Psychologist Salary Guide: Hourly Rates, Award Pay, and Annual Conversion
A psychologist covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 earns at least $32.44 per hour (Level 1, AQF 5, first year), based on 38 ordinary hours per week.
Understanding a Psychologist Salary: From Hourly Rate to Annual Pay
Whether you are a psychologist negotiating a new role or an employer setting pay, knowing how to convert an hourly rate to an annual figure is essential. This guide uses the latest Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission data to explain the conversion, the difference between the National Minimum Wage and award rates, casual loading, superannuation, and tax. The keyword psychologist salary appears throughout because we focus on the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, which covers most psychologists in Australia.
The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours per Week × 52
The standard way to estimate annual gross pay is:
Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52
We assume a full-time week of 38 ordinary hours, as defined in the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 and the National Minimum Wage Order. If you work part-time or casual hours, adjust the weekly figure accordingly. For example, a psychologist working 30 hours per week would use 30 instead of 38.
A fortnightly pay is simply the weekly amount multiplied by two. Many employers pay fortnightly, so knowing your weekly rate helps you check your payslip.
National Minimum Wage vs. Award Rates
From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week (). This applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement. However, most psychologists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, which sets higher minimum rates.
Under that award, a Health Professional employee at Level 1 with an AQF Level 5 qualification (e.g., a bachelor degree in psychology) earns at least $32.44 per hour in their first year. The rate increases with experience: $34.44 per hour in the second and third years, $37.53 in the fourth to sixth years, and $40.56 after seven years. These rates are for full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top, making the casual rate $40.55 per hour for a first-year psychologist.
If you are an award-free psychologist (rare), the National Minimum Wage applies. Always check your award classification using the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Casual Loading and Superannuation
Casual loading is 25% of the minimum hourly rate, paid instead of entitlements like annual leave and sick leave. For a psychologist on $32.44 per hour, the casual rate is $32.44 × 1.25 = $40.55 per hour. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading into our the timesheet calculator; instead, type the base hourly rate and check the casual loading box.
Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a full-time psychologist earning $32.44 per hour, the annual super contribution is $32.44 × 38 × 52 × 0.12 = $7,692.17, provided their total ordinary earnings do not exceed the cap. Super is not deducted from your pay; it is an additional cost for the employer.
Tax and Take-Home Pay
For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are:
- 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
Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (using the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed). For a psychologist earning $64,101 per year (based on $32.44/hour, 38 hours), the estimated tax is about $10,230 plus Medicare of $1,282, leaving a take-home of around $52,589. Use our take-home pay tool for a personalised estimate.
Example: Psychologist Salary Calculation
Let’s calculate for a full-time psychologist at Level 1, AQF 5, first year:
- Hourly rate: $32.44
- Weekly pay: $32.44 × 38 = $1,232.72
- Fortnightly pay: $1,232.72 × 2 = $2,465.44
- Annual gross: $32.44 × 38 × 52 = $64,101.44
- Super (12%): $7,692.17
- Total cost to employer: $71,793.61
For a casual psychologist:
- Hourly rate: $40.55 (includes 25% loading)
- Annual gross: $40.55 × 38 × 52 = $80,126.80
- Super (12%): $9,615.22
These figures assume no overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. For award-specific penalties, see the reference tables.
Why Award Rates Matter for Your Psychologist Salary
The Health Professionals Award sets minimums that are significantly higher than the National Minimum Wage. A psychologist with a bachelor degree cannot be paid less than $32.44 per hour, compared to $26.44 for award-free workers. If you are an employer, paying below the award rate is unlawful. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides with all classification rates.
Using Our Tools
Our the timesheet calculator lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. It then shows weekly, fortnightly, and annual figures, plus estimated tax and super. For a quick reference, see our average pay page, which includes ABS data on psychologist earnings.
Disclaimer
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.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.