What award covers nutritionists in Australia?

Most nutritionists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a pay guide for this award, which sets minimum rates for different classification levels. You can check the current rates on the [pay guides](/blog) page.

How does casual loading affect a nutritionist salary?

Casual employees under the award are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. For example, if the base rate is $35.00 per hour, the casual rate becomes $43.75 per hour. Use the [casual loading](/topics/casual-loading) tool to calculate it.

What is the take-home pay for a nutritionist earning $40 per hour?

Assuming a 38-hour week, the annual gross is $40 × 38 × 52 = $79,040. After tax (2026–27 rates) and Medicare levy, the estimated annual take-home is about $60,500. Super of 12% ($9,485) is paid on top. See the [take-home pay](/topics/take-home) page for a detailed breakdown.

Nutritionist Salary: How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay in Australia

For a nutritionist on a 38-hour week, the annual gross salary is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with super paid on top.

Understanding a Nutritionist Salary in Australia

If you’re a nutritionist or considering the profession, you’ll want to know how your hourly rate translates into annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay. This guide explains the conversion, the relevant award, and what to expect for tax and super. We’ll use the nutritionist salary as our example throughout.

The Basic Formula: Hourly to Annual

The standard calculation is:

Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52

We assume a 38-hour week, which is the ordinary full-time hours under most modern awards. If you work fewer or more hours, adjust accordingly. For a nutritionist earning $35.00 per hour:

Weekly: $35.00 × 38 = $1,330.00
Fortnightly: $1,330.00 × 2 = $2,660.00
Annual: $35.00 × 38 × 52 = $69,160.00

This is the gross amount before tax and before super (which is paid on top).

National Minimum Wage vs. Award Rates

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. However, a qualified nutritionist will almost always be covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027), which sets higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains the exact classification rates. For example, a Health Professional Level 1 (year 1) under that award has a minimum hourly rate above the National Minimum Wage. Always check the relevant pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman for the most up-to-date figures.

Casual Loading and Super

If you work as a casual nutritionist, you receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate. For a base rate of $35.00 per hour, the casual rate is $43.75 per hour. The casual loading page explains how this affects your pay. Remember: the loading is added to the base rate, not the other way around. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading into the timesheet.

Superannuation guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, paid by your employer on top of your gross pay. For the $35.00 per hour example, super would be $8,299.20 per year (12% of $69,160), up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not deducted from your pay; it’s an additional contribution.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are:

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% of excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 + 30% of excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 + 37% of excess over $135,000
$190,001+: $51,420 + 45% of excess over $190,000

Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. Using the $69,160 annual gross example:

Tax: $4,020 + 30% × ($69,160 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $7,248 = $11,268
Medicare: 2% × $69,160 = $1,383.20
Total deductions: $12,651.20
Estimated take-home: $69,160 – $12,651.20 = $56,508.80 per year

This is an estimate. The take-home pay calculator provides a more detailed breakdown. Note that HELP loans, Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not included here.

Using the Timesheet

Our timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. It calculates weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and annual figures, plus estimated tax and super. For a nutritionist salary, simply type your award rate (without casual loading) and check the box if you’re casual. The tool does the rest.

Average Earnings for Nutritionists

The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes average weekly earnings for full-time adults, but it does not break down by occupation like “nutritionist”. The May 2026 figure for all full-time adult ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 per week. A nutritionist salary may be below or above this average depending on experience, location, and employer. Use the average pay page for more context.

Fortnightly Pay Cycles

Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross, multiply your weekly pay by 2. For the $35.00 per hour nutritionist, that’s $2,660.00 per fortnight before tax. This is a useful figure for budgeting.

Key Points to Remember

The formula is hourly × hours per week × 52. Assume 38 hours unless your contract says otherwise.
Award rates for nutritionists are set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides or the Fair Work Commission’s database.
Casual loading is 25% on top of the base rate.
Super is 12% paid on top of ordinary earnings, up to the cap.
Tax and Medicare are deducted from your gross pay. Use the hourly conversion tool to see your net figures.

This guide gives you the tools to understand your nutritionist salary in annual, fortnightly, and weekly terms. Always refer to your award or agreement for your exact entitlements.