What casual loading applies to paramedics under the award?

The Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award sets casual loadings of 25% for weekday work, 75% for Saturday and Sunday, and 100% for public holidays. These loadings are paid instead of weekend or public holiday penalty rates. For overtime hours, the casual loading does not apply; instead, overtime rates (150%–250%) are paid. Our [the timesheet](/) uses a simple 25% casual loading checkbox for illustration, but award loadings can vary.

How is superannuation calculated for paramedics?

Superannuation is paid on top of ordinary earnings at the super guarantee rate of 12% (from 1 July 2026). For a full-time Ambulance Officer earning $68,094 per year, the employer would contribute an additional $8,171.28 into a super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. This super is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra benefit.

What tax will a paramedic earning $68,094 pay in 2026–27?

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates, a paramedic with a gross annual salary of $68,094 would pay approximately $10,814 in tax plus a 2% Medicare levy ($1,362), for total deductions of about $12,176. This leaves an estimated take-home pay of $55,918 per year, or $1,075 per week. The tax-free threshold of $18,200 applies, and the first bracket is taxed at 15% up to $45,000.

Paramedicine Salary: Award Rates, Casual Loading, and Annual Pay Calculations

A full-time Ambulance Officer (year 1) earns $34.46 per hour, or $68,094 annually based on 38 hours per week.

Paramedicine Salary Under the Ambulance Award

If you are considering a career in emergency services or patient transport, understanding the paramedicine salary landscape is essential. Paramedics and ambulance officers in Australia are covered by the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020, which sets minimum hourly rates, penalty rates, casual loadings, and overtime entitlements. This article explains how to convert those award rates into annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures, and what you can expect for tax and superannuation.

Award Minimum Rates for Paramedics

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide that lists the minimum weekly and hourly rates for each classification. For a full-time Ambulance Officer (year 1), the minimum weekly rate is $1,309.50 for 38 ordinary hours, giving an hourly rate of $34.46. This is well above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026). Higher classifications such as Station Officer or Senior Station Officer attract higher rates, and rates increase with years of service (year 2: $34.72/hour, year 3: $34.92/hour).

Part-time employees are paid pro-rata based on the full-time 38‑hour week. Casual employees receive a loading on top of the ordinary hourly rate: 25% on weekdays, 75% on Saturdays and Sundays, and 100% on public holidays (these loadings replace weekend and public holiday penalty rates).

Converting Hourly to Annual Salary

The standard formula for annual gross pay is:

hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For a full-time Ambulance Officer working 38 hours each week:

$34.46 × 38 × 52 = $68,094 per year

This matches the award’s weekly rate multiplied by 52 ($1,309.50 × 52 = $68,094). The same calculation works for any hourly rate you enter into the timesheet. Remember that this annual figure assumes you work every week of the year with no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no allowances. If you work overtime or on weekends, your actual earnings will be higher.

Fortnightly Pay

Most employers pay fortnightly. A full-time paramedic’s fortnightly gross pay is simply the weekly rate doubled:

$1,309.50 × 2 = $2,619.00 per fortnight

This can help you budget and compare with salary offers that are quoted as an annual figure.

Casual Loading and Penalty Rates

If you are a casual paramedic, your base hourly rate is $34.46, but you also receive a casual loading. Under the award, the loading is 25% for weekday work, so you would be paid $43.08 per ordinary hour on weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays the loading is 75%, giving $60.31 per hour. On public holidays the loading is 100%, so $68.92 per hour. These loadings are paid instead of the penalty rates that full-time and part-time employees receive (150% on weekends, 250% on public holidays).

Our casual loading page explains how the 25% casual loading checkbox on the timesheet works for a typical scenario, but award loadings can be higher. Always check the specific award provisions.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Employers must contribute superannuation at the super guarantee rate of 12% of ordinary earnings (from 1 July 2026). This is paid on top of your gross salary, not deducted from it. For a full-time Ambulance Officer earning $68,094, the employer would add $8,171.28 per year to a super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not included in the annual gross figure shown on the timesheet; it is an additional benefit.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (tax-free threshold $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above), a paramedic earning $68,094 would pay approximately:

Tax: $10,814
Medicare levy (2%): $1,362
Total deductions: $12,176
Estimated take-home pay: $55,918 per year ($1,075 per week)

These figures are estimates. The Medicare levy reduction thresholds for singles in 2026–27 were not confirmed at the time of this guide, so the 2025–26 thresholds have been used. HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not included. For a more personalised estimate, use our take-home pay tool.

Comparing Paramedicine Salaries to Averages

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026. A paramedic’s award rate of $1,309.50 per week is below that average, but many paramedics receive allowances, overtime, and penalty rates that can lift earnings significantly. The ABS figure for all employees (including part-time) was $1,579.20 per week. Paramedicine is a regulated profession with structured pay scales, so your salary will increase with experience and qualifications.

Summary

Understanding your paramedicine salary starts with the award rate. Use the formula hourly × 38 × 52 to get your annual gross, then add super (12% on top) and subtract tax and Medicare to estimate take-home pay. The job pay page has more details on how different classifications compare. Always refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide for the most current rates, and remember that your actual earnings may include penalties, allowances, and overtime not captured by a simple hourly-to-annual conversion.