Minimum pay rates for psychologists 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)
Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. They provide therapy, counselling, and psychological assessments in clinical, organisational, and community settings.
$39.31
Base rate/hr
$49.14
Casual rate/hr
Hourly (Full-Time)
$39.31
Hourly (Casual)
$49.14
Weekly (38hrs)
$1,493.78
Annual (Full-Time)
$77,676.56
Psychologists 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 psychologists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | Provisional / registered psychologist | $39.31 | $49.14 | $1,493.78 | $77,676.56 |
| Level 3 | Experienced psychologist | $45.89 | $57.36 | $1,743.82 | $90,678.64 |
| Level 4 | Senior psychologist / clinical lead | $55.57 | $69.46 | $2,111.66 | $109,806.32 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026. Casual rate includes 25% loading.
Casual psychologists receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $39.31/hr to $49.14/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 psychologist working 38 hours per week would earn $97,100.64 (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 psychologists receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($39.31/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 psychologists work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($39.31/hr base).
Saturday
$58.97/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$78.62/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$98.28/hr
2.5x base
Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.
Psychologists working in community health or as employees of group practices may be underpaid, particularly when expected to complete clinical notes and admin outside of paid hours.
If you earn less than $39.31/hr as a full-time or part-time psychologist, or less than $49.14/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychologist | $39.31/hr | $49.14/hr | $77,676.56 | MA000027 |
| Dental Assistant | $28.03/hr | $35.04/hr | $55,387.28 | MA000027 |
| Physiotherapist | $30.89/hr | $38.61/hr | $61,038.64 | MA000027 |
| Dental Receptionist | $28.03/hr | $35.04/hr | $55,387.28 | MA000027 |
The minimum hourly rate for a psychologist in Australia is $39.31/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $49.14/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 psychologist starts at $39.31/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $1,493.78/week or $77,676.56/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.
Psychologists 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 psychologists may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
A casual psychologist receives $49.14/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $39.31/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, psychologists receive: Saturday 1.5x ($58.97/hr), Sunday 2x ($78.62/hr), and Public Holiday 2.5x ($98.28/hr) at Level 1 rates.
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