Pharmacy technician salary: award rates and what you take home in 2026-27

Pharmacy technician salary under the Pharmacy Industry Award

If you work as a pharmacy technician in Australia, your minimum pay is set by the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 (MA000012). Fair Work publishes a pay guide that lists the rates for pharmacy assistants and pharmacists. Most pharmacy technicians are classified as pharmacy assistants at one of four levels, depending on the tasks you perform and your qualifications.

Award rates from July 2026

From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly rates for adult pharmacy assistants are:

• Level 1: $27.81 per hour ($1,056.80 per week)
• Level 2: $28.45 per hour ($1,081.00 per week)
• Level 3: $29.45 per hour ($1,119.10 per week)
• Level 4: $30.66 per hour ($1,165.10 per week)

These rates apply to full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, so a Level 1 casual would earn $34.76 per hour. The award also includes penalty rates for evening, Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday work, as well as overtime.

Jobs and Skills Australia notes that pharmacy technicians (ANZSCO 311215) have a median age of 37 and 88% are female, but median weekly earnings are not published due to data limitations. That means the best guide for your pharmacy technician salary is the award classification that matches your role.

Estimating your take-home pay

Your take-home pay is what lands in your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy are deducted. To estimate it, start with your gross fortnightly pay based on your award rate and hours.

Income tax for 2026-27

The Australian Tax Office uses these resident tax brackets:

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

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which reduces tax by up to $700 for incomes under $37,500, then phases out.

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For single people, the latest published thresholds are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper). If you earn below $28,011, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay 10c per dollar over the lower threshold. Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. Full-time pharmacy technician salaries typically exceed $35,013, so you will pay the full levy.

Example: Level 2 pharmacy technician

Suppose you are a Level 2 pharmacy assistant working 38 hours per week. Your weekly pay is $1,081.00, so fortnightly gross is $2,162.00. Annualised that is $56,212. Using the tax brackets, your tax is approximately $4,020 + 30% of ($56,212 - $45,000) = $4,020 + $3,363.60 = $7,383.60. Medicare levy is 2% of $56,212 = $1,124.24. Total deductions $8,507.84, leaving take-home around $47,704.16 per year, or about $1,834 per fortnight.

Remember this is an estimate. Your actual take-home depends on your exact classification, hours, penalties, and any salary packaging or HELP debt.

Super is extra

Your employer must pay superannuation on top of your ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. If your job advertisement says "$30 per hour plus super", then super is added to your pay. If it says "$30 per hour inclusive of super", then super is deducted from that rate. Always check which wording is used.

Super does not reduce your take-home pay because it is not deducted from your salary (unless inclusive). It goes into a separate fund for your retirement.

Comparing with benchmarks

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. All award rates for pharmacy assistants are above this minimum. The average full-time adult ordinary time earnings in Australia are $2,083.70 per week, according to the ABS. A Level 4 pharmacy assistant at $1,165.10 per week is below that average, but with penalties and overtime you may earn more.

For more details on how tax and Medicare affect your pay, see our Tax and Medicare guide. To calculate your own take-home, use the Take-home pay tool.