What award covers cardiac sonographers?

Cardiac sonographers are classified as health professionals and are typically covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award [MA000027]. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide for this award that lists minimum rates for each classification level. Some sonographers may be covered by an enterprise agreement that sets higher rates.

What is the minimum wage for a cardiac sonographer?

The minimum wage depends on the classification level under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award. As a backstop, no adult employee can be paid less than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026). Award rates are typically higher. For exact figures, refer to the award pay guide on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

How does the cardiac sonographer salary compare to the national average?

The ABS reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings were $2,083.70 per week in May 2026. However, the median weekly earnings for sonographers are not published by the ABS or Jobs and Skills Australia because the occupation is a 6-digit ANZSCO group. Most sonographers work part-time (77% according to the 2021 Census), so full-time comparisons are limited.

Cardiac Sonographer Salary: Award Rates, Minimum Wage, and What to Expect

The legal minimum for a cardiac sonographer is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, but no publicly available median salary figure exists from official sources such as the ABS or Jobs and Skills Australia.

Cardiac Sonographer Salary: Award Coverage and the Pay Floor

When researching a cardiac sonographer salary in Australia, the first thing to understand is that most sonographers are covered by a modern award. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award [MA000027] sets minimum pay rates for health professionals including sonographers. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide for this award, which lists classification levels and corresponding minimum hourly rates, allowances, and penalty rates. These rates are updated each year following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. For 2026, the Commission increased modern award minimum wages by 4.75%, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.

Legal Minimum vs Survey Average vs Award Rate vs Negotiated Salary

It is important to separate four different figures when looking at a cardiac sonographer salary:

Legal minimum: The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) from 1 July 2026. This is the absolute floor for award-free adult employees. However, if a modern award covers the role, the award rate applies and is usually higher.
Award rate: Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, sonographers are classified at levels that reflect qualifications and experience. The exact rates are published by the Fair Work Ombudsman in the award pay guide . These rates are the legal minimum for that classification and cannot be undercut.
Survey average: The Australian Bureau of Statistics and Jobs and Skills Australia do not publish median weekly earnings for sonographers at the 6-digit ANZSCO level (251214). The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for sonographers notes that median weekly earnings are not available. Therefore, any survey figure you see online is likely from a private recruiter or industry body and should be treated as indicative, not official.
Negotiated salary: Some sonographers work under enterprise agreements or individual contracts that set rates above the award. These are negotiated between the employer and employee (or their union) and can vary widely by location, experience, and employer size.

Superannuation: An Employer Payment on Top

When discussing any cardiac sonographer salary, remember that superannuation is an additional employer payment. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. This is paid on top of the base salary. For example, if the award rate is $40 per hour, the employer must also contribute $4.80 per hour into the employee's super fund. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour attracts $3.17 per hour in super.

Award-Free Employees and the National Minimum Wage

If a cardiac sonographer is not covered by any modern award or enterprise agreement (rare, but possible in some state systems), the national minimum wage applies. For award-free adults, the rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. Juniors, apprentices, and trainees have lower rates. For example, an award-free 18-year-old earns $18.06 per hour (68.3% of the adult rate). These rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

How the Figures Work

The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database contains the calculated minimum rates for all modern awards, including wage-related allowances, expense-related allowances and penalty rates. The database is updated after each Annual Wage Review. For 2026, the data was published on 25 June 2026, with classifications and allowances updated on 1 October 2026. This is the most reliable source for award rates.

What This Means for Your Pay

If you are a cardiac sonographer or an employer hiring one, start by identifying the correct award. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award is the most likely. Then check the classification level that matches the sonographer's qualifications (usually a bachelor degree or higher). The award rate for that level is your legal minimum. If no award applies, the national minimum wage is the floor. For a more detailed explanation of which minimum wage applies to you, see our guide: Which minimum wage applies.

Summary

The legal minimum for a cardiac sonographer is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, not by a single published figure.
No official median salary figure is publicly available from the ABS or Jobs and Skills Australia for sonographers.
Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of the base salary.
Award rates are updated annually from 1 July.
Enterprise agreements can set higher rates.

For a full list of current minimum rates across all awards, visit our Rate tables page.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.