Speech Therapist Salary Guide: Award Rates and Take-Home Pay in Australia

Speech Therapist Salary Overview

If you are a speech therapist in Australia, your pay is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. This award covers health professional employees, including speech therapists, and provides minimum rates based on your qualification level (AQF level) and years of experience. Because the award has multiple pay points, your speech therapist salary will depend on your specific classification. This guide explains the award rates, how tax and the Medicare levy affect your take-home pay, and what you can expect each fortnight.

Award Rates for Speech Therapists

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide and the award itself, health professional employees are classified by AQF level. Speech therapists typically hold a bachelor’s degree (AQF Level 7) or higher. The minimum hourly rates for a full-time employee (38 hours per week) are:

• AQF Level 7 – 1st year: $34.44/hr; 2nd–3rd year: $37.08/hr; 4th–6th year: $41.19/hr; 7th year+: $44.46/hr
• AQF Level 8 – 1st year: $35.19/hr; 2nd–3rd year: $38.02/hr; 4th–6th year: $41.71/hr; 7th year+: $45.30/hr
• AQF Level 9 – 1st year: $38.02/hr; 2nd–3rd year: $40.66/hr; 4th–6th year: $43.67/hr; 7th year+: $46.18/hr

These rates are the minimum you must be paid. Many employers offer above-award rates, especially in private practice or with experience. For the full classification table, see the page.

Tax and Medicare Levy Impact

Your take-home pay is what lands in your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 tax year, the tax brackets are:

• $0 – $18,200: Nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c per $1 over $190,000

You also receive the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which can reduce your tax by up to $700. The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but if you earn below $28,011 (the single lower threshold) you pay none; between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate; above $35,013 you pay the full 2%. These are the latest published single-person Medicare thresholds.

Fortnightly Take-Home Example

Let’s take a speech therapist at AQF Level 7, 4th–6th year, earning $41.19 per hour. Working 38 hours a week, your gross weekly pay is $1,565.22, or $3,130.44 per fortnight. Annualised, that’s $81,390.88.

Using the 2026–27 tax rates:

• Tax on $81,391: $4,020 + 30% of ($81,391 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $10,917.30 = $14,937.30
• Less LITO: $325 – 1.5c per $1 over $45,000 = $325 – $546.87 = $0 (LITO reduces to zero at this income)
• Medicare levy: 2% of $81,391 = $1,627.82
• Total deductions: $14,937.30 + $1,627.82 = $16,565.12 per year
• Annual take-home: $81,391 – $16,565.12 = $64,825.88
• Fortnightly take-home: $64,825.88 ÷ 26 = $2,493.30

This is an estimate only. Your actual take-home may vary due to HELP/HECS repayments, salary packaging, or the Medicare levy surcharge. Use our Take-home pay tool for a personalised calculation.

Super and Your Pay

Superannuation is paid by your employer on top of your salary. 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. If your job advertisement says “$80,000 plus super”, that means super is extra – it does not reduce your take-home pay. However, if you salary sacrifice into super, your taxable income decreases, which can lower your tax and Medicare levy. Learn more about Super and Salary packaging.

For a full breakdown of tax and Medicare, see our Tax and Medicare guide. And remember, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, but as a speech therapist you are entitled to the higher award rates.