What is the minimum wage for a lab technician in Australia?

Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, the minimum hourly rate for a lab technician at Support Level 5 is $30.45 for permanent employees. This is higher than the National Minimum Wage of $26.44. Casual employees receive $38.06 per hour including the 25% casual loading.

How is casual loading applied to a lab technician's pay?

Casual loading is 25% on top of the base hourly rate. For a lab technician on $30.45 base, the casual rate is $38.06. You should never type a rate that already includes casual loading into a calculator; instead, enter the base rate and check the casual loading option.

What penalty rates apply to lab technicians?

Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, permanent lab technicians at Support Level 5 receive 1.5 times the base rate ($45.68) on Saturdays and Sundays, and 2.5 times ($76.13) on public holidays. Casual employees get the penalty rate plus the casual loading.

Lab Technician Salary in Australia: Award Rates, Casual Loading, and Annual Pay

A full-time lab technician at Support Level 5 earns $30.45 per hour, or $60,169.20 per year for 38 hours per week.

Understanding the Lab Technician Salary in Australia

If you're looking for a lab technician salary in Australia, the starting point is the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). This modern award sets the minimum pay and conditions for lab technicians working in medical, pathology, and research laboratories. The award rates are updated each year following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. For the latest figures, refer to the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman or the reference tables on this site.

Hourly to Annual Conversion

To convert an hourly rate to an annual salary, use the formula:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

We assume a standard full-time week of 38 hours. For a lab technician at the Support Level 5 rate of $30.45 per hour:

Annual gross = $30.45 × 38 × 52 = $60,169.20
Fortnightly gross = $30.45 × 76 = $2,314.20
Weekly gross = $30.45 × 38 = $1,157.10

This calculation assumes the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. Use the hourly conversion tool to try different hours or rates.

Award Coverage and Classification Levels

Lab technicians are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, as confirmed by the Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database. The award has two main streams:

Support Services Stream: For lab assistants and technicians. Support Level 5 (lab technician) pays $30.45 per hour from 1 July 2026.
Health Professional Stream: For medical laboratory technicians (AQF 5) and medical scientists (AQF 7). Level 1, Year 1 for AQF 5 pays $32.44 per hour from 1 October 2026, following the gender-based undervaluation review.

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for this award. Always check the specific classification that matches your role and experience.

Casual Loading

Casual lab technicians receive a 25% loading on the base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid annual leave, personal leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay. The loading is applied on top of the base rate, so:

Base rate: $30.45
Casual rate: $30.45 × 1.25 = $38.06 per hour

When using a calculator, always enter the base rate and select the casual loading option. Never enter a rate that already includes the loading. For more details, see casual loading.

Penalty Rates

Permanent lab technicians at Support Level 5 receive penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work:

Saturday: 1.5 × base = $45.68 per hour
Sunday: 1.5 × base = $45.68 per hour
Public Holiday: 2.5 × base = $76.13 per hour

Casual employees get the penalty rate plus the casual loading. These rates are minimums; your enterprise agreement may provide more.

Tax and Superannuation

From the gross annual salary, tax and Medicare levy are deducted. For 2026–27, the resident tax rates are:

$0 – $18,200: Nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15%
$45,001 – $135,000: 30%
$135,001 – $190,000: 37%
Over $190,000: 45%

Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. Use the take-home pay calculator to estimate your net pay.

Superannuation guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of your salary. The maximum contribution base for 2026–27 is $270,830. For a lab technician earning $60,169, the super contribution would be $7,220.28 per year. Learn more about super and packaging.

Comparison to National Minimum Wage and Average Earnings

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). Casual employees on the national minimum wage receive $33.05 per hour including the 25% loading. The lab technician award rate of $30.45 is well above the national minimum, reflecting the skilled nature of the work.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (May 2026), full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week ($108,352.40 annually). A lab technician's $60,169 is below this average, but many lab technicians progress to higher classifications or move into senior roles with higher pay.

For more context, see minimum wage and average pay.

Using This Information

This article provides a guide to the lab technician salary under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. Actual pay may differ if you are covered by an enterprise agreement or if you work in a different classification. Always check the latest award and pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman. For quick calculations, use the timesheet to convert your hourly rate to annual, fortnightly, or weekly figures.

Remember: super is paid on top of your salary, and tax estimates are based on the 2026–27 rates with the full tax-free threshold. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.