Physiotherapist Pay Rate Australia 2026

Minimum pay rates for physiotherapists under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and classification levels.

Last verified: 2 August 2026

Physiotherapist Pay Rate

Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027)

Physiotherapists assess, diagnose, and treat movement disorders and physical conditions. They work in hospitals, private practices, sports clinics, and aged care facilities.

$30.89

Base rate/hr

$38.61

Casual rate/hr

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Hourly (Full-Time)

$30.89

Hourly (Casual)

$38.61

Weekly (38hrs)

$1,173.82

Annual (Full-Time)

$61,038.64

What Award Covers Physiotherapists?

Physiotherapists 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 physiotherapists 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 →

Physiotherapist Classification Levels & Pay Rates

Level	Description	Base Rate/hr	Casual Rate/hr	Weekly (38hrs)	Annual
Level 1 (Year 1)	Graduate physiotherapist	$30.89	$38.61	$1,173.82	$61,038.64
Level 1 (Year 4+)	Experienced physiotherapist	$34.66	$43.32	$1,317.08	$68,488.16
Level 2	Senior physiotherapist / specialist	$39.31	$49.14	$1,493.78	$77,676.56
Level 3	Principal physiotherapist / clinic lead	$45.89	$57.36	$1,743.82	$90,678.64

Rates effective from 1 July 2026. Casual rate includes 25% loading.

Casual Physiotherapist Pay Rate

Casual physiotherapists receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $30.89/hr to $38.61/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 physiotherapist working 38 hours per week would earn $76,293.36 (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 Physiotherapist Pay Rate

Part-time physiotherapists receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($30.89/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.

Physiotherapist Penalty Rates

Penalty rates apply when physiotherapists work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($30.89/hr base).

Saturday

$46.34/hr

1.5x base

Sunday

$61.78/hr

2x base

Public Holiday

$77.23/hr

2.5x base

Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.

Am I Being Underpaid as a Physiotherapist?

Physiotherapists in private practice are sometimes underpaid through sham contracting arrangements or flat-rate pay that doesn't account for weekend and evening clinics.

If you earn less than $30.89/hr as a full-time or part-time physiotherapist, or less than $38.61/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.

Check if you’re underpaid Calculate back pay owed

Compare with Similar Roles

Job Title	Base Rate	Casual Rate	Annual (FT)	Award
Physiotherapist	$30.89/hr	$38.61/hr	$61,038.64	MA000027
Dental Assistant	$28.03/hr	$35.04/hr	$55,387.28	MA000027
Psychologist	$39.31/hr	$49.14/hr	$77,676.56	MA000027
Dental Receptionist	$28.03/hr	$35.04/hr	$55,387.28	MA000027

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a physiotherapist get paid per hour?

The minimum hourly rate for a physiotherapist in Australia is $30.89/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $38.61/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.

What is the minimum wage for a physiotherapist?

Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027), the minimum wage for a physiotherapist starts at $30.89/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $1,173.82/week or $61,038.64/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.

What award covers physiotherapists?

Physiotherapists 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 physiotherapists may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.

What is the casual rate for a physiotherapist?

A casual physiotherapist receives $38.61/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $30.89/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.

What are the penalty rates for a physiotherapist?

Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, physiotherapists receive: Saturday 1.5x ($46.34/hr), Sunday 2x ($61.78/hr), and Public Holiday 2.5x ($77.23/hr) at Level 1 rates.

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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.