Clinical Coder Salary: Award Rates, Super, and Tax in 2026
Understand the clinical coder salary in Australia. Learn about award pay under the Health Services Award, superannuation, tax, and how it compares to the national index.
The clinical coder salary is not publicly reported as a median figure, but award rates under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award provide a floor. Based on available data, a typical full-time clinical coder likely earns between index 75 and 95, but this is uncertain.
What is a clinical coder salary?
A clinical coder salary is the pay a worker receives for assigning standardised codes to patients' diagnoses, procedures, and treatments. Clinical coders (ANZSCO 599915) work mainly in hospitals and health services, translating medical records into alphanumeric codes used for funding, research, and statistics. Because the role is specialised and often part-time, its pay is not as widely reported as other health occupations.
Where does the clinical coder salary sit on the national index?
The Salary Index benchmarks gross annual earnings against full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which in May 2026 was $108,352 (index 100). For clinical coders, no official median figure exists—Jobs and Skills Australia lists median weekly earnings as 'N/A'. Based on award rates and typical classifications, a full-time clinical coder might earn between $65,000 and $85,000, placing the index roughly between 60 and 78. However, this is an estimate. The national minimum wage sits at index 48.2 ($52,255), so even entry-level award pay is above that.
Award coverage and minimum rates
Clinical coders are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award [MA000027]. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database provides the minimum rates for each classification level. From 1 July 2026, award minima rose by 4.75%. For example, a Health Professional Level 1 (entry-level) might earn around $30–$33 per hour, while a Level 4 (experienced) could be $38–$42 per hour. Casual employees receive a 25% loading. Part-time workers (41% of clinical coders) are paid the same hourly rate but work fewer hours.
Gross pay, super, and tax
When thinking about a clinical coder salary, it helps to separate gross pay, super, and tax. Gross pay is the hourly or annual amount before deductions. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary-time earnings, paid on top. For a clinical coder earning $75,000 gross, the employer adds $9,000 to super, making total compensation $84,000. Super is taxed at 15% within the fund, which is often lower than the marginal rate.
Tax on the gross salary follows the 2026–27 resident rates: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, 30% on the next $90,000, and so on. A clinical coder on $75,000 pays about $12,367 in tax plus a 2% Medicare levy ($1,500), leaving take-home pay of roughly $61,133. This ignores HELP, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge. The how the index works page explains how these figures relate to the national benchmark.
State and industry context
The salary index varies by state and industry. For health care and social assistance, the industry index is 97.8 (slightly below the national average). Clinical coders are concentrated in New South Wales (30.8%) and Victoria (26.8%), where state indices are 101.2 and 98 respectively states. This means a clinical coder in NSW might earn slightly more than the national average for the industry, while one in Tasmania (index 88.6) might earn less. However, award rates are national, so the difference comes from enterprise agreements or market pressure.
Why the clinical coder salary is hard to pin down
Unlike occupations such as registered nurses or accountants, clinical coders do not have a published median salary from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile shows 1,600 workers, 91% female, median age 51, and 41% part-time. The lack of earnings data may be due to the small workforce or because many work part-time, making full-time equivalent figures less reliable. The pay guides from Fair Work Ombudsman are the best source for minimum rates, but actual pay can be higher depending on experience, location, and employer.
Using the salary index for comparison
The salary index helps compare any pay figure to the national line. For example, if a clinical coder earns $70,000, the index is 70,000 ÷ 108,352 × 100 = 64.6. That is above the national minimum wage (48.2) but below the all-occupations average (100). It is also below the health care industry average (97.8). The index is a gross ordinary-time benchmark; it does not include super, bonuses, or overtime. For a deeper look at how the index is calculated, see how the index works.
Summary
The clinical coder salary in Australia is not officially published as a median figure, but award rates under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award provide a clear floor. Most clinical coders likely earn between $65,000 and $85,000 full-time, placing them below the national average but above the minimum wage. Super adds 12% on top, and tax reduces take-home by roughly a quarter. For the most current pay rates, always refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides or the Fair Work Commission's database.
Questions people ask
What is the average clinical coder salary in Australia?
There is no published average or median salary for clinical coders from official sources such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics or Jobs and Skills Australia. The occupation profile lists median weekly earnings as 'N/A'. Pay is typically determined by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, with minimum rates varying by classification level. A full-time clinical coder at an experienced level might earn between $65,000 and $85,000 annually, but this is an estimate based on award rates and industry knowledge, not a verified statistic.
How does superannuation affect a clinical coder's total compensation?
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary-time earnings, paid on top of the salary. For a clinical coder earning $75,000, the employer would contribute an additional $9,000 per year to super. This total compensation (salary plus super) is not included in the salary index, which uses gross ordinary-time earnings only. Super is taxed at 15% within the fund, which can be lower than marginal income tax rates.
What tax will a clinical coder pay on their salary?
For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates (excluding Medicare) are: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. A clinical coder earning $75,000 would pay about $12,367 in tax plus a 2% Medicare levy ($1,500), leaving a take-home of roughly $61,133. This ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.