Cardiac physiologist salary: award rates and how they compare to the national minimum wage

What is a cardiac physiologist salary under Australian awards?

A cardiac physiologist performs diagnostic tests and monitoring for heart conditions. In Australia, most cardiac physiologists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). That award sets the legal minimum pay for the role, though many employers pay above it. To understand where a cardiac physiologist salary sits against the national line, we compare award rates to the Salary Index, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 a year.

Award minimum rates for cardiac physiologists

The Health Professionals Award classifies employees by level and, for Level 1, by AQF qualification and years of experience. A cardiac physiologist typically holds a bachelor degree (AQF 7) and starts at Level 1. From 1 October 2026, the minimum hourly rates are:

• Level 1 AQF 7 – 1st year: $34.44/hr
• Level 1 AQF 7 – 2nd–3rd year: $37.08/hr
• Level 1 AQF 7 – 4th–6th year: $41.19/hr
• Level 1 AQF 7 – 7th year+: $44.46/hr

More experienced or senior cardiac physiologists may be classified at Level 2, 3, or 4. Their minimum rates are:

• Level 2.1: $51.19/hr
• Level 2.2: $52.19/hr
• Level 3: $52.19/hr
• Level 4: $65.77/hr

These rates are the floor. Actual salaries can be higher, especially in hospitals with enterprise agreements or in private practice.

How does a cardiac physiologist salary compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44/hr, which gives an index of 48.2. Even the lowest award rate for a cardiac physiologist ($34.44/hr) is 30% above that. A senior cardiac physiologist at Level 4 earns $65.77/hr – more than double the minimum wage. That puts the role well above the health care and social assistance industry index of 97.8, meaning cardiac physiologists typically earn more than the average health care worker.

For a full-time cardiac physiologist working 38 hours a week, the annualised minimum at Level 1 AQF 7 1st year is about $68,000 before tax and super. At Level 4, it’s about $130,000. After tax (using 2026–27 rates with the tax-free threshold and 2% Medicare levy), take-home pay for a Level 4 employee would be roughly $92,000 to $95,000, depending on deductions.

Awards versus the national minimum wage: the bigger picture

Awards like the Health Professionals Award exist to set fair minimums for specific industries and occupations. The national minimum wage is a safety net for workers not covered by an award or agreement. For cardiac physiologists, the award provides a much higher floor. The 4.75% increase from the 2026 Annual Wage Review applied to all award rates, and the Health Professionals Award also received additional increases from 1 October 2026 due to gender-based undervaluation adjustments.

Superannuation is another factor. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on top of the hourly rate. So a cardiac physiologist earning $44.46/hr also receives $5.34/hr in super contributions.

Using the Salary Index to understand pay

The Salary Index benchmarks any gross annual salary against the national line of 100. For a cardiac physiologist at Level 1 AQF 7 1st year ($68,000 annualised), the index is about 63. At Level 4 ($130,000), the index is about 120. That means a senior cardiac physiologist earns 20% more than the average full-time worker.

State differences also matter. The index for New South Wales is 101.2, for Victoria 98, for Western Australia 106.9. A cardiac physiologist in Perth might have slightly higher average pay than one in Hobart (Tasmania index 88.6), but award rates are national.

Where to find current rates

The Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides for the Health Professionals and Support Services Award list the latest minimum rates. The Fair Work Commission Modern Awards Pay Database provides official spreadsheets. For industry context, see the health care and social assistance industry page.

Caveats

• Award rates are minimums. Many public hospitals and private practices pay above award through enterprise agreements or individual contracts.
• The classification of a cardiac physiologist depends on duties, qualifications, and supervision level. Not every role fits the award’s Level 1–4 structure perfectly.
• Take-home pay estimates ignore HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and the Medicare levy surcharge.
• The Salary Index uses gross ordinary-time earnings. Overtime, penalties, and allowances can push actual earnings higher.

Summary

A cardiac physiologist salary under the Health Professionals Award starts at $34.44/hr and can reach $65.77/hr for senior roles. That’s well above the national minimum wage of $26.44/hr and above the health care industry average. For a personalised estimate, use the Salary Index calculator or check the state-by-state benchmarks.