Minimum pay rates for dental receptionists under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and classification levels.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027)
Dental receptionists manage patient bookings, handle payments, and coordinate dental practice administration. They are the first point of contact for patients.
$28.03
Base rate/hr
$35.04
Casual rate/hr
Hourly (Full-Time)
$28.03
Hourly (Casual)
$35.04
Weekly (38hrs)
$1,065.14
Annual (Full-Time)
$55,387.28
Dental Receptionists in Australia are generally covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). This Modern Award sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment including pay rates, hours of work, rosters, breaks, allowances, penalty rates, and overtime.
Some dental receptionists may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must provide conditions that are at least as favourable as the award overall (the Better Off Overall Test).
View full Health Professionals and Support Services Award pay rates →
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Level 2 | Receptionist / front desk | $28.03 | $35.04 | $1,065.14 | $55,387.28 |
| Support Level 3 | Experienced receptionist with admin duties | $29.11 | $36.39 | $1,106.18 | $57,521.36 |
| Support Level 4 | Practice coordinator / office manager | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,119.10 | $58,193.20 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026. Casual rate includes 25% loading.
Casual dental receptionists receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $28.03/hr to $35.04/hr.
The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid annual leave, personal leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay. Over a full year, a casual dental receptionist working 38 hours per week would earn $69,239.04 (before tax and penalty rates).
From 1 July 2024, casual employees who have worked regular hours for at least 6 months can request conversion to permanent employment. Check your casual conversion eligibility →
Part-time dental receptionists receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($28.03/hr) but work fewer than 38 hours per week on a regular, agreed pattern. Part-time employees receive all the same entitlements as full-time employees (annual leave, personal leave, notice, redundancy) on a pro-rata basis.
Penalty rates apply when dental receptionists work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($28.03/hr base).
Saturday
$42.05/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$56.06/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$70.08/hr
2.5x base
Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.
Dental receptionists in small practices are frequently paid below award rates, especially when required to perform additional duties like sterilisation or dental assisting without appropriate classification.
If you earn less than $28.03/hr as a full-time or part-time dental receptionist, or less than $35.04/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.
| Job Title | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Annual (FT) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Receptionist | $28.03/hr | $35.04/hr | $55,387.28 | MA000027 |
| Dental Assistant | $28.03/hr | $35.04/hr | $55,387.28 | MA000027 |
| Physiotherapist | $30.89/hr | $38.61/hr | $61,038.64 | MA000027 |
| Psychologist | $39.31/hr | $49.14/hr | $77,676.56 | MA000027 |
The minimum hourly rate for a dental receptionist in Australia is $28.03/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $35.04/hr for casuals (including 25% loading) under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. Actual rates may be higher depending on classification level, experience, and any enterprise agreement that applies.
Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027), the minimum wage for a dental receptionist starts at $28.03/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $1,065.14/week or $55,387.28/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.
Dental Receptionists in Australia are generally covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). This award sets out minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and other working conditions. Some dental receptionists may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
A casual dental receptionist receives $35.04/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $28.03/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.
Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, dental receptionists receive: Saturday 1.5x ($42.05/hr), Sunday 2x ($56.06/hr), and Public Holiday 2.5x ($70.08/hr) at Level 1 rates.
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