Forensic psychology salary: what the data shows for Australian psychologists
Forensic psychology salary in Australia: median full-time earnings for psychologists are $2,204/week. Compare offers using the Salary Index.
The median full-time earnings for psychologists and psychotherapists are $2,204 per week, giving an index of about 106, but forensic psychology is a specialty with limited public data.
What is a forensic psychology salary?
When you see a job ad for a forensic psychologist in Australia, the advertised salary might be a range, a package, or just a vague “negotiable”. To make sense of it, you need a benchmark. The term “forensic psychology salary” refers to the earnings of psychologists who work at the intersection of psychology and the legal system – assessing offenders, providing expert testimony, or working in corrective services. Unfortunately, there is no single published figure for this specialty. The best starting point is the broader category of Psychologists and Psychotherapists.
The closest public benchmark
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for Psychologists and Psychotherapists (ANZSCO 2723) is $2,204 as of May 2025. That works out to about $114,608 per year before tax. On the Salary Index, where 100 equals the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 annualised), this puts the typical psychologist at an index of 106 – slightly above the national line.
But forensic psychology is a niche. The ANZSCO classification for Psychologists and Psychotherapists includes Clinical, Educational, Organisational, and Other Psychologists, plus Psychotherapists. Forensic psychologists are most likely counted under “Other Psychologists” (272399) or sometimes “Clinical Psychologists” (272311). That means the median figure may not perfectly reflect what a forensic psychologist earns, especially if you work for a state government department, a private practice, or a university.
Reading a job ad with the index in mind
Suppose you see an ad offering $120,000 for a forensic psychologist role. Compare it to the national line:
- National line: $108,352 (index 100)
- Offered: $120,000 (index 111)
That’s 11% above the national average – a solid offer if you’re early career. But if the ad says $95,000 (index 88), that’s below the national line and well below the psychologist median. You’d want to check whether it’s a part-time role or if the employer is relying on an award minimum.
Award coverage and minimum rates
Forensic psychologists in clinical roles are often covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award [MA000027]. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for this award. From 1 October 2026, minimum rates under this award changed. For example, a Health Professional Level 1 (entry-level) might have a minimum weekly rate around $1,200–$1,300, while a more experienced Level 4 could be $1,800+. These are minimums – actual salaries are usually higher.
If you work in a university teaching or research role, the Higher Education Industry – Academic Staff Award may apply. And if you’re in a state government role (e.g., for Corrective Services NSW), you might be covered by an enterprise agreement that sets its own rates.
How super and tax affect take-home pay
Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026. On a $114,608 salary, that’s an extra $13,753 into your super fund. For take-home pay, use the 2026–27 resident tax rates:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy. On $114,608, tax plus Medicare is roughly $27,500, leaving about $87,100 take-home (excluding HELP or other deductions).
Where to look for better data
Because forensic psychology is a small specialty, public salary surveys are rare. You can check:
- Salary Index to compare any offer against the national line.
- Pay guides for award minimums in health and education.
- Industries like public administration or health care for sector benchmarks.
Some employers, especially in corrective services or the courts, publish salary ranges in job ads. Collect a few ads and average them to get a local sense.
Caveats
The Jobs and Skills Australia data is based on the ANZSCO classification and will not be updated; new OSCA-based profiles are expected in mid-2026. The median figure of $2,204 is for all full-time psychologists, not just forensic. Also, 50% of psychologists work part-time, so the full-time median may not represent everyone. Finally, earnings in forensic roles can vary significantly by state – for example, the ACT index is 109.9, while Tasmania is 88.6 – so location matters.
The bottom line
Forensic psychology salary is not a published statistic, but you can use the psychologist median of $2,204/week (index 106) as a rough guide. When comparing offers, always check the award or enterprise agreement, factor in super, and consider the cost of living in your state. The Salary Index helps you see where a figure sits relative to the national average – a quick reality check before you sign.
Questions people ask
What is the typical forensic psychology salary in Australia?
There is no publicly available salary figure specific to forensic psychology. The closest benchmark is the median full-time weekly earnings of $2,204 for all psychologists and psychotherapists (Jobs and Skills Australia, May 2025). This annualises to about $114,608, giving a Salary Index of roughly 106. Actual forensic psychology salaries may be higher or lower depending on employer, experience, and location.
Which award covers forensic psychologists in Australia?
Forensic psychologists working in clinical roles are often covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award [MA000027]. Those in academic or research roles may fall under the Higher Education Industry – Academic Staff Award. It is important to check your specific employment contract and award classification, as some employers have enterprise agreements that set different rates.
How does the forensic psychology salary compare to the national average?
The national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings (Salary Index 100) are $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 annualised). The median for all psychologists is $2,204 per week, which is about 5.8% above the national line. However, forensic psychology is a niche field; salaries in government forensic settings may be closer to the public sector pay scales, which can be higher or lower than the median.