Dietitian Salary Guide: Compare Job Offers Using Take-Home Pay

Dietitian Salary in Australia: What Reaches Your Bank Account

When you're comparing job offers as a dietitian, the headline figure isn't what lands in your account. Tax, the Medicare levy, and superannuation all change the number. This guide uses the latest Australian data to help you compare offers using the amount you actually take home.

Award Minimum Pay

The Health Professionals and Support Services Award sets the legal floor. From 1 October 2026, a first-year dietitian with a bachelor degree (AQF 7) earns at least $34.44 an hour, or $68,058 a year. With a master's degree (AQF 9), the first-year rate is $38.02 an hour, or $75,135 a year. These rates are before tax and super. Fair Work publishes the full classification schedule.

Public Hospital Pay Scales

Public hospitals often pay above the award. Queensland Health's HP3 scale (new graduates) runs from $83,824 to $124,314 a year. NSW Health starts graduates at Level 1, Year 1: $79,419, rising to $92,801 after four steps. Senior roles (Level 3 and above) can exceed $140,000. These figures are before tax and super. Jobs and Skills Australia notes that the median weekly earnings for full-time non-managerial dietitians are based on ABS data.

What Dietitians Actually Earn

The Australian Taxation Office's 2023-24 tax statistics show a median salary or wage of $69,128 for dietitians. The average was $69,919. Men reported a median of $79,600; women $68,319. These figures include part-time workers, so full-time pay is typically higher. The ATO data is the most reliable benchmark for actual earnings.

From Salary to Take-Home Pay

To compare offers, you need to estimate your take-home pay. For 2026–27, the tax rates are:

• $0–$18,200: nil
• $18,201–$45,000: 15c per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001–$135,000: $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001–$190,000: $31,020 plus 37c per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c per $1 over $190,000

The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) can reduce tax by up to $700 for incomes under $37,500, phasing out by $66,667. The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income, but if you earn between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate (10c per $1 over the lower threshold). Full-time dietitians almost always pay the full 2%.

Example: A dietitian earning $80,000 a year (before super) would pay about $16,467 in tax plus $1,600 in Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of $61,933. That's $2,382 per fortnight. Use our Take-home pay tool to run your own numbers.

Factors That Affect Your Pay

• Experience and qualifications: Higher AQF levels and more years shift you up the award scale.
• Employer type: Public hospitals, private practice, and NDIS providers all pay differently.
• Location: Remote and very remote areas attract higher NDIS price limits, but that's the business charge, not your wage.
• Full-time vs part-time: The ATO median includes part-timers; full-time roles pay more.

How to Use This Guide

When you receive a job offer, ask: is the salary plus super or inclusive? Check the award classification if it's a private employer. For public hospitals, look up the relevant state pay scale. Then estimate your take-home using the tax rates above. That's the number that matters for your budget.

Final Thoughts

The dietitian salary in Australia ranges widely. The award minimum is around $68,000, but public hospitals start graduates near $80,000, and experienced clinicians can earn over $120,000. The national median of $69,128 reminds you that many dietitians work part-time or in lower-paid roles. Always compare offers on a take-home basis, and remember that super is extra.

For more benchmarks, see our Benchmarks page. To understand salary packaging options, visit Salary packaging.