Understanding your orthoptist salary: from gross to take-home pay

Your orthoptist salary: what you actually take home

When you see an orthoptist salary advertised, it is usually a gross annual figure – either a base salary or a total package including super. But what lands in your bank account each fortnight is a different number. This guide explains the mix-ups between gross, package, and take-home, so you can plan your finances with confidence.

Where does orthoptist pay come from?

Orthoptists are classified under ANZSCO 251412 and are part of the broader group of optometrists and orthoptists. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median weekly earnings for this group are not published because the data is unreliable. That means there is no official single figure for orthoptist salary. Instead, your pay depends on your experience, the state or territory you work in, and whether you are covered by an enterprise agreement or the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020.

Fair Work Ombudsman has announced changes to the Health Services Award, including pay rate increases for health professionals from 1 October 2026. Further increases are scheduled for 30 June 2027 through 2030. If you are employed under this award, your minimum orthoptist salary will rise over the next few years. Check the award classification for your AQF level and years of experience to find your minimum rate.

Gross salary vs package vs take-home

A common source of confusion is whether the orthoptist salary quoted includes super. If the ad says “$80,000 plus super”, your employer pays an additional 12% super (from 1 July 2026) on top of that $80,000. Your take-home pay is calculated from the $80,000 base, not the total package. If the ad says “$80,000 package”, that $80,000 includes super – so your base salary is about $71,429 (since $80,000 ÷ 1.12). Always clarify which figure you are negotiating.

Once you know your gross base salary, you can estimate your take-home pay. For example, if your orthoptist salary is $80,000:

• Income tax: Using 2026–27 rates, tax on $80,000 is $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000 = $4,020 + $10,500 = $14,520. Then subtract the Low Income Tax Offset (if applicable) – at $80,000 you get $325 minus 1.5c per $1 over $45,000 = $325 – $525 = nil offset. So tax is $14,520.
• Medicare levy: 2% of $80,000 = $1,600 (full rate, as $80,000 exceeds the upper threshold of $35,013).
• Total deductions: $14,520 + $1,600 = $16,120.
• Annual take-home: $80,000 – $16,120 = $63,880.
• Fortnightly take-home: $63,880 ÷ 26 = $2,457 (rounded).

This is an estimate only. It excludes HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary sacrifice. Use our Take-home pay calculator for a personalised figure.

The minimum wage benchmark

For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week (38 hours). A full-time worker on the minimum wage earns about $52,255 annually. Most orthoptists earn well above this, but the benchmark helps you compare. See our Minimum wage page for details.

Medicare levy and thresholds

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. If your orthoptist salary is low, you may qualify for a reduction. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your income is below $28,011, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, the levy is 10c per $1 over the lower threshold. Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. Most full-time orthoptists will pay the full levy.

Super and salary packaging

Your employer must pay super at 12% of your ordinary time earnings (up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830). Super is not deducted from your take-home – it is an extra benefit. Some employers offer salary packaging, which lets you pay for certain items (like a car or laptop) from pre-tax dollars, reducing your taxable income and increasing take-home. However, packaging can affect your super and Medicare levy surcharge. Read our Salary packaging guide for details.

Key takeaways

• Orthoptist salary varies; no single figure is published.
• Always check if the quoted figure is base or package.
• Take-home pay is gross minus tax and Medicare levy.
• Use the 2026–27 tax rates and Medicare thresholds to estimate.
• Super is on top, not taken from your pay.

For a full breakdown of how your orthoptist salary translates to take-home, explore our Tax and Medicare page. You can also compare your pay to industry averages on our Average pay page.