A masters-qualified graduate starts at Level 1 pay point 4 — $34.66 an hour or $1,317.20 a week — not pay point 3.
Which award covers occupational therapists
Occupational therapists employed in private practice, private hospitals, NDIS providers and other health businesses are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027]. The award's Schedule B lists occupational therapist as one of the health professionals it covers.
Health professionals are graded from level 1 to level 4. Level 1 is the entry level for new graduates, and the pay point you start on depends on your qualification: pay point 2 for a 3-year degree, pay point 3 for a 4-year degree and pay point 4 for a masters degree. Full-time employees then move up one pay point each year until pay point 6.
Level 2 is an occupational therapist who works independently on routine matters; level 3 is an experienced clinician handling novel or complex work or practising as a sole therapist in a rural setting; level 4 is a senior or management role.
Occupational therapists employed by a state public health service are paid under that state's allied health award or enterprise agreement instead, which generally pays more than this award.
Read the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026).
Occupational Therapist 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.
Health professional level 1 — graduates and early career
Clause 17.2. New graduates enter at the pay point matching their qualification and move up one pay point a year (full-time) or every 1,824 hours (part-time and casual) until pay point 6. Casual rates are Schedule C.2.3 exactly.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 pay point 1Diploma (UG 2) qualification | $30.89 | $1,174.00 | $61,048 | $38.61 |
| Level 1 pay point 23-year degree entry | $32.09 | $1,219.50 | $63,414 | $40.11 |
| Level 1 pay point 34-year degree entry | $33.51 | $1,273.40 | $66,217 | $41.89 |
| Level 1 pay point 4Masters degree entry | $34.66 | $1,317.20 | $68,494 | $43.33 |
| Level 1 pay point 5PhD entry | $37.76 | $1,435.00 | $74,620 | $47.20 |
| Level 1 pay point 6 | $39.10 | $1,485.90 | $77,267 | $48.88 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Health professional levels 2 to 4 — experienced, senior and management
Clauses 17.3 to 17.5. Level 2 works independently on routine matters; level 3 is experienced and handles novel or complex work; level 4 carries senior or management responsibility (Schedule A.2). Casual rates are Schedule C.2.3 exactly.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 pay point 1 | $39.31 | $1,493.90 | $77,683 | $49.14 |
| Level 2 pay point 2 | $40.74 | $1,548.30 | $80,512 | $50.93 |
| Level 2 pay point 3 | $42.30 | $1,607.40 | $83,585 | $52.88 |
| Level 2 pay point 4 | $43.98 | $1,671.40 | $86,913 | $54.98 |
| Level 3 pay point 1 | $45.89 | $1,743.90 | $90,683 | $57.36 |
| Level 3 pay point 2 | $47.18 | $1,792.80 | $93,226 | $58.98 |
| Level 3 pay point 3 | $48.19 | $1,831.30 | $95,228 | $60.24 |
| Level 3 pay point 4 | $50.33 | $1,912.60 | $99,455 | $62.91 |
| Level 3 pay point 5 | $52.19 | $1,983.20 | $103,126 | $65.24 |
| Level 4 pay point 1 | $55.57 | $2,111.60 | $109,803 | $69.46 |
| Level 4 pay point 2 | $59.30 | $2,253.30 | $117,172 | $74.13 |
| Level 4 pay point 3 | $64.48 | $2,450.40 | $127,421 | $80.60 |
| Level 4 pay point 4 | $71.19 | $2,705.10 | $140,665 | $88.99 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Occupational Therapist penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday or Sunday (midnight Friday to midnight Sunday) | 150% | 175% |
| Shiftwork (starts 6 pm–6 am or finishes 6 pm–8 am) | 115% | 140% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
Percentages of the minimum hourly rate (cl 26 and Schedule C.2). A casual's weekend and shiftwork rates replace the 25% loading rather than adding to it (cl 26.1(b), 26.3(b)), and the shift penalty does not apply on weekends or public holidays where those rates are paid instead (cl 26.3(c)).
Overtime
- Full-time and part-time: 150% for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, then 200%; Sunday 200%; public holiday 250% (cl 25.2).
- Casual: 187.5% for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, then 250%; Sunday 250%; public holiday 312.5% (cl 25.3).
- Overtime is triggered by work beyond ordinary hours or beyond 10 hours in a shift (cl 25.1), and replaces rather than adds to weekend and shift penalties.
Work out a shift with penalties or overtime using the overtime pay calculator.
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| On-call allowance (Monday–Saturday) | $26.34 per 24 hours | When you are required to be on call (cl 23.2(d)(i)). |
| On-call allowance (Sunday or public holiday) | $52.56 per 24 hours | Cl 23.2(d)(ii). |
Occupational Therapist pay after tax
On the Level 1 pay point 3 rate of $1,273.40 a week, a full-time occupational therapist earns $66,217 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $66,217 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$10,378 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,324 |
| Take-home per year | $54,515 |
| Take-home per week | $1,048 |
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 $65,000 (the nearest step to $66,217), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What occupational therapists actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Occupational Therapists (ANZSCO 2524) at $1,913 a week ($50 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
- State public hospital and health service pay scales, which are set by state awards and enterprise agreements, not this award.
- Rates under enterprise agreements, which replace the award for employers that have one.
- Annualised salary arrangements under clause 22, available by written agreement from level 2 up.
Occupational Therapist 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
- 4
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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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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