Physiologist Salary in Australia: What to Expect When Comparing Job Offers
Wondering about physiologist salary in Australia? We explain how to read job ads, compare offers, and where this role sits on the national salary index.
The median salary for a physiologist in Australia is uncertain due to varied roles, but related health professionals earn around $1,888 per week (index 90.6).
Reading a job ad for a physiologist role
When you search for "physiologist salary" in Australia, you'll quickly notice that the term covers a range of jobs – from clinical exercise physiologists helping patients with chronic conditions, to research scientists in labs, to cardiac or sleep physiologists in hospitals. Unlike registered professions such as physiotherapy, there isn't a single ANZSCO code or a widely published median figure from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That means you need to read job ads carefully and compare offers using the Salary Index.
What the data says (and doesn't say)
The most recent public data from Jobs and Skills Australia (based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) gives a median weekly earning of $1,888 for full-time physiotherapists. That's an index of 90.6 – slightly below the national line of 100 ($2,083.70 per week, annualised $108,352). But physiotherapists are not physiologists. The roles overlap in some clinical settings, but a physiologist may work in a completely different environment, such as a university or a diagnostic lab, where pay structures follow enterprise agreements or academic awards.
For physiologists covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, minimum rates apply. From 1 July 2026, award rates rose by 4.75%. An entry-level health professional under this award earns around $25.74 per hour (index 48.6). More experienced classifications pay more, but the award is a floor, not a ceiling. Many employers, especially in private practice or hospitals, pay above award.
Using the salary index to compare offers
The Salary Index converts a yearly gross salary into a simple number: your salary divided by the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings ($108,352) times 100. For example:
- A job ad offering $80,000 → index 73.8
- A job ad offering $95,000 → index 87.7
- A job ad offering $110,000 → index 101.5
This lets you see at a glance whether an offer is above or below the national average. The index also varies by state and industry. For instance, the health care and social assistance industry index is 97.8 (annualised $105,968). If you're comparing a physiologist role in that industry, an index of 90 might be below the industry average, while 105 would be above.
Where to find better salary clues
Since the ABS doesn't publish a specific "physiologist" category, you'll need to triangulate:
- Check the relevant award – The pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman list minimum rates for health professionals. If your role is classified as a Health Professional Level 1 or 2 under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, you can see the base rate.
- Look at enterprise agreements – Hospitals, universities, and large health providers often have enterprise agreements that set higher rates. These are public documents on the Fair Work Commission website.
- Browse job ads – Many ads list a salary range. Collect several for similar roles in your state. Use the index to normalise them.
- Consider location – Salaries vary by state. The states page shows that the ACT has the highest index (109.9), while Tasmania is lowest (88.6). A physiologist in Canberra might earn 10–15% more than one in Hobart for the same role.
What about super and tax?
From 1 July 2026, the superannuation guarantee is 12% on top of your gross salary, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So a $90,000 salary includes an extra $10,800 in super – but that's not part of your take-home pay.
For tax, the 2026–27 resident rates (excluding Medicare) are:
- $0–$18,200: nil
- $18,201–$45,000: 15%
- $45,001–$135,000: 30%
- $135,001–$190,000: 37%
- Over $190,000: 45%
Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A physiologist earning $90,000 would pay roughly $19,867 in tax and Medicare, leaving about $70,133 take-home (ignoring HELP, salary sacrifice, etc.).
Putting it together
When you see a job ad for a physiologist, don't rely on a single number. Use the Salary Index to compare it against the national line, check the award or enterprise agreement for your classification, and factor in location and industry. The lack of a single published figure for "physiologist salary" means you have to do a little detective work – but the index makes that comparison straightforward.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a physiologist and a physiotherapist?
A physiologist studies how the body works – often in research, clinical diagnostics, or exercise science. A physiotherapist is a registered health professional who treats movement disorders and injuries. While related, they are distinct careers with different training and registration requirements. Physiotherapist salary data is more readily available (median $1,888/week) but should not be directly applied to physiologists.
What award covers physiologists in Australia?
Many physiologists, especially exercise physiologists, are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. This award sets minimum pay rates, allowances, and penalty rates. From 1 October 2026, minimum rates for health professionals under this award increased due to a gender-based undervaluation review. You can check the latest pay guides on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
How does a physiologist salary compare to the national average?
The national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark is $108,352 per year (index 100). Without specific physiologist data, a reasonable estimate might be around $80,000–$100,000 for experienced roles, giving an index of 74–92. This is below the health care industry average (index 97.8) but above the national minimum wage (index 48.2). Always compare using the salary index to see where an offer sits against the national line.