Pharmacy Technician Salary: Award Rates, Annual Pay, and Tax Guide
A full-time pharmacy technician (Level 2) earns $28.45 per hour under the Pharmacy Industry Award, yielding $56,225 annual gross for 38 hours per week.
Understanding the Pharmacy Technician Salary Under the Pharmacy Industry Award
If you are looking up a pharmacy technician salary, the first place to check is the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020, which covers pharmacy assistants, pharmacy students, interns, and pharmacists. The award does not use the term "pharmacy technician" directly, but the role is typically classified as a Pharmacy Assistant at Level 2 or Level 3, depending on the complexity of tasks and experience. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the official minimum rates, and from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the rates are as follows:
- Pharmacy Assistant Level 1: $27.81 per hour ($1,056.80 per week)
- Pharmacy Assistant Level 2: $28.45 per hour ($1,081.00 per week)
- Pharmacy Assistant Level 3: $29.45 per hour ($1,119.10 per week)
- Pharmacy Assistant Level 4: $30.66 per hour ($1,165.10 per week)
These rates are for full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate, as specified in clause 11 of the award. For example, a casual Level 2 pharmacy technician earns $35.56 per hour. You can use our the timesheet to convert any hourly rate into annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures.
How to Calculate Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate
The standard formula for annual gross pay is:
Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks
We assume a 38-hour week for full-time employees, which is the maximum ordinary hours under the award (clause 13.4). For a Level 2 pharmacy technician at $28.45 per hour:
- Weekly: $28.45 × 38 = $1,081.10 (matches the award weekly rate of $1,081.00, rounding difference)
- Fortnightly: $1,081.10 × 2 = $2,162.20
- Annual: $28.45 × 38 × 52 = $56,225.20
If you are paid a salary, you can reverse the calculation to find the implied hourly rate. The hourly conversion page explains how to do that. Remember that the award also provides for penalty rates for early morning, evening, Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday work, which can increase your actual earnings. The pay guide from Fair Work Ombudsman shows, for example, a Level 2 assistant working Monday to Friday 7am to 8am earns $42.68 per hour (150% of base).
The Difference Between Minimum Wage, Award Rates, and Casual Loading
Australia has a National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, which applies to employees not covered by an award. However, the Pharmacy Industry Award sets higher minimum rates for pharmacy workers. The award rate is the legal minimum you must be paid for your classification. If your employer pays above the award, that is your base rate.
Casual loading is an additional 25% on the base hourly rate for ordinary hours, compensating for the lack of paid leave entitlements. It is not paid on overtime. The casual loading page has more detail. For a casual pharmacy technician, the annual gross calculation uses the loaded rate: $28.45 × 1.25 = $35.56 per hour, giving $35.56 × 38 × 52 = $70,281.60 per year. However, casuals often work fewer hours, so actual annual earnings may be lower.
Superannuation and Tax Considerations
Superannuation is paid on top of your gross salary. From 1 July 2026, the Super Guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a full-time Level 2 pharmacy technician earning $56,225, the employer must contribute $6,747 per year to your super fund. This is not deducted from your pay; it is additional. See our super and packaging page for more.
Tax for the 2026-27 financial year uses the resident tax rates:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income, with reductions for low-income earners. For a $56,225 annual gross, estimated tax is about $9,200 and Medicare $1,125, leaving take-home pay around $45,900. The take-home pay calculator on this site can give you a personalised estimate.
Using the Award Pay Guide and Reference Tables
The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a pay guide summary that includes penalty rates for morning, evening, Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday work. For example, a Level 2 pharmacy assistant working Saturday 8am to 6pm earns $35.56 per hour (125% of base), and Sunday all day is $56.90 per hour (200%). Overtime rates are 150% for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, then 200%, and 250% on public holidays. These rates apply to full-time and part-time employees; casuals get the penalty rate inclusive of the casual loading.
You can find the full breakdown in our reference tables and pay guides sections. Always check the specific award clauses for your exact classification, as allowances (e.g., meal allowance of $24.72 for overtime over 1.5 hours) may also apply.
Practical Example: Pharmacy Technician Salary in Context
Let's compare a pharmacy technician salary to the national averages. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time employees was $2,083.70 per week in May 2026, or about $108,352 annually. A pharmacy technician at Level 2 earns about half that, reflecting the lower skill level compared to professionals. However, with experience and progression to Level 4 or Pharmacist roles, earnings increase significantly. A Pharmacist under the award earns $41.74 per hour ($1,586.30 per week), and a Pharmacist Manager earns $52.15 per hour ($1,981.60 per week).
If you are negotiating a salary or planning your budget, use the formula above and consider whether you will work overtime or penalty hours. The average pay page has more context on how pharmacy roles compare to other industries.
Important Disclaimer
The annual pay figures on this site are estimates based on hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks, assuming the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax uses the 2026-27 resident scale with full tax-free threshold; Medicare uses 2025-26 single reduction thresholds. HELP, Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax. Always consult the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, Australian Taxation Office, and your employer for precise figures.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.