Allied Health Assistant Salary: What You Take Home After Tax and Medicare

Allied Health Assistant Salary: Award Rates and Your Take-Home Pay

If you work as an allied health assistant in Australia, your minimum pay is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award. This guide explains the award rates, how tax and the Medicare levy affect your fortnightly pay, and what role superannuation plays.

Minimum Pay Under the Award

Allied health assistants are classified as Health Professional employees at Level 1 under the award. Your minimum hourly rate depends on your Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level and years of experience. For example:

• AQF Level 5, 1st year: $32.44 per hour, $1,232.70 per week
• AQF Level 5, 7th year+: $40.56 per hour, $1,541.30 per week
• AQF Level 9, 1st year: $38.02 per hour, $1,444.90 per week
• AQF Level 9, 7th year+: $46.18 per hour, $1,755.00 per week

These are the minimums. Your employer may pay above award, but never less. The award also covers penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, which can boost your take-home pay.

From Gross to Net: What Changes Your Fortnight

Your gross fortnightly pay is based on 38 hours per week (76 hours per fortnight). But what lands in your bank account is less after tax and the Medicare levy. Here’s how the 2026–27 rates apply.

Tax Brackets

• $0 – $18,200: Nil tax
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each dollar over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each dollar over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each dollar over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c for each dollar over $190,000

You also get the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) if your taxable income is under $66,667. LITO can reduce your tax by up to $700.

Medicare Levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. However, if you earn below $28,011 as a single person, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate of 10c per dollar over the lower threshold. Full-time allied health assistants earning above $35,013 pay the full 2%.

Example Take-Home Calculation

Let’s say you’re an allied health assistant at AQF Level 5, 1st year, earning $32.44 per hour. Your annual salary is $32.44 × 38 × 52 = $64,105.44. Your fortnightly gross is $2,465.40.

• Tax: On $64,105, tax is $4,020 + 30% × ($64,105 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $5,731.50 = $9,751.50 per year, or $375.06 per fortnight.
• LITO: Your LITO is $325 – 1.5c × ($64,105 – $45,000) = $325 – $286.58 = $38.42 per year, or $1.48 per fortnight.
• Medicare levy: 2% × $64,105 = $1,282.10 per year, or $49.31 per fortnight.
• Net fortnightly: $2,465.40 – $375.06 + $1.48 – $49.31 = $2,042.51.

Your take-home pay is about $2,042 per fortnight. Remember, this is an estimate; your actual tax may vary due to rounding and other factors.

Superannuation: Not Deducted from Your Pay

From 1 July 2026, your employer must pay super at 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Super is paid on top of your salary, so it does not reduce your take-home pay. If a job ad says “$65,000 plus super”, your total remuneration is $65,000 + $7,800 super = $72,800.

How to Get a Personalised Estimate

Your actual take-home pay depends on your exact classification, hours, and whether you have HELP/HECS debt or salary sacrifice arrangements. Use the Take-home pay tool for a custom calculation. For more on tax and Medicare, see Tax and Medicare.