Veterinarian salary guide: award rates, median pay and take-home after tax

Understanding the veterinarian salary landscape

If you are a veterinarian or considering the profession, knowing what you can expect to earn and what reaches your bank account after tax is essential. The veterinarian salary picture in Australia is shaped by two key sources: the minimum rates set by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 and the broader market data collected by Jobs and Skills Australia.

Fair Work publishes award rates that apply to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, practice managers, receptionists and animal attendants. For veterinary surgeons, the award sets minimum annual salaries from $67,582 (Level 1A) up to $95,593 (Level 4). These are the legal minimums; many experienced veterinarians earn above award. Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time weekly earnings for veterinarians is $2,413, which equates to about $125,476 a year before tax. That figure is significantly higher than the award minimums and reflects the market rate for experienced professionals.

About 73% of veterinarians work full-time hours, with an average of 45 hours per week. The median hourly earnings are $64, well above the national all-occupations median of $47. The profession has a median age of 37 and is 63% female.

How tax and Medicare affect your take-home pay

Your take-home pay is what lands in your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy are deducted. For the 2026–27 tax year, the Australian Tax Office applies these brackets to resident taxpayers:

• Up to $18,200: nil
• $18,201 to $45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 to $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) can reduce tax for lower incomes, but for a veterinarian earning above $66,667 the offset phases out completely. The Medicare levy is a flat 2% for most full-time earners, with the latest published single-person thresholds of $28,011 and $35,013. If your taxable income is below $28,011 you pay no levy; between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a shading rate of 10c per dollar over the lower threshold.

Example: take-home for a Level 2 veterinary surgeon

Take a veterinary surgeon classified at Level 2 under the award, with a minimum annual salary of $77,032. Using the 2026–27 tax rates:

• Taxable income: $77,032
• Tax on first $45,000: $4,020
• Tax on remaining $32,032 at 30c: $9,609.60
• Total income tax: $13,629.60
• LITO: $0 (phased out above $66,667)
• Medicare levy (2%): $1,540.64
• Total deductions: $15,170.24
• Annual take-home: $61,861.76
• Fortnightly take-home: $2,379.30

This is the amount that reaches your bank account each fortnight, assuming no salary packaging, HELP/HECS repayments or Medicare levy surcharge. Superannuation is not deducted from this figure because the award rate is base salary before super. Your employer pays an additional 12% super on top, which goes into your super fund.

Superannuation and salary packaging

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. This is not taken from your pay; it is an extra contribution your employer makes. If you see a job ad quoting a salary of $77,032 plus super, your take-home is calculated on the $77,032, and the super is additional.

Salary packaging can further affect your take-home pay. For example, packaging a car or other benefits reduces your taxable income, which lowers the tax and Medicare levy you pay. However, it also reduces your super guarantee base. Use the Salary packaging guide to understand the trade-offs.

Comparing award rates and market rates

The award minimums are a floor, not a ceiling. The median full-time weekly earnings of $2,413 suggest many veterinarians earn well above the award. For instance, a Level 4 veterinary surgeon on the award earns $95,593 annually, or about $1,838 per week – still below the median. This gap reflects experience, specialisation, and location. The Average pay page provides broader context across occupations.

If you are an employer or employee, remember that the award also sets penalty rates for weekends, public holidays and overtime. The pay guide from Fair Work shows that a Level 2 veterinary surgeon on a public holiday earns $77.96 per hour, and casual rates include a 25% loading.

Key takeaways for your veterinarian salary

• The award minimum for a veterinary surgeon ranges from $67,582 to $95,593 annually.
• The median full-time weekly earnings are $2,413, or about $125,476 per year.
• After tax and Medicare, a Level 2 award earner takes home roughly $2,379 per fortnight.
• Super is additional at 12% and does not reduce your take-home pay.
• Use the Take-home pay calculator to estimate your own figures, and check the Tax and Medicare page for the latest thresholds.

Understanding your veterinarian salary means looking beyond the gross figure. The combination of award rates, market data, tax brackets, Medicare and super gives you a clear picture of what you will actually receive.