1,400 |
| Business Analyst | No award names this job (National Minimum Wage floor) | $26.44 | $33.05 | $2,697 |
| Civil Engineer | MA000065Level 1 Graduate professional — pay point 1.1 (4 or 5 year degree) | $34.57 | $43.21 | $2,217 |
| Cyber Security Professional | MA000065Level 1 Graduate professional — pay point 1.1 (3 year degree) | $33.71 | $42.14 | $2,461 |
| Data Analyst | No award names this job (National Minimum Wage floor) | $26.44 | $33.05 | — |
| Electrical Engineer | MA000065Level 1 Graduate professional — pay point 1.1 (4 or 5 year degree) | $34.57 | $43.21 | $2,553 |
| Engineer | MA000065Level 1 Graduate professional — pay point 1.1 (4 or 5 year degree) | $34.57 | $43.21 | $2,217 |
| Lawyer | MA000116Level 5 — Law graduate | $33.99 | $42.49 | $2,070 |
| Mechanical Engineer | MA000065Level 1 Graduate professional — pay point 1.1 (4 or 5 year degree) | $34.57 | $43.21 | $2,614 |
| Mortgage Broker | No award names this job (National Minimum Wage floor) | $26.44 | $33.05 | $2,576 |
| Paralegal | MA000116Level 6 — Law clerk | $36.03 | $45.04 | $1,345 |
| Payroll Officer | MA000002Level 3 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $1,606 |
| Project Manager | No award names this job (National Minimum Wage floor) | $26.44 | $33.05 | — |
| Property Manager | MA000106Level 2 (Representative) | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,504 |
| Real Estate Agent | MA000106Level 2 (Representative) | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,504 |
| Receptionist | MA000002Level 1 — Year 1 | $26.97 | $33.71 | $1,229 |
| Software Engineer | MA000065Level 1 Graduate professional — pay point 1.1 (3 year degree) | $33.71 | $42.14 | $2,537 |
| Surveyor | MA000066Level 8 — Survey Technician Level II | $33.77 | $42.21 | $2,300 |
Education and childcare
| Job | Award / classification | Minimum hourly | Casual hourly | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | MA000120Level 3 — Qualified Educator | $32.47 | $40.59 | $1,341 |
| Early Childhood Teacher | MA000077Level 1 — long day care | $39.83 | $49.79 | $1,906 |
| Teacher Aide | MA000076Level 2.1 | $28.24 | $35.30 | $1,342 |
Doctor and dentist salaries
No modern award sets most of the pay in these jobs, so their pages lead with what people in the job reported to the ATO for the 2023–24 income year, and what that pay comes to after tax and on a payslip. The award minimum for employed doctors, from intern to specialist, is on the doctor pay rates page.
| Job | Average taxable income | Median taxable income | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentist salary | $162,722 | $131,588 | 8,859 |
| Radiologist salary | $500,262 | $430,250 | 2,525 |
| Anaesthetist salary | $475,455 | $457,287 | 3,735 |
| Optometrist salary | $107,824 | $100,818 | 5,540 |
| GP salary | $196,060 | $156,733 | 27,776 |
| Surgeon salary | $519,998 | $403,069 | 4,280 |
ATO Taxation statistics 2023–24, Individuals Table 15. Taxable income includes business and investment income and counts part-time workers, so it is not a salary rate.
How to read an award rate
An award sets a minimum for each classification. Your classification depends on your duties, qualifications and experience as the award defines them — not your job title. The weekly rate is for a 38-hour full-time week; part-timers get the same hourly rate; casuals get the hourly rate plus a 25% casual loading instead of paid leave.
Work on weekends, public holidays, early mornings or nights often attracts a penalty rate, and extra hours attract overtime. Those rules differ between awards, so each job page sets them out. To turn an hourly rate into weekly take-home pay use the weekly pay calculator, or see every modern award we cover on the award rates hub.
Job pay rate questions
How these rates are sourced▼
Every award minimum on these pages was read from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated award text, consolidated to 1 July 2026 (the SCHADS Award to 1 September 2026), on 23 September 2026. Median earnings are from Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). Nothing is estimated.
Sources & References
- 1Awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 2Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Modern awards (consolidated text)— Fair Work Commission
- 4Occupation and industry profiles— Jobs and Skills Australia
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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