These are the rates from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2026, under Fair Work Commission determination PR814029. They are the first stage of the Commission's gender undervaluation increases; further stages are due from 30 June 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
If you were employed under this award on 30 September 2026, clause J.4 translates you into the new structure and clause J.4.3 keeps your old minimum rate if it was higher. Our Health Professionals Award rates page covers the full award.
Check your AQF level, not just your level: the headline is the AQF Level 7 rate. A speech pathologist whose qualification is at AQF Level 8 ($35.19 an hour in the 1st year) or AQF Level 9 ($38.02 an hour in the 1st year) starts higher. In the Australian Qualifications Framework, Level 8 is a bachelor honours degree or graduate diploma and Level 9 a masters degree.
Which award covers speech pathologists
Speech pathologists employed by private practices, private hospitals, NDIS and community health providers are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027], which lists "Speech Pathologist" in Schedule B.
From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2026, Level 1 pay depends on the AQF level of the profession's standard minimum qualification and your years of experience in the profession at Level 1. Schedule B lists speech pathologists at AQF Level 7, 8 or 9, and you are paid at the level of the listed qualification you hold — a new graduate at AQF Level 7 starts on $34.44 an hour, rising to $37.08 in the 2nd and 3rd years, $41.19 in the 4th to 6th years and $44.46 from the 7th year. An employer that requires a higher qualification must pay at that qualification's AQF level (cl B.2(d)).
Level 2 is for speech pathologists working as a senior clinician, specialist, supervisor or educator (Level 2.1 with under 5 years in that role, 2.2 with 5 or more); level 3 is an advanced clinician, senior specialist or section manager; level 4 is a manager (Schedule A.2).
Speech pathologists employed by a state health or education department are paid under that state's award or enterprise agreement. A self-employed speech pathologist has no award minimum.
Read the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 October 2026).
Speech Pathologist award pay rates 2026–27
These rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2026. Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rates for the hours they work.
Health professional level 1 — AQF Level 7, from 1 October 2026
Clause 17.1 as substituted by determination PR814029, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2026. Level 1 pay is set by the AQF level of the profession's standard minimum qualification (Schedule B) and years of experience in the profession at Level 1. Casual rates are Schedule C.2.3 exactly.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year | $34.44 | $1,308.80 | $68,058 | $43.05 |
| Level 1 — AQF 7 — 2nd – 3rd year | $37.08 | $1,409.00 | $73,268 | $46.35 |
| Level 1 — AQF 7 — 4th – 6th year | $41.19 | $1,565.30 | $81,396 | $51.49 |
| Level 1 — AQF 7 — 7th year+ | $44.46 | $1,689.50 | $87,854 | $55.58 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Health professional level 1 — AQF Level 8, from 1 October 2026
Clause 17.1 as substituted by determination PR814029, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2026. Level 1 pay is set by the AQF level of the profession's standard minimum qualification (Schedule B) and years of experience in the profession at Level 1. Casual rates are Schedule C.2.3 exactly.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — AQF 8 — 1st year | $35.19 | $1,337.10 | $69,529 | $43.99 |
| Level 1 — AQF 8 — 2nd – 3rd year | $38.02 | $1,444.90 | $75,135 | $47.53 |
| Level 1 — AQF 8 — 4th – 6th year | $41.71 | $1,584.90 | $82,415 | $52.14 |
| Level 1 — AQF 8 — 7th year+ | $45.30 | $1,721.40 | $89,513 | $56.63 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Health professional level 1 — AQF Level 9, from 1 October 2026
Clause 17.1 as substituted by determination PR814029, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2026. Level 1 pay is set by the AQF level of the profession's standard minimum qualification (Schedule B) and years of experience in the profession at Level 1. Casual rates are Schedule C.2.3 exactly.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — AQF 9 — 1st year | $38.02 | $1,444.90 | $75,135 | $47.53 |
| Level 1 — AQF 9 — 2nd – 3rd year | $40.66 | $1,545.20 | $80,350 | $50.83 |
| Level 1 — AQF 9 — 4th – 6th year | $43.67 | $1,659.30 | $86,284 | $54.59 |
| Level 1 — AQF 9 — 7th year+ | $46.18 | $1,755.00 | $91,260 | $57.73 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Health professional levels 2 to 4, from 1 October 2026
Clause 17.2 as substituted by PR814029. Level 2 is a senior clinician, specialist, supervisor or educator (2.1 under 5 years in the role, 2.2 for 5 years or more); level 3 an advanced clinician, senior specialist or section manager; level 4 a manager (Schedule A.2). Casual rates are Schedule C.2.3 exactly.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2.1 — Senior Clinician, Specialist, Supervisor or Educator (under 5 years at Level 2) | $51.19 | $1,945.40 | $101,161 | $63.99 |
| Level 2.2 — Senior Clinician, Specialist, Supervisor or Educator (5 years or more) | $52.19 | $1,983.20 | $103,126 | $65.24 |
| Level 3 — Advanced Clinician, Senior Specialist or Section Manager | $52.19 | $1,983.20 | $103,126 | $65.24 |
| Level 4 — Manager | $65.77 | $2,499.10 | $129,953 | $82.21 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Speech Pathologist 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). |
Speech Pathologist pay after tax
On the Level 1 — AQF 7 — 1st year rate of $1,308.80 a week, a full-time speech pathologist earns $68,058 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $68,058 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$10,937 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,361 |
| Take-home per year | $55,760 |
| Take-home per week | $1,072 |
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 $70,000 (the nearest step to $68,058), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What speech pathologists actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Audiologists and Speech Pathologists \ Therapists (ANZSCO 2527) at $2,003 a week ($53 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.
Speech Pathologist 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 October 2026, on 9 October 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
- 2
- 3Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 4Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 5
Last verified: 9 October 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
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