Podiatrist salary Australia: state and industry differences

Podiatrist salary Australia: state and industry differences

If you are looking into a podiatrist salary in Australia, you will find that official median earnings are not published. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suppresses the figure because the sample size is too small to produce a reliable estimate. That does not mean the information is useless – we can still piece together a picture using award rates, state benchmarks, and industry data.

What the data says

Jobs and Skills Australia, using ABS Labour Force and Census data, reports about 6,600 podiatrists work in the country. Three-quarters work full-time, averaging 42 hours per week – slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours. The median age is 43, and 58% of podiatrists are women.

The most common industry is Health Care and Social Assistance. That industry has a Salary Index of 97.8, meaning average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in the sector are about 2.2% below the national line of 100 (annualised $108,352). Podiatrists also work in private practice, which may push earnings higher or lower depending on patient volume and business costs.

State differences

Podiatrists are not spread evenly across the country. Victoria employs 35.8% of them, New South Wales 26.4%, Queensland 15.1%, Western Australia 9.8%, and the ACT 1.8%. These shares matter because each state has a different earnings baseline. The states page shows the index for each state compared to the national line:

• Victoria: 98 (annualised $106,137)
• New South Wales: 101.2 ($109,658)
• Queensland: 97.9 ($106,064)
• Western Australia: 106.9 ($115,825)
• Australian Capital Territory: 109.9 ($119,090)

If a podiatrist in Victoria earns around the state average for all occupations, their salary would be slightly below the national line. In WA or the ACT, the same role might command a higher market rate because overall wages are higher. However, award minimums are national, so the floor is the same everywhere. The difference shows up in above-award pay, especially in private practice or public hospital roles where enterprise agreements may reflect local labour market conditions.

Award rates and the minimum

Podiatrists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award (MA000027). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for this award, which include minimum hourly rates for different classification levels. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage rose to $26.44 per hour (annualised $52,255, index 48.2). Entry-level award rates for health professionals start higher – for example, the lowest classification under the award is $25.74 per hour, but experienced podiatrists fall into higher levels. The award also includes allowances for things like working with complex needs or after-hours work.

It is important to remember that the award is a floor. Many podiatrists in private practice earn well above the minimum. The ABS data on earnings is not available, but a reasonable guess for a full-time podiatrist with a few years of experience might be somewhere between the national average and the professional services industry index (114.7). That would put annual earnings in the range of $100,000 to $120,000, but this is speculation – the official figure is unknown.

How the Salary Index works

The Salary Index compares a person’s annual gross salary to the national line of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. For example, if a podiatrist earns $100,000, their index would be 92.3 (100,000 ÷ 108,352 × 100). If they earn $120,000, the index is 110.8. Without a reliable median, we cannot assign an index to the occupation as a whole. But you can use the state and industry indices as a rough guide: a podiatrist in WA (state index 106.9) working in health care (industry index 97.8) might expect an index somewhere between those two, depending on their employer.

Super and tax

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of salary from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a podiatrist earning $100,000, that adds $12,000 to their total remuneration package. Income tax for 2026–27 (resident, with tax-free threshold) is: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above. Medicare levy of 2% applies. A podiatrist earning $100,000 would pay about $24,667 in tax plus $2,000 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of around $73,333 before any deductions or HELP repayments.

Summary

A podiatrist salary in Australia is not precisely measurable from public data, but the available information points to a profession concentrated in health care, with a strong presence in Victoria and NSW. Award rates set a minimum, while state and industry benchmarks give context for where earnings might land. If you are comparing offers, look at the classification under the Health Professionals Award and consider the state index for your location. For the most current award rates, check the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides or use the Salary Index to benchmark any offer you receive.