What is the casual rate for a laboratory technician?

Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, a casual laboratory technician at Support Level 5 receives $38.06 per hour. This includes a 25% casual loading on the base rate of $30.45, compensating for the lack of paid leave and other permanent entitlements. The casual loading is paid on top of the base rate, so you should never enter a rate that already includes it into a calculator.

What penalty rates apply to laboratory technicians?

For permanent laboratory technicians at Support Level 5 (base $30.45/hr), penalty rates are: Saturday and Sunday at 1.5 times the base rate ($45.68/hr) and public holidays at 2.5 times ($76.13/hr). Casual employees receive the same penalty rates on top of their casual loading, so a casual working a public holiday would earn $38.06 × 2.5 = $95.15/hr. These rates are set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020.

How is superannuation calculated for a laboratory technician salary?

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings at 12% (the super guarantee rate for 2026–27). For a full-time laboratory technician earning $60,169.20 annually, the employer contributes an additional $7,220.30 into your super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. This means your total remuneration package is about $67,389.50, but the super amount is not part of your take-home pay.

Laboratory Technician Salary: Hourly Rates, Annual Pay, and Tax Guide 2026–27

A full-time laboratory technician (Support Level 5) earns $30.45 per hour, or $60,169.20 annually based on a 38-hour week, with casual rates at $38.06 per hour including 25% loading.

How to Convert a Laboratory Technician Salary from Hourly to Annual

If you’re a laboratory technician in Australia, your pay is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). The minimum hourly rate for a full-time laboratory technician at Support Level 5 is $30.45 per hour from 1 July 2026. To work out your annual salary, use the standard formula:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

Assuming a 38-hour week (the usual full-time week under the award), the calculation is:

$30.45 × 38 × 52 = $60,169.20 per year

This is the gross annual pay before tax and any deductions. The Fair Work Commission publishes the official rates in its Modern Awards Pay Database, and the Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides that confirm these figures. If you work fewer hours or are part-time, simply adjust the hours per week in the formula.

Fortnightly Pay and Budgeting

Knowing your fortnightly pay helps with budgeting. Multiply your weekly pay by two:

Weekly: $30.45 × 38 = $1,157.10
Fortnightly: $1,157.10 × 2 = $2,314.20

For casual laboratory technicians, the rate is $38.06 per hour (including 25% casual loading), giving a fortnightly gross of $2,892.56 for 76 hours. Use our the timesheet to calculate your own figures.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Your take-home pay depends on the 2026–27 tax rates and the Medicare levy. For a laboratory technician earning $60,169.20:

Tax-free threshold: $0 – $18,200 = $0 tax
15% on $18,201 – $45,000 ($26,800) = $4,020
30% on $45,001 – $60,169.20 ($15,169.20) = $4,550.76
Total tax: $8,570.76
Medicare levy (2% of taxable income): $1,203.38
Total deductions: $9,774.14
Estimated take-home pay: $50,395.06 per year (about $969.14 per week)

This is an estimate only. It does not include HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging. For a more detailed breakdown, see our take-home pay guide.

Superannuation on Top

Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on your ordinary earnings, on top of your salary. For $60,169.20:

Super contribution: $60,169.20 × 12% = $7,220.30
Total cost to employer: $67,389.50

Super is paid into your nominated fund and is not part of your take-home pay. The maximum earnings subject to super is $270,830 per year (2026–27). Learn more about super and packaging.

Casual Loading and Penalty Rates

Casual laboratory technicians receive a 25% loading on the base rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave. The casual rate is $38.06 per hour. This loading is already included in the casual rate – never add it yourself.

Penalty rates for permanent Support Level 5 laboratory technicians (from ):

Saturday: 1.5 × $30.45 = $45.68/hr
Sunday: 1.5 × $30.45 = $45.68/hr
Public Holiday: 2.5 × $30.45 = $76.13/hr

Casual employees receive the same penalty rates on top of their casual loading. For example, a casual working a public holiday earns $38.06 × 2.5 = $95.15/hr. These rates are set by the award and enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Award vs National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 for a 38-hour week). Laboratory technicians under the Health Professionals Award earn $30.45 per hour, which is $4.01 above the minimum. This reflects the skilled nature of the work, including diagnostic testing and sample preparation. The award also provides allowances for uniforms, travel, and qualifications. See our minimum wage page for comparisons.

Using the Timesheet Calculator

Our the timesheet calculator lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add the 25% casual loading. For a laboratory technician, enter $30.45 and check the casual box to see $38.06. The calculator then shows annual, fortnightly, weekly, and after-tax figures. It assumes a 38-hour week and the same rate every week, without overtime or penalty rates. Always check your pay against the official pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Summary

A laboratory technician salary under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 starts at $30.45 per hour, or $60,169.20 annually for a 38-hour week. Casual employees earn $38.06 per hour including loading. Penalty rates apply for weekend and public holiday work. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top. Use the formula hourly × hours × 52 to convert any rate, and remember that award rates are the legal minimum – your actual pay may be higher under an enterprise agreement.