Dietician Salary Guide 2026–27: Award, Public Hospital and ATO Median Pay

Understanding the Dietician Salary Landscape

If you're researching a dietician salary in Australia, the pay varies significantly depending on your employer, experience, and qualifications. This guide breaks down the award minimum, public hospital pay scales, and what dietitians actually earned according to the Australian Taxation Office, so you can see where you stand against the national minimum wage and full-time ordinary time earnings.

Award Minimum Pay for Dietitians

Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, dietitians are classified at AQF Level 7 to 9 depending on their qualification. The minimum rates from 1 October 2026 are set by the Fair Work Commission. A first-year dietitian with a bachelor degree (AQF 7) earns at least $34.44 per hour, or $68,058 per year. With a master's degree (AQF 9), the first-year rate rises to $38.02 per hour ($75,135 per year). After seven years at AQF 7, you reach $44.46 per hour ($87,854 per year). Senior clinicians and managers (Levels 2 to 4) earn between $51.19 and $65.77 per hour ($101,161 to $129,953 per year). These figures are before super and tax. Casuals receive a 25% loading.

Public Hospital Dietitian Salaries

Public hospitals pay above the award. In Queensland Health, dietitians are employed on the Health Practitioner scale. New graduates typically start at HP3, which ranges from $83,824 to $124,314 per year. Senior clinicians at HP4 earn $132,689 to $142,315, and advanced roles (HP5 to HP8) go up to $253,611. In NSW Health, the Health Professionals (State) Award applies. Level 1 graduates start at $79,419 and progress to $92,801. Level 2 dietitians earn $98,936 to $113,301, and Level 5 roles reach $144,756. These rates are from 1 July 2026 and 1 September 2026 respectively.

What Dietitians Actually Earn: ATO Data

The Australian Taxation Office's 2023-24 tax statistics show the median salary or wage for dietitians was $69,128, with an average of $69,919. Men had a higher median ($79,600) than women ($68,319). Note that these figures include part-time workers, so full-time pay is typically higher. The occupation is 95% female, with a median age of 34. Only 49% work full-time, and average full-time hours are 40 per week, compared to 44 for all occupations.

How Your Salary Compares to Benchmarks

To put these figures in context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, $52,255 per year). A first-year dietitian under the award earns about 30% more than the minimum wage. The full-time adult ordinary time earnings (excluding overtime and employer super) are $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year), according to the ABS. A dietitian at the top of the award (Level 1, 7th year) earns $87,854, which is below that average. However, public hospital dietitians at HP3 or Level 2 can match or exceed the full-time average. The ATO median of $69,128 is about 63% of the full-time ordinary time benchmark.

Take-Home Pay After Tax and Medicare

Your take-home pay depends on your taxable income. For a dietitian earning the award minimum of $68,058, after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy (full rate applies as salary exceeds the $35,013 upper threshold), you would take home approximately $2,145 per fortnight. At the Queensland Health entry level of $83,824, take-home is about $2,557 per fortnight. These estimates use 2026–27 tax rates, including the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). They exclude HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging. For a more personalised estimate, use the Take-home pay calculator.

Factors That Affect Your Dietician Salary

• Employer type: Public hospitals pay more than the award; private practice and NDIS work may vary. The NDIS price limit for dietitian services is $178.99 per hour (most areas), but that goes to the business, not your wage.
• Experience and qualifications: Higher degrees (AQF 8 or 9) and years of experience increase your rate under the award.
• Location: Remote and very remote areas have higher NDIS price limits, but wages may not directly reflect that.
• Full-time vs part-time: The ATO median includes part-timers; full-time dietitians likely earn more.

Superannuation and Salary Packaging

All salary figures in this guide are before super. Your employer must pay 12% super on top from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. If you work in a public hospital, you may be able to salary package items like a car or laptop, which can reduce your taxable income and increase take-home pay. See Salary packaging for more.