Sterilisation Technician Salary: Hourly to Annual Pay Guide
A sterilisation technician earning the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour on a 38-hour week receives about $52,269 annually, before tax and super.
Understanding the sterilisation technician salary
A sterilisation technician plays a vital role in healthcare by cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilising medical instruments. If you're looking at a sterilisation technician salary, you'll typically be paid under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). Your exact rate depends on your classification level, experience, and whether you're employed full-time, part-time, or casually.
This guide explains how to convert an hourly rate to an annual salary, how casual loading and superannuation work, and where to find official pay rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission.
How to convert an hourly rate to an annual salary
The standard formula is:
Annual gross salary ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52
We assume a full-time week of 38 hours, which is the ordinary hours under most modern awards. For example, if your base hourly rate is the National Minimum Wage of $26.44:
$26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,269.44 per year
If you're casual, you add 25% loading on top of the base rate. That gives a casual rate of $33.05 per hour, and an annual estimate of:
$33.05 × 38 × 52 = $65,336.80 per year
Remember, this is a gross figure before tax and Medicare levy. It assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. For a more personalised calculation, use the timesheet.
The fortnightly pay
If you're paid fortnightly, multiply your weekly pay by two. For a full-time sterilisation technician at the National Minimum Wage:
- Weekly: $26.44 × 38 = $1,004.72
- Fortnightly: $1,004.72 × 2 = $2,009.44
For a casual at $33.05 per hour:
- Weekly: $33.05 × 38 = $1,255.90
- Fortnightly: $1,255.90 × 2 = $2,511.80
Knowing your fortnightly amount helps with budgeting and comparing salary offers.
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). However, most sterilisation technicians are covered by an award, which sets higher minimum rates. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 has several classification levels. To find the exact rate for your role, check the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman or use the reference tables on the Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database.
Award rates are updated each year following the Annual Wage Review. The 2026 data includes a 4.75% increase effective from 1 July 2026. Always rely on official sources rather than recruiter surveys, as they may not reflect the legal minimum.
Casual loading and superannuation
Casual employees get a 25% loading on their base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave entitlements like annual leave and sick leave. The loading is paid on top of the base rate, so you should never enter a rate that already includes casual loading into a calculator – the calculator should add it separately.
Superannuation is also paid on top of your gross earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a sterilisation technician earning $52,269 annually, the employer would contribute an extra $6,272 in super. This is not part of your take-home pay but is an important part of your total compensation package. Learn more about super and packaging.
Tax and take-home pay
Your take-home pay depends on your total taxable income and the tax rates for 2026–27. The resident tax brackets are:
- $0 – $18,200: nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15% on the excess over $18,200
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30% on the excess over $45,000
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37% on the excess over $135,000
- Over $190,000: 45% on the excess over $190,000
Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds, as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed). For a full-time sterilisation technician on the National Minimum Wage ($52,269), the estimated tax would be around $7,000 and Medicare about $1,045, leaving take-home pay of roughly $44,200. Use the take-home pay tool for a detailed estimate.
Using the timesheet calculator
Our the timesheet calculator lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. It then shows your annual, monthly, weekly, and fortnightly gross pay, plus estimated super and tax. Remember that the annual figure is an estimate based on a consistent 38-hour week. If you work different hours or have penalty rates, the actual amount will vary.
Where to find official sterilisation technician pay rates
The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award, including the Health Professionals and Support Services Award. You can also access the Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database for detailed classification rates, allowances, and penalty rates. These are the authoritative sources for your sterilisation technician salary.
For more context on how your pay compares to the broader workforce, see the average pay page, which uses ABS Average Weekly Earnings data. As of May 2026, full-time adult ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 per week, while all employees (including part-time) averaged $1,579.20 per week.
Final notes
This guide provides estimates only. Your actual pay depends on your award classification, hours worked, and any enterprise agreement. Always check the relevant award and your employment contract. The formula hourly × hours per week × 52 is a starting point, but for precise figures, refer to official sources and your payslip.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.