How is a therapist salary calculated from an hourly rate?

Multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours worked per week, then by 52 weeks. For a full-time therapist under the award, ordinary hours are 38 per week. For example, $28.03 per hour (Level 2) × 38 × 52 = $55,387 per year. If you work part-time or casual, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. The Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides show the minimum rates for each classification.

Does the therapist salary include casual loading?

No, the base hourly rate does not include casual loading. Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, casual employees receive an additional 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. For example, a Level 1 casual therapist would be paid $26.97 + 25% = $33.71 per hour. When using a calculator, enter the base rate and add the loading separately.

How does superannuation affect a therapist salary?

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a full-time therapist earning $53,285 per year, the employer would contribute an extra $6,394 in super. This is not included in your take-home pay but is an additional benefit.

Therapist Salary Guide: Hourly to Annual Pay Under the Health Professionals Award

For a Health Professional employee at Level 1 under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, the minimum hourly rate is $26.97, giving an annual salary of about $53,285 based on 38 hours per week.

Understanding Your Therapist Salary

If you are a health professional working under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, your minimum pay is set by the Fair Work Ombudsman. This guide helps you convert an hourly therapist salary into annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures, and explains how tax and superannuation affect your take-home pay.

Hourly to Annual Conversion

The standard formula for annualising an hourly rate is:

Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

For full-time employees under the award, ordinary hours are 38 per week. For example, a therapist classified at Level 1 (minimum hourly rate $26.97) would earn:

Weekly: $26.97 × 38 = $1,024.86
Fortnightly: $1,024.86 × 2 = $2,049.72
Annual: $26.97 × 38 × 52 = $53,284.72

Higher classifications, such as Level 2 ($28.03/hr) or Level 3 ($29.11/hr), yield higher annual amounts. The Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides list all minimum rates for each level and pay point.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Award minimum wages increased by 4.75% from that date. Most therapists are covered by the Health Professionals award, which has rates above the national minimum. For example, the lowest award rate for a support services employee is $26.97, already higher than the national minimum.

Casual Loading

If you work as a casual therapist, you are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave or other entitlements. For a Level 1 casual:

Base rate: $26.97
Casual loading: 25% = $6.74
Casual hourly rate: $33.71

When using a timesheet or calculator, always enter the base rate first, then add the loading. Do not enter a rate that already includes the loading.

Fortnightly Pay

Many employers pay fortnightly. Your gross fortnightly pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. Using the Level 1 example:

Weekly: $1,024.86
Fortnightly: $2,049.72

For a casual therapist, the fortnightly amount would be higher due to the loading.

Tax and Medicare

Your take-home pay depends on the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy. The tax-free threshold is $18,200. The 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
Over $190,000: $51,375 plus 45% of excess over $190,000

Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. For a therapist earning $53,285 annually:

Tax: ($53,285 - $45,000) × 30% + $4,020 = $6,505.50
Medicare: $53,285 × 2% = $1,065.70
Total deductions: $7,571.20
Net annual pay: $45,713.80

Note: This estimate uses the single Medicare reduction thresholds from 2025–26 as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed. It does not include HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging.

Superannuation

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it. For a full-time therapist earning $53,285:

Super contribution: $53,285 × 12% = $6,394.20
Total cost to employer: $59,679.20

Your super is invested for retirement and is not part of your take-home pay.

Average Earnings Comparison

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026. That equates to an annual salary of about $108,352. Many therapists, especially those in senior roles or private practice, may earn above award rates. However, award minimums are the legal floor.

Using the Timesheet

Our timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. It calculates weekly, fortnightly, and annual gross pay, along with estimated tax and super. For a therapist salary, start with the award rate for your classification. If you are paid above award, enter your actual rate.

Reference Tables

For a full list of minimum rates under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, see our reference tables. You can also explore pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman for other awards.

Important Notes

This guide assumes you work the same number of hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. The annual figure is an estimate. Always check your pay slip and consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or your employer for your exact entitlements.

For more on the national minimum wage, visit our minimum wage page. To understand your take-home pay after deductions, see take-home pay. And for details on super and packaging, go to super and packaging.

Disclaimer

Annual pay 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.