The pathology collector 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.
If you were a pathology collector under this award on 31 March 2026, Schedule J sets your new level and says you are paid the higher of your old rate and your new one.
Which award covers pathology collectors
Pathology collectors employed by private pathology companies, private hospitals and other national-system health employers are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027], in the Support Services stream.
Since 1 April 2026 the award classifies pathology collectors by qualification and experience: Level 5 (entry — unqualified, under 12 months' experience); Level 6 (qualified — Certificate III in pathology collection with under 12 months' experience, or unqualified with 12 months to 2 years); and Level 7 (experienced — Certificate III with 12 months or more, or unqualified with 2 years or more).
Until 31 December 2026 pathology collectors are paid from their own table in clause 16.2(c). An unqualified Level 7 collector is paid less than a qualified one unless they were already Support Services Level 6 on 31 March 2026.
Collectors employed by state public health pathology services are paid under state agreements, not this award.
Read the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026).
Pathology Collector 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.
Pathology collector pay rates (until 31 December 2026)
Clause 16.2(c) of the award, which the Fair Work Commission headed "Pathology collectors—until 31 December 2026", from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Casual rates are the award's Schedule C.1.9.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 5 — entry (unqualified)Under 12 months' experience | $30.45 | $1,157.20 | $60,174 | $38.06 |
| Level 6 — qualified (Certificate III)Cert III under 12 months, or unqualified 12 months–2 years | $30.63 | $1,163.90 | $60,523 | $38.29 |
| Level 7 — experienced (unqualified, not previously Level 6)Unqualified, 2 years' or more experience | $31.67 | $1,203.50 | $62,582 | $39.59 |
| Level 7 — experienced (qualified or previously Level 6)Cert III with 12 months' or more experience | $32.67 | $1,241.40 | $64,553 | $40.84 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Pathology Collector 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)). The pathology collector dollar rates are in Schedule C.1.3 (full-time and part-time) and C.1.9 (casual).
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.
Pathology Collector pay after tax
On the Level 6 — qualified (Certificate III) rate of $1,163.90 a week, a full-time pathology collector 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 pathology collectors actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Medical Technicians (ANZSCO 3112) at $1,539 a week ($39 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 pathology collector table from 1 January 2027, which we could not confirm from the consolidated award.
- Junior rates in the Support Services stream (cl 16.3).
Pathology Collector 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
- 4Medical Technicians (ANZSCO 3112) 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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