Receptionists in public hospitals are generally paid under state public-sector health agreements rather than this award.
Which award covers medical receptionists
Receptionists in medical practices, dental practices and other private health businesses are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027], in its Support Services stream. The award names "Receptionist" as an indicative Level 3 role.
Level depends on duties, not job title. A general clerk with less than 3 months' experience is Level 1 and a clerk with 3 months to under a year's service is Level 2. A clerk in a ward, casualty or medical records role is Level 4.
Level 5 applies to administrative and clerical employees who need a comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology and/or a working knowledge of health insurance schemes, among other skills (A.1.5). A receptionist whose job genuinely requires that knowledge may be classified higher than Level 3. Check the full Level 5 definition against your duties.
Read the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026).
Medical Receptionist 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.
Medical receptionist pay rates 2026–27
Clause 16.2(a) of the award, Support Services Levels 1 to 5. Casual rates are from the award's Schedule C.1.7.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1General clerk, under 3 months' experience | $26.97 | $1,024.70 | $53,284 | $33.71 |
| Level 2General clerk/typist, 3 months to under 1 year | $28.03 | $1,065.20 | $55,390 | $35.04 |
| Level 3Receptionist | $29.11 | $1,106.20 | $57,522 | $36.39 |
| Level 4Clerk (ward, casualty, medical records) | $29.45 | $1,119.10 | $58,193 | $36.81 |
| Level 5Medical terminology / health insurance knowledge required | $30.45 | $1,157.20 | $60,174 | $38.06 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Medical Receptionist 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.1.1 and C.1.7. 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.
Medical Receptionist pay after tax
On the Level 3 rate of $1,106.20 a week, a full-time medical receptionist earns $57,522 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $57,522 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$7,639 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,150 |
| Take-home per year | $48,733 |
| Take-home per week | $937 |
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 $57,522), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What medical receptionists actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Receptionists (ANZSCO 5421) at $1,229 a week ($32 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
- Junior rates for receptionists under 21.
- Levels 6 to 9 of the Support Services stream, which cover senior and specialist roles rather than reception.
Medical Receptionist 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
- 4Receptionists (ANZSCO 5421) 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.
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AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
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