Occupational Therapist Salary: What Changes Your Fortnight Take-Home Pay

Introduction

If you are an occupational therapist or considering the career, you want to know what lands in your bank account each fortnight. The occupational therapist salary is more than a number on a job ad — tax brackets, the Medicare levy, and superannuation all change your take-home pay. This guide uses the latest public data to show you how it works.

The median occupational therapist salary

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for occupational therapists is $1,913. That translates to $99,476 a year before tax. The profile also shows that 63% of occupational therapists work full-time, with an average of 40 hours per week. The median age is 33, and 92% of the workforce is female. These figures are from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours for May 2025, published by Jobs and Skills Australia.

For context, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week. The all-employees average weekly total earnings is $1,579.20 a week, and full-time adult ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 a week. The occupational therapist salary sits well above these benchmarks.

What changes your fortnight: tax brackets, Medicare levy, and super

Your fortnightly deposit depends on three key factors: the progressive tax system, the Medicare levy, and the super guarantee. Here is how each one affects your pay cycle.

Tax brackets for 2026–27

Your occupational therapist salary is taxed at these resident rates:

• Up to $18,200: nil
• $18,201 to $45,000: 15c per dollar over $18,200
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c per dollar over $45,000
• Over $135,000: $31,020 plus 37c per dollar over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c per dollar over $190,000

For a $99,476 salary, your tax is $20,362.80 before offsets. The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) gives up to $700 for incomes up to $37,500, then phases out to zero by $66,667. At $99,476, you get no LITO. So your annual tax is about $20,363.

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If you earn below $28,011, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay 10c per dollar over the lower threshold until you reach $35,013. Full-time occupational therapists earn well above that, so you pay the full 2%. That adds $1,989.52 a year.

Superannuation

From 1 July 2026, your employer must pay 12% super on your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a $99,476 salary, that is $11,937 a year into your super fund. This is not deducted from your take-home pay — it is an extra contribution on top of your salary. Your fortnightly bank deposit is only reduced by tax and Medicare.

Take-home pay estimate

Here is a rough estimate for a full-time occupational therapist earning the median $1,913 per week ($99,476 annual):

• Annual gross: $99,476
• Income tax: $20,363
• Medicare levy: $1,990
• Total deductions: $22,353
• Annual take-home: $77,123
• Fortnightly take-home: $2,966

This is before any salary packaging, HELP/HECS repayments, or the Medicare levy surcharge. It is a resident estimate only and not a tax assessment. Use the Take-home pay tool for a personalised calculation.

How the occupational therapist salary compares to other roles

The Average pay for all occupations is $1,579 per week, or $82,118 a year. The occupational therapist salary is higher than average, reflecting the specialised skills and demand. The full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 a year) is slightly above the therapist median, but the therapist median is for full-time workers only.

Conclusion

Your occupational therapist salary of $1,913 per week gives you a solid take-home after tax and Medicare. The key factors that change your fortnight are the progressive tax brackets, the full Medicare levy, and the 12% super that builds your retirement savings. Use the Tax and Medicare guide to understand your exact situation.