The award pays vets' overtime at the ordinary rate, not time and a half, and has no weekend penalty rates for veterinary surgeons. Check whether your contract or agreement pays more.
Which award covers veterinarians
Veterinarians employed in the veterinary surgery industry are covered by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 [MA000118], which calls them veterinary surgeons (or associates) and sets annual salaries for them in clause 15.3.
Level 1A is the commencement level for a graduate veterinary surgeon, working under supervision; the award requires progression to Level 1B no later than 6 months after starting, and a competent Level 1B associate can expect Level 2 within 2 years (Schedule A.3).
Level 2 works without detailed supervision, Level 3 is an experienced vet handling more difficult work, and Level 4 is a senior vet with supervisory or practice management responsibilities.
Vets employed by government, universities or under an enterprise agreement may be paid under other instruments. A vet working as a genuine contractor (locum on an ABN) has no award minimum.
Read the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 [MA000118] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026).
Veterinarian 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.
Vet pay rates by level, 2026–27
Annual salaries from clause 15.3. Weekly is annual ÷ 52 rounded to the nearest 10 cents, the award's own method; hourly and casual rates are exactly as the award and Schedule B.2.5 publish them.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1AGraduate veterinary surgeon | $34.20 | $1,299.70 | $67,582 | $42.75 |
| Level 1BWithin 6 months of starting | $36.08 | $1,371.20 | $71,300 | $45.10 |
| Level 2 | $38.98 | $1,481.40 | $77,032 | $48.73 |
| Level 3Experienced veterinary surgeon | $42.83 | $1,627.50 | $84,628 | $53.54 |
| Level 4Senior veterinary surgeon | $48.38 | $1,838.30 | $95,593 | $60.48 |
Annual is the award's own full-time annual salary, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Veterinarian penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Public holiday | 200% | 225% |
Percentages of the minimum hourly rate (cl 27.3, Schedule B.1.7 and B.2.5). The award's weekend and evening penalty rates (cl 21) apply to employees other than veterinary surgeons, so vets have no Saturday or Sunday penalty under the award.
Overtime
- Time worked beyond 38 hours a week, other than on call, is paid at the ordinary time rate, or taken as time off hour for hour if you agree (cl 20.2(a)). There is no time and a half.
- An agreed allowance can replace payment for extra hours, but must not be less than what cl 20.2(a) would pay, and the agreement must be in writing (cl 20.2(b)–(c)).
- Full-time and part-time vets should get at least 3 full days off per fortnight; days off not given accumulate and must be paid out at the ordinary rate if not used within 6 weeks (cl 13.3(c)).
Work out a shift with penalties or overtime using the overtime pay calculator.
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| On-call allowance | $56.63 per period of on-call duty | A new period starts every 24 hours of continuous on-call; active on-call work is paid at no less than the hourly rate (cl 16.3(a)). |
Veterinarian pay after tax
On the Level 1A rate of $1,299.70 a week, a full-time veterinarian earns $67,582 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $67,582 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$10,795 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,352 |
| Take-home per year | $55,435 |
| Take-home per week | $1,066 |
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 $67,582), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What veterinarians actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Veterinarians (ANZSCO 2347) at $2,413 a week ($64 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
- Veterinary nurse, receptionist, animal attendant and practice manager rates (cl 15.2), which are on a separate weekly scale.
- Animal care industry inspector rates (cl 15.1).
- Enterprise agreement and government veterinary officer scales.
Veterinarian 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 Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020, consolidated to 1 July 2026, on 24 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
- 1Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 [MA000118] — consolidated to 1 July 2026— Fair Work Commission
- 2Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 4Veterinarians (ANZSCO 2347) occupation profile — ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025— Jobs and Skills Australia
Last verified: 24 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
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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