What is the minimum hourly rate for a physiotherapist in Sydney under the award?

Physiotherapists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. From 1 October 2026, minimum rates for health professional employees increased following the gender-based undervaluation review. The exact rate depends on classification and experience. For the latest minimum rates, check the pay guide on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

How do I calculate my annual salary from an hourly rate as a physiotherapist?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours per week and then by 52. For a full-time physiotherapist, the standard is 38 hours per week. For example, $45 per hour × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $88,920 per year. If you work part-time or casual, adjust the hours accordingly. Casual employees also receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate.

How much tax and super will I pay on a physiotherapist salary in Sydney?

For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. Superannuation guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of your salary, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830.

Physiotherapist Salary Sydney: Converting Hourly Rates to Annual, Fortnightly, and After-Tax Pay

For a physiotherapist in Sydney earning $45 per hour under the Health Professionals Award, the annual gross pay is approximately $88,920 assuming a 38-hour week.

Understanding a Physiotherapist Salary Sydney

If you’re a physiotherapist in Sydney or considering the profession, knowing how your hourly rate translates into annual, fortnightly, and after-tax pay is essential. Whether you’re negotiating a job offer, comparing roles, or planning your budget, the conversion formula is straightforward — but the details around awards, casual loading, tax, and superannuation can make a big difference.

This guide uses official figures from the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Australian Taxation Office to give you a reliable picture of a physiotherapist salary Sydney.

The Basic Conversion: Hourly to Annual

The standard formula for converting an hourly rate to annual gross pay is:

Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For full-time employees, the typical week is 38 hours (the ordinary hours under most awards). So if you earn $45 per hour as a physiotherapist:

$45 × 38 × 52 = $88,920 per year

This assumes you work every week of the year with no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no allowances. It’s a starting point for comparison.

Fortnightly Pay

Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your gross fortnightly pay, multiply your weekly pay by 2:

Weekly pay: $45 × 38 = $1,710
Fortnightly pay: $1,710 × 2 = $3,420

This is before tax and other deductions.

Award Rates for Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists in Sydney are typically covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides that list minimum rates for each classification. From 1 October 2026, minimum rates for health professional employees increased as part of the gender-based undervaluation review ().

Actual salaries for physiotherapists in Sydney may be higher than the award minimum, especially in private practice or hospitals. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) shows full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. That’s a useful benchmark, but remember it includes all occupations.

Casual Loading

If you work as a casual physiotherapist, you’re entitled to a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. For example, if the award rate is $40 per hour, the casual rate becomes $50 per hour. The casual loading is paid instead of entitlements like paid leave.

When using our hourly conversion tool, enter your base hourly rate before casual loading. The tool can add the 25% loading with a checkbox.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 hours) (). This applies to award-free employees. However, most physiotherapists are covered by an award, so their minimum rate is higher. The award rate takes precedence.

Tax on Your Physiotherapist Salary

For the 2026–27 financial year, the Australian resident tax rates are:

$0 – $18,200: Nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% of excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30% of excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37% of excess over $135,000
$190,001 and over: $51,370 plus 45% of excess over $190,000

In addition, the Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. For 2026–27, the single reduction thresholds are based on 2025–26 figures (not yet confirmed for 2026–27), so the estimate uses the 2025–26 thresholds.

Example tax estimate for $88,920 gross:

Tax on first $18,200: $0
Tax on $18,201 to $45,000: 15% of $26,800 = $4,020
Tax on $45,001 to $88,920: 30% of $43,920 = $13,176
Total tax: $17,196
Medicare levy (2%): $1,778.40
Total tax and Medicare: $18,974.40
Net annual pay: $69,945.60
Net fortnightly: about $2,690

Use our take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.

Superannuation Guarantee

Your employer must pay superannuation on top of your salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a $88,920 salary, that’s an extra $10,670.40 paid into your super fund. This is not deducted from your pay; it’s an additional cost to your employer.

Learn more about super and packaging.

Putting It All Together

When you see a job ad for a physiotherapist salary Sydney, remember:

Check if the rate is award minimum or above.
Confirm whether it’s full-time (38 hours) or part-time.
Ask if the role is permanent or casual (casual gets loading).
Use the hourly conversion formula to compare offers.
Factor in tax and super to understand your true take-home pay.

For a quick reference, our reference tables include the national minimum wage, award summaries, and tax brackets.

Important Disclaimer

Annual pay calculated here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.