Your arborist salary: what you take home after tax and Medicare

How to work out your arborist take-home pay

If you're an arborist in Australia, your pay depends on your employer, experience, and the award that covers you. The most common award is the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award, which sets minimum rates for tree loppers, pruners, and general arborists. Fair Work confirms that arborists are covered by this award unless they work in the electrical services industry clearing vegetation near power lines.

Award rates for arborists

The award has five classification levels. For a full-time adult arborist, the minimum weekly pay ranges from $978.10 (Introductory) to $1,154.30 (Level 5). The most common starting point is Level 1, which pays $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. These rates apply from 1 July 2026, as published by the Fair Work Ombudsman in the pay guide.

Casual arborists get a 25% loading, so a Level 1 casual earns $33.05 per hour. Overtime, penalty rates, and allowances can increase your pay further.

What the data says about arborist employment

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are about 7,000 arborists employed nationally. The median age is 36, and only 3% are women. Most work full-time (80%), averaging 43 hours per week. However, median weekly earnings are not available for this occupation, so we rely on award rates as a floor.

Calculating your take-home pay

Your take-home pay is what lands in your bank account after the Australian Tax Office deducts income tax and the Medicare levy. Here's how it works for a Level 1 arborist earning the award minimum.

Step 1: Annualise your pay

If you work 38 hours per week (full-time), your annual salary is:

$26.44 × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $52,255 (rounded).

Step 2: Apply income tax (2026–27 rates)

• First $18,200: tax-free
• Next $26,800 ($18,201 to $45,000): taxed at 15c per $1 = $4,020
• Remaining $7,255 ($45,001 to $52,255): taxed at 30c per $1 = $2,176.50

Total tax before offsets: $6,196.50

You may be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). At $52,255, LITO is $325 minus 1.5c per $1 over $45,000 = $325 – $108.83 = $216.17. So tax after LITO = $6,196.50 – $216.17 = $5,980.33.

Step 3: Medicare levy

Since $52,255 is above $35,013, you pay the full 2%: $52,255 × 2% = $1,045.10.

Step 4: Take-home

$52,255 – $5,980.33 (tax) – $1,045.10 (Medicare) = $45,229.57 per year.

That's about $1,739.60 per fortnight (before any salary sacrifice or HELP repayments).

What about super?

Your employer must pay superannuation at 12% on top of your salary (from 1 July 2026). That's an extra $6,270.60 per year, but it goes into your super fund, not your bank account. Job ads often quote a salary 'plus super', so your take-home is based on the base salary.

Factors that change your take-home

• Overtime and penalties – these are taxed at your marginal rate, so you keep less of each extra dollar.
• Salary packaging – if your employer offers it, you can reduce taxable income for items like a car or laptop. See our Salary packaging guide.
• HELP/HECS debt – if you have one, repayments are deducted from your pay at 1% to 10% of your income.
• Medicare levy surcharge – if you earn over $93,000 (single) and don't have appropriate private hospital cover, you pay an extra 1% to 1.5%.

Using the award as a benchmark

Your actual arborist salary may be higher than the award minimum, especially if you're experienced or work for a large company. The Minimum wage page shows the national minimum is $26.44 per hour, but many arborists earn above that. Without published median earnings, the best guide is to check your award classification and negotiate from there.

How to estimate your own take-home

Use our Take-home pay calculator with your actual hourly rate and hours. Remember to include any allowances or penalties. The tax and Medicare estimates here are for a resident single person with no dependents. If you have a partner or children, your tax may differ.

Summary

Your arborist salary after tax depends on your award level, hours, and personal situation. At the minimum Level 1 rate, you can expect around $45,230 per year in your bank account (before any extras). For a more precise figure, use the tax tables and Medicare thresholds provided by the ATO. Always check your pay slip and talk to your employer if something seems off.