Criminal psychology salary: state and industry differences in Australia

What is a criminal psychology salary?

When people search for a "criminal psychology salary" in Australia, they are usually asking what a psychologist who works with offenders, victims, or the justice system can expect to earn. The short answer is that no single figure exists for this sub-specialty. The best available guide comes from the broader occupation of psychologists and psychotherapists, which the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Jobs and Skills Australia track together.

According to Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025 data), the median full-time weekly earnings for psychologists and psychotherapists is $2,204. That works out to about $114,608 a year before tax, assuming 52 weeks. Against the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark of $2,083.70 per week (index 100), that gives a salary index of roughly 106. In other words, the typical psychologist earns about 6% above the national line.

But criminal psychology is not a separate ANZSCO code. It falls under "Other Psychologists" (272399) or sometimes under clinical or forensic roles. The pay can vary by employer, state, and whether the psychologist works in the public sector, private practice, or for a non-profit.

State differences in criminal psychology pay

Where you work matters a lot in Australia. The states page on Salary Index shows how average full-time ordinary-time earnings differ across the country. For example:

• New South Wales index 101.2
• Victoria index 98
• Queensland index 97.9
• South Australia index 94.6
• Western Australia index 106.9
• Tasmania index 88.6
• Northern Territory index 95.2
• Australian Capital Territory index 109.9

A criminal psychologist in Western Australia or the ACT, where overall earnings are higher, may see a salary above the national median. In Tasmania, the same role might pay less in dollar terms, though the lower cost of living can offset that. State public sector awards also play a role. For example, corrective services psychologists in NSW are covered by the Crown Employees (Psychologists) Award, while those in Victoria may fall under the Health Professionals Award.

Industry differences

Criminal psychologists are employed mainly in three industry groups:

• Health Care and Social Assistance (industry index 97.8)
• Public Administration and Safety (no separate index published, but likely similar to the national average)
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (index 114.7)

Those in private forensic consulting or expert witness work fall into the professional services category, which tends to pay above the national line. Government roles, while often more stable, may pay closer to award rates. The industries page gives more detail on how each sector compares.

How awards and minimum rates apply

Most psychologists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027). From 1 October 2026, minimum rates for health professionals under this award increased as part of the Annual Wage Review. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides that show the minimum hourly rates for each classification level. For a psychologist with a general registration, the award rate is a floor – many employers pay above it, especially in private practice or senior government roles.

Superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2026, on top of the salary. The super guarantee maximum contribution base is $270,830, so most criminal psychologists will receive the full 12% on their entire salary.

Tax and take-home pay

For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates (excluding Medicare) are:

• $0 – $18,200: nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15% on excess over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: 30% on excess over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: 37% on excess over $135,000
• Above $190,000: 45%

Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A criminal psychologist earning the median $114,608 would pay roughly $26,000 in tax plus $2,292 Medicare levy, leaving about $86,300 take-home. That is a resident estimate using the tax-free threshold and flat Medicare levy, ignoring HELP repayments or the Medicare levy surcharge.

Using the salary index

The how the index works page explains that the salary index is your yearly gross ordinary-time earnings divided by the national line ($108,352 annualised) times 100. For a criminal psychologist earning $114,608, the index is 106. That tells you the role sits slightly above the average full-time worker. But because the index is a benchmark, not a job offer, your actual index will depend on your specific employer, location, and experience.

Summary

A criminal psychology salary in Australia is not separately published, but the psychologist median of $2,204 per week (index 106) is a solid reference point. State and industry differences can shift that figure up or down by 10–15%. For the most current minimum rates, check the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides and the topics page for related occupations.