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Physiotherapist salary Sydney: what the national median tells you about local offers
Compare physiotherapist salary Sydney offers using the national median of $1,888/week and the Salary Index. Understand awards, super, and tax for a clearer picture.
The national median full-time physiotherapist earnings of $1,888 per week give an index of about 91, but Sydney-specific figures are not publicly available from the ABS or Fair Work.
Reading a physiotherapist job ad in Sydney
When you search for a physiotherapist salary Sydney, you’ll see a range of figures in job ads. Some quote an annual package, others an hourly rate. To make sense of them, you need a benchmark. The most reliable public benchmark is the national median full-time earnings for physiotherapists, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and reported by Jobs and Skills Australia.
The national median: $1,888 per week
According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time physiotherapist earns $1,888 per week before tax. That works out to about $98,176 a year. On the Salary Index, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352, that’s an index of roughly 91. It’s a touch above the all-occupations median of $1,852 (index 89) but below the professional, scientific and technical industry index of 114.7.
What about Sydney specifically?
The ABS doesn’t publish state-by-state earnings for individual occupations. We know New South Wales employs 28.7% of physiotherapists, and the state index is 101.2 (annualised $109,658). That suggests overall wages in NSW are slightly above the national line, so a Sydney physiotherapist might earn a bit more than the national median. But without a published figure, you’re best using the national median as a baseline and adjusting for the type of employer.
Award coverage and minimum rates
Most physiotherapists in Sydney are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides with minimum hourly rates for each classification. From 1 October 2026, minimum rates increased as part of the gender undervaluation review (see the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but award rates for qualified physiotherapists are higher. For example, a Level 1 health professional under the award earns more than the entry-level award floor of $25.74 per hour.
Comparing job offers
When you see a job ad for a physiotherapist in Sydney, check whether the salary is above or below the national median. A rate of $50 per hour (the national median hourly) gives about $98,000 a year for full-time hours. If the ad quotes $55 per hour, that’s around $108,000 – right on the national line. Remember that many private practices pay above award, while public hospitals may follow award rates with allowances.
Super and tax considerations
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on earnings up to $270,830. So a $98,000 salary attracts $11,760 in super. On the tax side, a resident earning $98,000 in 2026–27 pays about $22,967 in income tax plus a 2% Medicare levy ($1,960), leaving roughly $73,073 take-home. That’s before any HELP repayments or salary sacrifice.
Industries and settings
Most physiotherapists work in Health Care and Social Assistance, which has an index of 97.8 – slightly below the national line. But within that, public hospitals, private clinics, and aged care may pay differently. The states page shows NSW at 101.2, so the cost of living is higher, but wages tend to follow.
Using the Salary Index to gauge offers
The Salary Index lets you compare any salary against the national line. If a Sydney job offers $105,000, that’s an index of 97 – close to the health care industry average. If it offers $115,000, that’s 106, above the national line. The index is a quick way to see whether an offer is competitive.
What the data doesn’t tell you
The national median is based on full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. It excludes part-timers, juniors, and managers. Your actual pay will depend on experience, specialisation (sports, musculoskeletal, neurological), and whether you work in the public or private sector. The ABS figure is a guide, not a guarantee.
Final thoughts
When you’re reading job ads for a physiotherapist salary Sydney, start with the national median of $1,888 per week. Compare the offered salary to that figure and to the Salary Index. Check whether the role is covered by an award and what the minimum is. Factor in super and tax to understand take-home pay. And remember: Sydney’s cost of living is higher than the national average, so a salary that looks good on paper may not stretch as far as in other states.
Questions people ask
What is the average physiotherapist salary in Sydney?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a Sydney-specific median for physiotherapists. The national median full-time earnings are $1,888 per week (about $98,176 per year). Given NSW’s state index of 101.2, Sydney salaries may be slightly above the national figure, but no official local median exists. Use the national median as a starting point and compare job ads against it.
Are physiotherapists covered by an award in Sydney?
Yes, most physiotherapists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. Minimum pay rates and classifications changed from 1 October 2026 following a gender undervaluation review. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for this award. Some employers may have enterprise agreements that set higher rates.
How does the physiotherapist salary compare to the national average?
The national median full-time physiotherapist earnings of $1,888 per week are slightly above the all-occupations median of $1,852. On the Salary Index, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year, physiotherapists sit at about 91. This is below the professional, scientific and technical industry index of 114.7 but above health care and social assistance overall (97.8).