The dental assistant table in the award is labelled "until 31 December 2026". Check the award again from 1 January 2027 — we will update this page when the replacement rates are published.
Dental assistants employed by state public dental services are generally paid under state public-sector arrangements rather than this award.
Which award covers dental assistants
Dental assistants in private dental practices are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027], in its Support Services stream. Since 1 April 2026 the award classifies dental assistants by qualification and experience rather than lumping them in with general support staff.
An unqualified dental assistant with less than 12 months' industry experience is Level 3. With 12 months to under 4 years' experience they are Level 5. A Certificate III (or 4+ years' experience, or experience the employer assesses as equivalent to a Certificate III) is Level 6, and a Certificate IV (or equivalent experience) is Level 7 (award Schedule A, A.1.3–A.1.7).
Dental assistants who were already employed on 31 March 2026 were moved to the new levels under Schedule J, and keep the higher of their old rate and the new rate (clause J.3).
Read the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026).
Dental Assistant award pay rates 2026–27
These rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rates for the hours they work.
Dental assistant minimum pay rates (until 31 December 2026)
Clause 16.2(b) of the award, which the Fair Work Commission headed "Dental assistants—until 31 December 2026". Casual rates are from the award's Schedule C.1.8.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 — unqualified, under 12 months' experience | $29.11 | $1,106.20 | $57,522 | $36.39 |
| Level 5 — unqualified, 12 months to under 4 years' experience | $29.15 | $1,107.80 | $57,606 | $36.44 |
| Level 6 — Certificate III or 4+ years' experience | $30.63 | $1,163.90 | $60,523 | $38.29 |
| Level 7 — Certificate IV or equivalent experience | $31.67 | $1,203.50 | $62,582 | $39.59 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Dental Assistant penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday (midnight Friday to midnight Sunday) | 150% | 175% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
| Shiftwork (shift starts 6 pm–6 am or finishes 6 pm–8 am) | 115% | 140% |
Percentages of the minimum hourly rate, from the award's Schedule C.1.2 and C.1.8. Casual percentages include the 25% casual loading.
Overtime
- Monday to Saturday: 150% for the first 2 hours, then 200% (cl 25.2).
- Sunday: 200%. Public holiday: 250%.
- Full-time staff are on overtime once they pass their ordinary hours or 10 hours in a shift. Overtime rates replace, rather than add to, weekend and shift penalties.
Work out a shift with penalties or overtime using the overtime pay calculator.
Dental Assistant pay after tax
On the Level 6 — Certificate III or 4+ years' experience rate of $1,163.90 a week, a full-time dental assistant earns $60,523 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $60,523 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$8,585 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,210 |
| Take-home per year | $50,728 |
| Take-home per week | $976 |
2026–27 resident tax rates with the low income tax offset and the 2% Medicare levy; no HECS-HELP repayment and no Medicare levy surcharge. Superannuation is paid on top by your employer. For the full breakdown see take-home pay on $60,000 (the nearest step to $60,523), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What dental assistants actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Dental Assistants (ANZSCO 4232) at $1,211 a week ($33 an hour), against $1,852 a week for all occupations.
Median weekly pay of full-time, non-managerial adult employees before tax and salary sacrifice, from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) as published by Jobs and Skills Australia. It reflects what employers actually pay, including people on enterprise agreements or above-award salaries, so it is a market figure, not a legal minimum.
What this page does not show
- The rates that replace the dental assistant table from 1 January 2027, which we could not confirm from the consolidated award.
- Junior and trainee rates, which the award handles through separate provisions.
- Allowances such as laundry, uniform and on-call, which depend on the employer's arrangements.
Dental Assistant pay questions
Pay rates for other jobs
How this page is sourced▼
Every minimum rate was read from the Fair Work Commission's consolidated text of the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, consolidated to 1 July 2026, on 23 September 2026. Casual rates are the award's own published figures wherever it publishes them. Nothing is estimated.
The median comes from Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation profile and is a market figure, not an entitlement. Take-home figures use the same tax engine as the rest of this site. Award rates change every 1 July, so re-check after the next Annual Wage Review.
Sources & References
- 1
- 2Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 4Dental Assistants (ANZSCO 4232) occupation profile — ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025— 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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