Paramedics Salary: What You Actually Take Home After Tax

Paramedics Salary: Gross vs Take-Home

If you’re looking at a paramedics salary in Australia, the number you see in a job advertisement or award table is almost always the gross figure – the amount before tax, the Medicare levy, and any salary sacrifice arrangements. What actually lands in your bank account each fortnight can be quite different, especially once you factor in superannuation (which is paid on top, not deducted).

This guide uses the latest public data from Fair Work and Jobs and Skills Australia to show you what a paramedics salary really means for your take-home pay.

Award Minimum Rates for Paramedics

Under the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020, the minimum weekly pay for a full-time ambulance officer or paramedic is set by classification and year of experience. Fair Work publishes these rates, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.

Classification	Weekly rate	Hourly rate
Ambulance officer / paramedic – year 1	$1,309.50	$34.46
Ambulance officer / paramedic – year 2	$1,319.50	$34.72
Ambulance officer / paramedic – year 3	$1,326.90	$34.92
Student paramedic level 1 – year 1	$1,179.10	$31.03

These are the minimum rates. Many paramedics earn above award, especially after gaining experience or working in intensive care roles. The award also includes allowances such as the intensive care paramedic skills allowance ($3.69–$5.43 per hour) and shift penalties that can boost your gross pay.

Median Earnings for Paramedics

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time weekly earnings for ambulance officers and paramedics (May 2025 data) is $2,852 per week, or about $71 per hour. That’s significantly higher than the award minimum, reflecting overtime, allowances, and experience. Nine out of ten paramedics work full-time, averaging 47 hours per week.

For context, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). Even the award rate for a first-year paramedic is well above that.

From Gross to Take-Home: Tax and Medicare

Once you know your gross annual salary, you can estimate your take-home pay using the 2026–27 tax rates. Here’s how it works for a paramedic earning the median weekly amount.

• Median annual gross salary: $2,852 × 52 = $148,304 (rounded).
• Income tax (resident rates):
• First $18,200 tax-free.
• $18,201–$45,000: 15c per $1 = $4,020.
• $45,001–$135,000: 30c per $1 = $27,000.
• $135,001–$148,304: 37c per $1 = $4,922.
• Total tax = $4,020 + $27,000 + $4,922 = $35,942.
• Medicare levy: 2% of taxable income = $2,966 (full rate applies above $35,013).
• Take-home: $148,304 – $35,942 – $2,966 = $109,396 per year, or about $4,207 per fortnight.

If you earn the award minimum for a year-3 paramedic ($1,326.90/week = $68,999/year), your take-home would be roughly:

• Tax: $4,020 + (($68,999 – $45,000) × 0.30) = $4,020 + $7,200 = $11,220.
• Medicare: $68,999 × 2% = $1,380.
• Take-home: $68,999 – $11,220 – $1,380 = $56,399 per year, or about $2,169 per fortnight.

These are estimates only – they exclude HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and any salary packaging. Use the Take-home pay calculator for a personalised figure.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Super is paid by your employer in addition to your salary – it is not deducted from your take-home. A paramedic earning the median wage would receive about $17,796 in super annually, boosting total remuneration to over $166,000.

Why the Paramedics Salary Figure Can Be Confusing

Job ads often quote a “package” that includes super, or they list a base rate without penalty loadings. The award rates are minimums, but many employers pay above them. The median figure from Jobs and Skills Australia gives a realistic picture of what experienced paramedics earn, but your own take-home will depend on your classification, hours, and allowances.

For more detail on how tax and Medicare affect your pay, see Tax and Medicare. To understand how super fits in, visit Super.

Key Takeaways

• The minimum paramedics salary under the award starts at $1,309.50 per week.
• The median full-time paramedic earns $2,852 per week before tax.
• Take-home pay is roughly 74–82% of gross, depending on your income level.
• Super is additional and does not reduce your bank deposit.
• Use the Clearance tool to estimate your exact take-home.