Paramedicine salary: gross pay, super and tax in Australia
Understand paramedicine salary in Australia: median earnings, award rates, superannuation and tax. See how it compares to the national salary index.
Median paramedicine salary sits around index 137, well above the national line, but award minimum rates are much lower at index 64.
What is a paramedicine salary in Australia?
Paramedicine salary covers the pay of ambulance officers, paramedics, intensive care paramedics, and patient transport officers. These roles are essential in emergency health care, and their earnings reflect the demanding nature of the work. This article looks at gross pay, superannuation, and tax, using the most current public data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Median paramedicine salary vs award minimums
The most reliable benchmark for paramedicine salary comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), published by Jobs and Skills Australia. The median weekly earnings for full-time non-managerial ambulance officers and paramedics is $2,852. That annualises to $148,304 (52 weeks). Compare this to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 annualised), which is the baseline for the Salary Index.
On the Salary Index, the median paramedicine salary sits at about 137 – well above the national line of 100. However, this median includes experienced paramedics, overtime, and penalty rates. The award minimums tell a different story.
The Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award (MA000098) from the Fair Work Ombudsman sets minimum weekly rates effective July 2026:
- Ambulance officer/paramedic year 1: $1,309.50 per week ($68,094 annualised)
- Ambulance officer/paramedic year 2: $1,319.50 per week ($68,614)
- Ambulance officer/paramedic year 3: $1,326.90 per week ($68,999)
These award rates give a Salary Index of about 64 – well below the national average. The gap between the median and the award shows how much overtime, allowances, and enterprise agreements can boost pay.
How the Salary Index works for paramedicine
The Salary Index compares any gross annual salary to the national benchmark. For paramedicine salary, the index is calculated as:
(annual gross pay ÷ $108,352) × 100
- Median paramedic: ($148,304 ÷ $108,352) × 100 = 136.9
- Award year 3: ($68,999 ÷ $108,352) × 100 = 63.7
A score above 100 means above-average earnings; below 100 means below. Most paramedics likely fall somewhere between these extremes, depending on their state, employer, and years of service.
Superannuation on paramedicine salary
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a paramedic earning the median $148,304, the employer contributes about $17,796 per year into super. For an award-level paramedic earning $68,999, the contribution is about $8,280. These amounts are on top of the gross salary and are taxed at 15% within the fund (up to the contribution cap of $30,000 for 2026-27).
Super is not included in the Salary Index figures, which are based on gross ordinary-time earnings only.
Tax on paramedicine salary
Using 2026-27 resident tax rates (including the 2% Medicare levy), here are estimates for two scenarios:
Median earner ($148,304):
- Tax on first $18,200: $0
- 15% on $26,800 ($18,201-$45,000): $4,020
- 30% on $90,000 ($45,001-$135,000): $27,000
- 37% on $13,304 ($135,001-$148,304): $4,922
- Medicare levy (2% of $148,304): $2,966
- Total tax: $38,908
- Take-home: $109,396
Award earner ($68,999):
- Tax on first $18,200: $0
- 15% on $26,800: $4,020
- 30% on $23,999 ($45,001-$68,999): $7,200
- Medicare levy (2% of $68,999): $1,380
- Total tax: $12,600
- Take-home: $56,399
These estimates ignore HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge. Actual tax may differ.
State and industry context
Paramedicine salary can vary by state. The states page shows that the ACT has the highest index (109.9) and Tasmania the lowest (88.6). Paramedics in the ACT may earn more due to higher public sector wages. The industry for paramedics is Health Care and Social Assistance, which has an index of 97.8 – slightly below the national line. But paramedics themselves earn above that industry average.
Award conditions and penalties
The Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award includes penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, public holidays, and shift work. For example, an ambulance officer year 3 gets $52.38 per hour on Saturday and $87.30 on public holidays. Shift allowances add $59.71 per shift for work between 6pm and 8am. These extras can significantly lift a paramedicine salary above the base award rate.
Final thoughts
Paramedicine salary in Australia spans a wide range. The median is strong at index 137, but award minimums are much lower. Super adds 12% on top, and tax takes a significant slice. For anyone considering this career, it's worth checking pay guides for your specific state or employer, as enterprise agreements often set higher rates than the national award.
Questions people ask
What is the typical paramedicine salary in Australia?
The median weekly earnings for ambulance officers and paramedics are $2,852, according to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. That annualises to about $148,304 before tax and super. However, award minimum rates for an ambulance officer/paramedic start at $1,309.50 per week ($68,094 annualised) for year 1, rising to $1,326.90 per week ($68,999) for year 3. Actual pay varies by state, employer, experience, and overtime.
How does superannuation apply to paramedicine salary?
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a paramedic earning the median $148,304, the employer would contribute about $17,796 per year into super. For an award-level paramedic earning $68,999, the super contribution would be about $8,280. These contributions are on top of the gross salary and are taxed at 15% within the super fund (up to the contribution cap).
What tax will a paramedic pay on their salary?
Using 2026-27 tax rates (including 2% Medicare levy), a paramedic earning the median $148,304 would pay approximately $38,908 in tax and Medicare, leaving about $109,396 take-home. A paramedic on the award minimum of $68,999 would pay about $12,600, leaving about $56,399. These estimates assume no deductions or offsets. Higher earnings from overtime or penalties may push income into higher brackets.