Sonographer Salary in Perth: Gross Pay, Super, and Tax in 2026

Sonographer Salary in Perth: What the Data Shows

If you’re researching a sonographer salary in Perth, you’re likely looking for a realistic figure that accounts for gross pay, superannuation, and tax. The short answer is that no single public source gives a precise Perth‑specific number, but we can piece together national benchmarks, award coverage, and Western Australia’s overall earnings to give you a solid framework.

Understanding the Keyword

The phrase sonographer salary in Perth is a practical search: someone wants to know what a sonographer (also called a diagnostic medical sonographer or ultrasound technologist) can expect to earn in the Perth labour market. Sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to capture images for diagnosis. They are classified under ANZSCO 251214 within the Medical Imaging Professionals group. The role is highly skilled and typically requires a university degree and accreditation with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR).

National Benchmarks for Sonographers

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, sonographers are employed mainly in Health Care and Social Assistance. The national workforce is around 6,000, with 77% female and a median age of 39. Only 51% work full‑time hours, and the average full‑time week is 40 hours (compared to 44 for all occupations).

Crucially, the ABS does not publish median weekly earnings for sonographers because the sample size is too small to produce a reliable estimate. This means any figure you see online for a “sonographer salary” is either an average from a smaller survey, an award rate, or an estimate from job advertisements. For Perth specifically, no official statistic exists in the provided sources.

Award Coverage and Minimum Rates

Most sonographers in Australia are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, a modern award under the Fair Work system. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database includes the latest classification rates for this award, updated after the 2026 Annual Wage Review (which increased award minima by 4.75% from 1 July 2026).

Under this award, sonographers are typically classified as Health Professional Level 1 (graduate) through to Level 4 (senior or specialist). The actual hourly rates are not reproduced here, but you can find them on the Fair Work Ombudsman website or in the Commission’s database. As a guide, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($52,255 annualised, index 48.2). Award rates for health professionals are significantly higher, often starting around $35–$40 per hour for a Level 1.

Some sonographers in Western Australia may be covered by WA state awards if their employer is not a national system entity. The WA Government publishes WA award summaries for state awards, but there is no sonographer‑specific state award. The closest is the Health Services Union of Australia (WA) Award, which covers some public hospital employees.

Using the Salary Index for Perth Context

The Salary Index benchmarks earnings against a national line of 100, which equals full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings of $2,083.70 per week or $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). For Western Australia, the index is 106.9, meaning the typical full‑time worker in WA earns about 6.9% above the national average – annualised at $115,825.

This WA index is a useful reference when thinking about a sonographer salary in Perth. If national sonographer earnings were available, you could apply the WA premium to estimate a local figure. However, because the national median is suppressed, we can only say that sonographers in Perth likely earn above the national all‑occupations median, given the skill shortage and the WA wage premium.

Gross Pay, Super, and Tax: Putting It Together

Let’s assume a sonographer in Perth earns $90,000 gross per year (a plausible figure for an experienced sonographer, though not official). Here’s how super and tax affect take‑home pay:

• Superannuation: From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. On $90,000, the employer contributes $10,800 into super. This is not part of your take‑home pay but is your retirement savings.
• Tax (2026–27 resident rates): On $90,000, tax is approximately $19,717, plus a 2% Medicare levy of $1,800, leaving an estimated take‑home of $68,483. This ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

If you earn under the award, say $75,000, the numbers adjust accordingly. The pay guides on our site can help you compare different scenarios.

Industries and States: Where Sonographers Work

Sonographers are overwhelmingly employed in Health Care and Social Assistance (over 95%). In Perth, major employers include public hospitals (e.g., Fiona Stanley Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital), private radiology practices, and specialist clinics. The industries page shows that the health care sector index is 97.8, slightly below the national average, but WA’s overall premium may offset this.

State‑wise, New South Wales employs the most sonographers (32.6%), followed by Victoria (28.5%) and Queensland (19.1%). Western Australia accounts for 10.1% of national sonographer employment. The states page provides index values for each state, with WA at 106.9 and Tasmania at 88.6.

Caveats and Further Research

• The figures in this article are benchmarks, not a quote for any specific job. Actual salaries depend on experience, employer, and negotiation.
• Award rates are minimums; many sonographers are paid above award, especially in private practice.
• The on‑site reference index figures are gross ordinary‑time benchmarks and do not include overtime, penalties, or allowances.

For the most accurate sonographer salary in Perth, check current job advertisements on SEEK or LinkedIn, or contact the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry for industry salary surveys. You can also use the Salary Index to compare other health professions.

Summary

While a precise sonographer salary in Perth is not publicly available from the ABS or Fair Work bodies, you can estimate using the Health Professionals Award, the WA state index (106.9), and national sonographer workforce data. Gross pay for a full‑time sonographer likely falls between $75,000 and $110,000, with super adding 12% on top. Tax and Medicare reduce take‑home by roughly 25–30%. Use the links throughout this article to explore further.