Dentist salary Sydney: what you take home after tax
Based on ATO data, the median salary or wages for a dentist in NSW is $100,000, translating to a take-home of about $2,980 per fortnight after tax and Medicare.
Dentist salary Sydney: understanding your take-home pay
If you're a dentist working in Sydney, knowing what lands in your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy is essential for budgeting. The latest Australian Taxation Office data for NSW (which covers Sydney) shows a median salary or wages of $100,000 for dentists. This figure is employer pay, not including super, and it reflects both full-time and part-time employees. For full-time employed dentists nationally, Jobs and Skills Australia reports a median weekly earnings of $3,232 (about $168,064 a year), but that includes dental specialists and is not specific to Sydney.
How your take-home is calculated
Your take-home pay depends on your taxable income, the tax rates for 2026–27, and the Medicare levy. The tax-free threshold is $18,200. On a $100,000 salary, you pay:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15c per dollar from $18,201 to $45,000 ($4,020)
- 30c per dollar from $45,001 to $100,000 ($16,500) Total income tax: $20,520. The low-income tax offset (LITO) phases out completely at this income, so you get no reduction.
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, so $2,000. That brings total deductions to $22,520, leaving $77,480 a year. Divide by 26 fortnights and you get about $2,980 per fortnight.
If you earn more or less, your take-home changes. For example, the average taxable income for NSW dentists is $174,487, which would result in higher tax and a take-home of around $4,600 per fortnight. But the median is a better guide for a typical employed dentist.
What about the minimum wage and Medicare thresholds?
The national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week, set by Fair Work. Dentists earn well above this, but the Medicare levy thresholds are still relevant if your income is lower. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your taxable income is below $28,011, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate (10c per dollar over the lower threshold). Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. For a full-time dentist salary in Sydney, you will always be above these thresholds, so the full 2% applies.
Comparing the dentist salary in Sydney to national figures
The ATO data for NSW shows a median salary or wages of $100,000, which is slightly above the national median of $95,289. This makes sense given Sydney's higher cost of living and demand for dental services. However, remember that these figures are from the 2023–24 income year (the latest published) and include part-time workers. If you work full-time, your actual salary may be higher. Jobs and Skills Australia's full-time median of $3,232 per week nationally suggests a full-time dentist could earn around $168,064, but that figure includes specialists and may not reflect a general dentist in Sydney.
Take-home pay and superannuation
Your take-home pay is calculated from your salary before super. The super guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2026, so on a $100,000 salary, your employer contributes $12,000 to your super fund. This does not reduce your take-home pay; it's an additional benefit. When comparing job offers, always check whether the salary is 'plus super' or 'including super'. Most professional roles quote base salary plus super, so your take-home is from the base.
Using the take-home pay calculator
To work out your exact take-home for any dentist salary in Sydney, use the Take-home pay guide on this site. It applies the 2026–27 tax rates and Medicare levy automatically. Remember that this is an estimate and does not include HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary sacrifice arrangements. For a more precise figure, check your payroll's tax table.
Summary
For a typical employed dentist in Sydney, a $100,000 salary results in about $2,980 per fortnight after tax and Medicare. If you earn more, your take-home increases but so does your tax. The Tax and Medicare page explains the brackets in detail. Always consider super as an extra benefit, not part of your take-home.
Questions
What is the typical dentist salary in Sydney?
The Australian Taxation Office's latest figures for NSW (which includes Sydney) show a median salary or wages of $100,000 for dentists. This is employer pay, not including super. Full-time employed dentists nationally earn a median of $3,232 per week according to Jobs and Skills Australia, which equates to about $168,064 a year, but that figure includes specialists and is not Sydney-specific.
How much take-home pay does a dentist in Sydney get per fortnight?
On a $100,000 salary, you would pay about $20,520 in income tax (after the low-income tax offset phases out) and $2,000 in Medicare levy, leaving $77,480 a year. That works out to roughly $2,980 per fortnight. If you have a HELP debt, expect an additional compulsory repayment of about $6,800 a year at that income.
Does the dentist salary in Sydney include superannuation?
No, the ATO salary or wages figure is employer pay before super. The super guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2026, so on a $100,000 salary your employer would contribute an extra $12,000 to your super fund. Your take-home pay is calculated from the $100,000, not including super.