Dentist salary in Australia: median earnings, super and tax explained
Find out the typical dentist salary in Australia, how it compares to the national earnings line, and what it means for super and tax. Based on ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia dat
The median full-time dentist salary in Australia is about $168,000 per year, giving a Salary Index of roughly 155 – well above the national line of 100.
What is a typical dentist salary in Australia?
If you’re looking at a career in dentistry or hiring a dentist, the first question is usually about pay. The most reliable public data comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Jobs and Skills Australia. Their latest survey (May 2025) puts the median full-time weekly earnings for Dental Practitioners at $3,232. That annualises to about $168,064 – assuming 52 weeks of full-time work.
To put that in perspective, the Salary Index uses a benchmark of 100 for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which in May 2026 was $108,352 per year. A dentist on the median therefore scores around 155 on the index – well above the national line. For comparison, the national minimum wage sits at index 48, and the average for health care and social assistance is 97.8.
What the data covers
The Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile groups dentists with dental specialists (such as orthodontists) under ANZSCO 2523. So the $3,232 figure blends both general dentists and specialists. If you’re a specialist, your earnings are likely higher. The data also shows that 40% of dental practitioners work part-time, and the median age is 42. Women make up 54% of the workforce.
No award coverage for dentists
Unlike many other health professions, dentists in private practice are not covered by a modern award. The Fair Work Ombudsman confirms that no award applies – not the Health Services Award, not the Miscellaneous Award. This means there is no minimum classification rate or penalty rate structure. The only legal floor is the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) and the National Employment Standards.
In practice, most dentists earn far more than the minimum. Their pay is set by individual contracts, often based on a percentage of billings or a fixed salary. That’s why the median is so much higher than the award-free minimum.
How super and tax affect take-home pay
Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026. On a $168,000 salary, that’s an extra $20,160 per year paid into your super fund (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830). This is on top of your gross salary.
For tax, the 2026–27 resident rates (excluding Medicare) are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy on taxable income. A dentist earning $168,000 would fall into the 37% bracket for the portion above $135,000. After tax and Medicare, the estimated take-home pay is around $117,000 (ignoring HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge).
State and industry context
While we don’t have state-level data for dentists specifically, the states page shows how average earnings vary across Australia. For example, the ACT has an index of 109.9 (annualised $119,090), while Tasmania is 88.6 ($96,008). Dentist salaries may follow similar geographic patterns, but because the profession is award-free, location premiums are less regulated.
In terms of industry, dentists are classified under Health Care and Social Assistance, which has an overall index of 97.8 – close to the national average. But within that industry, dental practitioners earn significantly more than the industry average.
How the Salary Index works
The how the index works page explains that the index compares your gross annual earnings to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. A score of 100 means you earn exactly the benchmark. Dentists at the median score 155, meaning they earn 55% above that line.
Questions people ask
Is there an award that sets the minimum pay for dentists in Australia?
No. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, dentists working in private dental practices are not covered by any modern award. They are award-free, meaning their minimum entitlement is the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) plus the National Employment Standards. Most dentists negotiate their own salary above this floor.
How does the dentist salary compare to the national average?
The median full-time dentist salary of about $168,000 per year is well above the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark of $108,352 (Salary Index 100). On the Salary Index, dentists score roughly 155, meaning they earn about 55% more than the typical full-time worker. For context, the national minimum wage sits at index 48.
What about superannuation and tax on a dentist salary?
Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, applied to ordinary time earnings. For a dentist earning $168,000, that adds about $20,160 in super contributions per year (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830). Income tax for 2026–27 (excluding Medicare) is progressive: 30% on income between $45,001 and $135,000, then 37% up to $190,000. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. Take-home pay after tax and Medicare on $168,000 would be roughly $117,000 (estimate, ignoring HELP or salary sacrifice).