Optometrist Salary Australia 2026: Take-Home Pay After Tax and Medicare Levy

What an Optometrist Salary Australia Really Means for Your Bank Account

If you're an optometrist or considering the profession, you want to know what lands in your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy. The latest Australian Taxation Office figures for 2023-24 give a clear picture of the optometrist salary Australia market, but the number on your contract isn't what you take home.

ATO Data: The Starting Point

The ATO's Taxation Statistics 2023-24 (occupation code 251411) show 5,540 optometrists reported an average taxable income of $107,824 and a median of $100,818. For those paid a salary or wage, the median was $92,133. These figures include part-time workers and practice owners, so they are not a full-time salary rate. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish median earnings for this occupation due to high standard error.

From Gross to Fortnightly Take-Home

Using 2026-27 tax rates and the Medicare levy, here's how the median salary or wages of $92,133 breaks down:

• Income tax: $18,160 (using the resident tax scale: nil on first $18,200, 15c per $1 up to $45,000, then 30c per $1 up to $135,000)
• Medicare levy: $1,843 (full 2% – the latest single-person thresholds of $28,011 and $35,013 apply only if your income is below those levels)
• Take-home: $72,130 a year, or $2,774 a fortnight

If you have a HELP debt, a compulsory repayment of about $3,391 a year (at the 4% rate for income between $92,133 and $97,000) is withheld, reducing your fortnight to about $2,644.

At the median taxable income of $100,818, take-home is $78,037 a year ($3,001 a fortnight) after $20,765 tax and $2,016 Medicare levy. With a HELP debt, that drops to about $2,826 a fortnight.

What Changes Your Fortnight

Your actual take-home depends on three factors:

1. Tax brackets: The progressive system means each extra dollar above $45,000 is taxed at 30c until $135,000. The low-income tax offset (LITO) phases out above $45,000, so you lose some benefit.
2. Medicare levy: Full-time optometrists almost always pay the full 2%. The shading thresholds ($28,011 and $35,013) only help if your income is below those levels.
3. Superannuation: The 12% super guarantee (from 1 July 2026) is paid on top of your salary, not deducted. Your employer must contribute to your super fund, but it doesn't reduce your bank deposit.

For a deeper look at how tax and Medicare interact, see our Tax and Medicare guide. You can also use the Clearance tool to estimate your own take-home.

Award Coverage and Minimum Rates

Optometrists are not explicitly covered by a modern award, but the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 may apply. The Fair Work Commission has not formally ruled. As a risk-averse approach, Optometry Australia recommends benchmarking against the award's new minimum rates effective 1 October 2026. Based on a provisional AQF Level 9 classification (master's degree), the minimum hourly rates are:

• Level 1 first year: $38.02
• Level 1 second to third year: $40.66
• Level 1 fourth to sixth year: $43.67
• Level 1 seventh year onwards: $46.18
• Level 2.1: $51.19
• Level 2.2: $52.19
• Level 3: $52.19
• Level 4: $65.77

These are minimums, not recommended salaries. Most employed optometrists earn above these rates, as the ATO data shows.

Super and Salary Packaging

Super is a key part of your total remuneration. The 12% rate applies to earnings up to $270,830. If you salary package (e.g., through a hospital or not-for-profit), your taxable income reduces, which can lower your tax and Medicare levy. See our Salary packaging and Super guides for more.

The Bottom Line

The optometrist salary Australia figures from the ATO give a reliable benchmark, but your take-home depends on your exact income, tax offsets, and whether you have a HELP debt. Use the Take-home pay calculator to see your own numbers. Remember, the figures above are estimates based on 2026-27 rates and do not include the Medicare levy surcharge or other deductions.