How to Estimate Your Therapist Salary After Tax in Australia
Therapist salaries vary by role and experience; for example, occupational therapists have a median full-time weekly earnings of $1,913, while psychologists and psychotherapists have a median of $2,204 per week (before tax).
How to Estimate Your Therapist Salary After Tax
When you see a therapist salary advertised, it is usually the gross annual figure before tax and Medicare. The amount that reaches your bank account each fortnight depends on your income level, the tax brackets, and the Medicare levy. This guide explains how to work out your take-home pay using the latest award rates and median earnings data.
Start with the right gross figure
Therapist salaries vary widely by role, experience, and sector. Fair Work’s Health Professionals and Support Services Award sets minimum rates for support services employees (such as dental assistants and pathology collectors) from Level 1 ($1,024.70 per week) up to Level 9 pay point 3 ($1,497.80 per week). For health professional employees, the award directs you to use the Pay and Conditions Tool because rates depend on classification and experience.
Beyond award minima, median earnings give a realistic benchmark. Jobs and Skills Australia reports that occupational therapists have a median full-time weekly earnings of $1,913 before tax, while psychologists and psychotherapists have a median of $2,204 per week. These figures come from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and exclude managers, part-time workers, and youths. Use these as a guide for your own therapist salary expectations.
Apply the 2026-27 tax rates
Once you have your gross annual salary, calculate the income tax using the resident tax brackets:
- $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
- $190,001 and over: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000
For example, an occupational therapist earning $99,476 a year ($1,913 × 52) would pay tax of $4,020 plus 30c on the $54,476 above $45,000, which is $16,342.80, for a total tax of $20,362.80. Then add the Medicare levy.
Add the Medicare levy
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but the latest published single-person thresholds ($28,011 and $35,013) mean you pay nothing if you earn below $28,011, and a reduced rate between $28,011 and $35,013. Most full-time therapists earn well above $35,013, so you will pay the full 2%. On $99,476, that is $1,989.52.
Subtract tax and Medicare from gross
Gross annual salary: $99,476 Income tax: $20,362.80 Medicare levy: $1,989.52 Total deductions: $22,352.32 After-tax income: $77,123.68
Divide by 26 to get fortnightly take-home pay: approximately $2,966.30. This is the amount that would reach your bank account, assuming no other deductions like HELP/HECS or salary sacrifice.
Factor in the Low Income Tax Offset
If your taxable income is below $66,667, you may be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). The maximum is $700 at incomes up to $37,500, then it phases out. For a therapist earning $99,476, LITO does not apply. Check your eligibility using the Take-home pay guide.
Remember superannuation
Your employer must pay superannuation of 12% on top of your base salary from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not deducted from your take-home pay; it is an additional benefit. When comparing therapist salary offers, note whether the figure is base salary or total package including super. See Super for more.
Use benchmarks to check your expectations
The national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week. Most therapist roles pay well above this. The all-employees average weekly total earnings (including part-time) is $1,579.20, and full-time adult ordinary time earnings average $2,083.70 per week. Compare your therapist salary to these Benchmarks to see where you stand.
Final note
This estimate is for a resident employee with no HELP/HECS debt, no Medicare levy surcharge, and no salary packaging. Use the Tax and Medicare page for more details on offsets and thresholds. Always consult a tax professional for your personal situation.
Questions
How do I calculate my take-home pay from my therapist salary?
Start with your gross annual salary. Subtract the tax using the 2026-27 resident tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, then 15c per dollar up to $45,000, then 30c up to $135,000, then 37c up to $190,000, and 45c above that. Also subtract the Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income (unless you earn below the threshold). Then add any Low Income Tax Offset you qualify for (up to $700, phasing out between $37,500 and $66,667). The result is your after-tax income. Divide by 26 to get fortnightly take-home pay.
Does my therapist salary include superannuation?
Job advertisements often quote a salary 'plus super'. Super is an extra 12% on top of your base salary paid by your employer into your super fund from 1 July 2026. It is not deducted from your take-home pay. If the salary is quoted as inclusive of super, then the cash component is lower. Always check whether the advertised figure is base or total package.
What Medicare levy thresholds apply to therapists?
For the 2026-27 income year, the single-person Medicare levy thresholds are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper). If your taxable income is below $28,011, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate (10c per dollar over the lower threshold). Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. Most full-time therapists will be above the upper threshold.