Biomedical Engineering Salary: How to Calculate Your Hourly Rate and Annual Pay
A biomedical engineering salary is typically based on award rates under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, with a standard 38-hour week.
Understanding Your Biomedical Engineering Salary
If you're working as a biomedical engineer in Australia, or considering the field, knowing how your hourly rate translates into an annual salary is essential. This guide explains the calculation, the relevant award, and how tax and super affect your take-home pay. We'll use the keyword biomedical engineering salary throughout to help you find this information.
The Standard Calculation: Hourly × Hours × 52
To estimate your annual gross pay, use this formula:
Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
For a full-time employee, the standard week is 38 ordinary hours, as set by the Fair Work Commission. For example, if your hourly rate is $45, your annual biomedical engineering salary would be:
$45 × 38 × 52 = $88,920
This assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. It's a starting point for budgeting and comparing offers.
You can also calculate your fortnightly pay by multiplying your weekly pay by two. For the example above, weekly pay is $1,710, so fortnightly is $3,420. This matches many pay cycles.
Award Rates vs. the National Minimum Wage
Biomedical engineers are typically covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award [MA000027], which sets minimum pay rates for different classifications. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for this award with specific hourly rates. These rates are higher than the National Minimum Wage.
From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours, according to the Fair Work Commission. This is the legal minimum for award/agreement-free employees. Most biomedical engineers will earn above this under their award or enterprise agreement.
If you are a casual employee, you receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate. For the National Minimum Wage, that's $33.05 per hour. Casual loading is meant to compensate for lack of paid leave. You can read more about casual loading on our site.
Superannuation Is Paid on Top
Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of your salary. From 2026–27, the rate is 12% of your ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. This means if your annual biomedical engineering salary is $88,920, your employer adds $10,670.40 to your super fund. Super is not part of your take-home pay, but it's a valuable benefit for retirement.
Tax and Medicare Levy
Your annual gross salary is subject to income tax and the Medicare levy. For 2026–27, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Additionally, a 2% Medicare levy generally applies. For a single person earning $88,920, the tax would be approximately $19,567 plus $1,778 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of about $67,575. These figures are estimates; your actual tax may vary based on deductions, HELP repayments, or the Medicare levy surcharge.
Our take-home pay page has more details on net income calculations.
Using Our Hourly to Annual Converter
Our hourly conversion tool lets you enter your base hourly rate and see the annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures. You can also check a box to add 25% casual loading. Remember: do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading—the tool adds it for you.
Fortnightly Pay and Budgeting
Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly biomedical engineering salary, multiply your weekly pay by two. For a $45/hour rate, that's $3,420 before tax. Knowing this helps with budgeting and comparing job offers.
Where to Find Official Pay Rates
The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for all awards, including the Health Professionals Award. These guides list minimum hourly rates, allowances, and penalty rates. They are updated when award changes occur. For example, from 1 October 2026, minimum rates in the Health Services Award changed. Always check the official pay guide for your classification.
Summary
Calculating your biomedical engineering salary from an hourly rate is straightforward: multiply by 38 and by 52. Remember that award rates apply, super is extra, and tax reduces your take-home. Use our tools to estimate your figures, and refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman for exact rates.
For more information, see our minimum wage page and reference tables for historical rates.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.