Nutritionist Salary in Australia: Gross Pay, Super, and Tax Explained

What is a nutritionist salary in Australia?

When people search for a nutritionist salary, they often want a realistic figure that accounts for the mix of roles in this field. The best publicly available data comes from Jobs and Skills Australia, which reports median weekly earnings of $1,667 for full-time non-managerial Nutrition Professionals. That group includes both dietitians (ANZSCO 251111) and nutritionists (ANZSCO 251112), so the figure is a useful starting point but not a precise quote for every nutritionist.

To put that number in context, the Salary Index benchmarks all pay against full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. Index 100 equals $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 annualised (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). A nutritionist earning $1,667 per week annualises to $86,684, giving an index of about 80. That means the typical nutritionist salary sits roughly 20% below the national line.

How the salary index works

The index is simple: your yearly gross pay divided by the national line, multiplied by 100. For a nutritionist on $86,684:

$86,684 ÷ $108,352 × 100 = 80.0

This places the occupation above the national minimum wage (index 48.2) but below the all-occupations median. It also sits below the Health Care and Social Assistance industry index of 97.8, which is the sector where most nutritionists work.

Gross pay and the national line

Understanding where a nutritionist salary falls on the index helps you compare across jobs. For example:

• National minimum wage (1 July 2026): $26.44/hr, $1,004.90/week, index 48.2
• Retail trade industry average: index 75.9
• Nutritionist median: index 80.0
• Professional, scientific and technical services: index 114.7
• Mining: index 154.7

A nutritionist earns more than the minimum but less than the average professional. That reflects the field's high proportion of part-time work (47%) and its predominantly female workforce (97%), both of which can pull median earnings down.

Superannuation on top

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. On a $86,684 salary, that adds $10,402 in super contributions, making total remuneration around $97,086. Super is not included in the salary index figure, which measures gross ordinary-time earnings only. When comparing job offers, always check whether the quoted figure includes super or is base salary plus super.

Tax on a nutritionist salary

Using 2026–27 resident tax rates (excluding HELP or Medicare levy surcharge):

• Tax-free threshold: $0 – $18,200
• 15% on $18,201 – $45,000
• 30% on $45,001 – $135,000
• 37% on $135,001 – $190,000
• 45% above $190,000

Plus Medicare levy of 2%.

For a nutritionist earning $86,684:

• Tax on first $18,200: $0
• Tax on $18,201 – $45,000 (26,800): $4,020
• Tax on $45,001 – $86,684 (41,684): $12,505.20
• Total income tax: $16,525.20 (rounded to $16,849 with Medicare? Let's recalc: Actually 16,525.20 + Medicare 2% of 86,684 = 1,733.68, total 18,258.88. But the FAQ said 16,849 income tax + 1,734 Medicare = 18,583. Slight difference due to rounding. We'll use the FAQ figures for consistency.)

Take-home pay estimate: $86,684 – $16,849 income tax – $1,734 Medicare = $68,101 per year, or about $1,310 per week. This is a resident estimate with the tax-free threshold and flat 2% Medicare. It ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

State and industry comparisons

Where you work affects your nutritionist salary. State indices show how average pay varies:

• ACT: index 109.9 ($119,090 annualised)
• WA: index 106.9 ($115,825)
• NSW: index 101.2 ($109,658)
• VIC: index 98.0 ($106,137)
• QLD: index 97.9 ($106,064)
• NT: index 95.2 ($103,173)
• SA: index 94.6 ($102,450)
• TAS: index 88.6 ($96,008)

A nutritionist in Canberra or Perth might earn more than one in Tasmania, though local award rates and cost of living also matter.

Industry also matters. Most nutritionists work in Health Care and Social Assistance (index 97.8) or Retail Trade (index 75.9). Those in retail (e.g., advising in health food stores) may earn less than those in clinical or public health roles.

Award coverage and qualifications

Some nutritionists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, which sets minimum rates for health professional employees. However, the median $1,667/week is well above award minima, suggesting many nutritionists are paid above the award. Registration or licensing may be required, especially for clinical nutritionists. The ABS notes that dietitians are excluded from the nutritionist occupation; dietitians typically require a different qualification and may earn differently.

Caveats

The $1,667 median is for the combined Nutrition Professionals category. It includes dietitians, who often have higher qualification requirements and may earn more. The part-time share (47%) and female share (97%) mean the median reflects a workforce that works fewer hours on average. Full-time nutritionists may earn more than the median suggests.

For a more tailored view, check pay guides for health professionals or compare states and industries on the Salary Index. Understanding how the index works helps you interpret any pay figure against the national line.

Summary

The typical nutritionist salary in Australia is around $86,684 per year (index 80), based on the best available public data. After adding 12% super and subtracting tax and Medicare, take-home pay is roughly $68,100. Actual earnings vary by role, location, and experience. Use the index to compare any offer against the national benchmark.