Rehab Consultant Salary: Hourly to Annual Pay Under the Health Professionals Award
A full-time rehab consultant at Health Professional Level 1 with a Diploma earns at least $32.44 per hour, or $64,124 annually based on 38 hours per week.
Understanding the Rehab Consultant Salary
If you are a rehab consultant or considering the role, knowing how your hourly rate translates to an annual salary is essential for budgeting, tax planning, and superannuation. This guide explains the conversion using the official award rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission, along with tax and super calculations for 2026–27.
Rehab consultants are typically employed under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] (). This award sets minimum pay rates for health professional employees based on their qualification level (AQF) and years of experience. The Fair Work Commission also publishes a Modern Awards Pay Database with detailed spreadsheets of rates, allowances, and penalties.
Hourly to Annual Conversion
The standard formula for converting an hourly rate to an annual salary is:
Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
For full-time employees under this award, ordinary hours are 38 per week (or an average of 38 over a fortnight or four-week period). We assume 38 hours unless stated otherwise. For example, a rehab consultant at Health Professional Level 1 with an AQF Level 5 qualification (Diploma) in their first year earns a minimum hourly rate of $32.44 per hour. Their annual salary would be:
$32.44 × 38 × 52 = $64,124
If the same consultant has 2–3 years of experience, the rate rises to $34.44 per hour, giving an annual salary of $68,077. These figures are gross and do not include superannuation, which is paid on top.
For part-time employees working fewer than 38 hours, use the same formula with their actual weekly hours. A part-time rehab consultant working 20 hours per week at $32.44 per hour would earn $32.44 × 20 × 52 = $33,738 annually.
Fortnightly Pay
Many employers pay wages fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross pay, multiply your weekly pay by two. Using the full-time example: $32.44 × 38 = $1,232.72 per week, so fortnightly pay is $2,465.44 before tax and super. This aligns with clause 21.1 of the award, which allows weekly or fortnightly payment.
Casual Loading
If you work as a casual rehab consultant, you are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate (clause 11.4 of the award). This loading compensates for entitlements like paid leave that casuals do not receive. The casual rate is calculated as:
Casual hourly rate = minimum hourly rate × 1.25
For a Level 1 first-year consultant, the casual rate is $32.44 × 1.25 = $40.55 per hour. The annual equivalent for a casual working 38 hours per week would be $40.55 × 38 × 52 = $80,127. However, casual hours can vary, and overtime rates also apply (see clause 25.3). Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading into our timesheet; the checkbox adds it automatically.
Superannuation
Under the award and the Superannuation Guarantee, your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary earnings into a super fund, paid on top of your salary. For the full-time example above, the employer would contribute $64,124 × 0.12 = $7,695 per year, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 (2026–27). Super is not deducted from your pay; it is an additional cost to the employer. See our super and packaging page for more.
Tax and Medicare Levy
Your annual gross salary is subject to Australian resident tax rates for 2026–27:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income between $18,201 and $45,000
- 30% on income between $45,001 and $135,000
- 37% on income between $135,001 and $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (using the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed). For a $64,124 salary, the tax would be approximately:
- $0 on first $18,200
- 15% on $26,800 ($18,201–$45,000) = $4,020
- 30% on $19,124 ($45,001–$64,124) = $5,737
- Total tax = $9,757
- Medicare levy = $64,124 × 0.02 = $1,282
- Total deductions = $11,039
- Take-home pay ≈ $53,085 per year, or $1,021 per week.
Use our take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.
Comparing with National Minimum Wage and Average Earnings
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). Award rates for rehab consultants are higher, reflecting the skilled nature of the work. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time (May 2026) was $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 annually. A rehab consultant at Level 1 is below this average, but with experience and higher classifications (Level 2, 3, etc.), earnings can increase significantly.
Using Pay Guides
The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for each award, including the Health Professionals and Support Services Award. These guides summarise minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates. Always check the latest pay guide for your classification to ensure you are receiving the correct pay.
Summary
To estimate your rehab consultant salary:
- Find your award classification and hourly rate from the Fair Work Ombudsman or your employer.
- Multiply by your weekly hours (usually 38 for full-time) and 52 weeks.
- Add super (12% on top) and deduct tax and Medicare for your take-home pay.
For more tools, see our reference tables and minimum wage pages.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.