Forensic Psychologist Salary: Hourly to Annual Pay Guide for 2026–27

Forensic Psychologist Salary: Hourly to Annual Pay Guide

A forensic psychologist salary under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027) is set by the Fair Work Commission. The minimum hourly rate for a Level 1 Health Professional with an AQF Level 5 qualification (e.g., a Diploma) is $32.44 per hour for the first year of experience. This is the base rate for a full-time employee working 38 ordinary hours per week. For a casual employee, a 25% casual loading is added, making the casual hourly rate $40.55 per hour. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides these rates from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% increase.

To convert this hourly rate to an annual salary, use the formula: hourly rate × hours per week × 52. Assuming a 38-hour week, the weekly gross pay is $32.44 × 38 = $1,233.72 per week. Multiply by 52 for annual gross: $64,233.88. The fortnightly pay is $2,467.44. This assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings on top, paid on top, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale: nil to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, 45% above. Medicare levy is generally 2%. For a forensic psychologist, the take-home pay after tax and super depends on the classification and hours.

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours, and $33.05 per hour for casual including 25% loading. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, shows full-time adult ordinary ordinary time is $2,083.70 per week. All employees total earnings $1,579.20 per week (includes part-time). The Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides have minimum rates for full-time, part-time, and casual employees in an award. The pay guides have minimum pay rates for full-time, part-time, and casual employees in an award. They also include all the monetary allowances and the most frequently used penalty rates for each classification.

When using the timesheet, you type a base hourly rate. A checkbox adds 25% casual loading on top. Never tell the reader to type a rate that already includes casual loading. The timesheet is the home page. The reader types a base hourly rate. A checkbox adds 25% casual loading on top. Never tell the reader to type a rate that already includes casual loading.

A forensic psychologist salary under the award is higher than the National Minimum Wage because award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission. The award classification for a forensic psychologist depends on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level and years of experience. For example, a Level 1 Health Professional with an AQF Level 5 (Diploma) earns $32.44 per hour in the first year. With more experience or higher qualifications, the rate increases. The hourly conversion guide explains how to convert hourly to annual. The job pay page provides more details on award rates for different jobs.

The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings paid on top of the employee's base rate. The maximum contribution base is $270,830. Tax is estimated using the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

A forensic psychologist salary can also be calculated for casual employees. The casual loading of 25% is added to the base hourly rate. For a Level 1 AQF Level 5 first year, the casual rate is $40.55 per hour. The annual gross for a casual forensic psychologist working 38 hours per week is $80,292.88. The fortnightly pay is $3,088.19. The super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top, up to the maximum contribution base. The tax is the same as for full-time employees.

The Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides are updated from 1 July 2026. The minimum wages increase by 4.75% from 1 July 2026. The National Minimum Wage increases to $1,004.90 per week or $26.44 per hour. The award minimum wages increase by 4.75%. The increase applies from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The pay guides on this page, as well as our Pay and Conditions Tool, have now been updated with rates that apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.

Use the reference tables for more detailed rates. The about the timesheet for more information. The minimum wage topic explains the National Minimum Wage. The take-home pay topic explains after-tax pay. The super and packaging topic explains super. The average pay topic explains average earnings. The casual loading topic explains casual loading.

A forensic psychologist salary is a specific example of how award rates apply. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 covers many health professionals. The award has classifications for Health Professional employees. The minimum rates are set by the Fair Work Commission. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides with the minimum pay rates for full-time, part-time, and casual employees in an award. They also include all the monetary allowances and the most frequently used penalty rates for each classification.

When converting an hourly rate to annual, remember that the formula is hourly × hours per week × 52. For a forensic psychologist at $32.44 per hour for 38 hours per week, the annual gross is $64,233.88. The fortnightly pay is $2,467.44. The weekly pay is $1,233.72. The super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base. The tax is estimated using the 2026–27 resident tax scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare is generally 2%. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database contains the calculated minimum rates of pay, allowances, overtime and penalty rates in modern awards. The data for each modern award is divided into 5 spreadsheets: awards, classifications, wage-related allowances, expense-related allowances, and penalty rates. The 2026 data incorporates all amendments arising from the Annual Wage Review 2026. The data extracts must be read in conjunction with the provisions in the modern award. If there is an inconsistency between the data extract and the modern award, the modern award prevails.

A forensic psychologist salary under the award is a good example of how to use the hourly to annual conversion. The pay guides provide the rates. The hourly conversion topic explains the formula. The job pay topic provides more examples. The timesheet is the home page. The reader types a base hourly rate. A checkbox adds 25% casual loading on top. Never tell the reader to type a rate that already includes casual loading.

The disclaimer applies: Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

A forensic psychologist salary is just one example. The same conversion applies to any hourly rate. Use the timesheet to calculate your own pay.