Physiotherapy salary guide: What you take home after tax in Australia

Understanding your physiotherapy salary

Your physiotherapy salary depends on your experience, sector, and employment type. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award sets minimum hourly rates, but most physiotherapists earn well above these award minimums. According to the pay guide, support services employees (not physiotherapists directly) start at $26.97 per hour for Level 1. For qualified physiotherapists, the award has separate health professional classifications, but market rates are higher.

The occupation profile reports median full-time weekly earnings of $1,888 for physiotherapists, based on ABS data. The Australian Physiotherapy Association’s 2025 Workforce Census (see ) shows an average annual salary of $102,000, with median earnings of $96,000. Salaries range from $80,000 at the 25th percentile to $118,000 at the 75th percentile.

Award minimums and market rates

The award provides a safety net. For health professionals, classification levels reflect experience and responsibility. However, the APA census reveals that early-career (foundation) physiotherapists average $80,000, intermediate practitioners $96,000, highly developed $116,000, and experts $149,000. Full-time employees earn an average of $105,000, while part-time workers average $95,000. Casual physiotherapists earn a median hourly rate of $60.

Estimating your take-home pay

To work out what reaches your bank account, start with your annual salary. For 2026–27, the Australian Taxation Office applies these resident tax rates:

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

Then add the Medicare levy: 2% of taxable income. The latest published single-person Medicare thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013; full-time salaries above $35,013 pay the full 2%. The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) can reduce tax for incomes up to $66,667, but phases out completely by about $66,667.

Superannuation is separate. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, paid by your employer on top of your salary. If your job ad says “$102,000 plus super”, your take-home is based on $102,000.

Example: take-home for a typical physiotherapist

Take the average physiotherapy salary of $102,000. Using the 2026–27 tax rates:

• Tax on $102,000: $4,020 + 30% × ($102,000 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $17,100 = $21,120
• Medicare levy: 2% × $102,000 = $2,040
• Total deductions: $23,160
• Estimated take-home pay: $102,000 – $23,160 = $78,840 per year, or about $1,516 per week (assuming 52 weeks).

This is an estimate only. It excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice, and payroll tax-table rounding. Use the Take-home pay tool for a more precise calculation based on your circumstances.

For the median weekly earnings of $1,888 (annualised to $98,176), the take-home would be approximately $75,500 per year, or $1,452 per week.

Remember that your actual take-home may differ if you work part-time, have a different pay cycle, or receive allowances. The After-tax salary guide provides further resources on understanding your net pay.

Key takeaways

• Physiotherapy salary varies: median full-time weekly $1,888, average annual $102,000.
• Award minimums are lower; most physiotherapists earn above award.
• Take-home pay = salary – income tax – Medicare levy (2%).
• Super is paid on top if the salary is quoted as “plus super”.
• Use the Tax and Medicare page to check current rates and thresholds.