What is the minimum wage for a dental technician in Australia?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for full-time adult employees. However, if you are covered by a modern award (such as the Health Professionals and Support Services Award) or an enterprise agreement, the award or agreement rate will apply and is usually higher. Junior, apprentice, or supported wage rates may be lower.

Why is there no median weekly earnings figure for dental technicians?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours does not publish median weekly earnings for 6-digit occupations like Dental Technicians (ANZSCO 411213) because the sample size is too small to produce a reliable estimate. Jobs and Skills Australia also lists median weekly earnings as 'N/A' for this occupation.

Dental technician salary: what the pay floor is and where to find award rates

Q: Does superannuation count as part of the dental technician salary?

No. The superannuation guarantee (12% from 1 July 2026) is paid by the employer on top of ordinary time earnings. It is not part of the quoted hourly or weekly salary. When comparing job offers, remember that super is an additional payment.

The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) applies as a floor, but a modern award or enterprise agreement may set a higher dental technician salary.

Understanding the dental technician salary landscape

When you search for a dental technician salary in Australia, the first thing to know is that there is no single published average or median figure from official sources. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) both report that median weekly earnings for this occupation are not available. That does not mean you cannot work out what you should be paid – it just means you need to look at the legal minimums and the awards that apply.

The legal minimum: national minimum wage as a backstop

Every employee in Australia is entitled to at least the national minimum wage unless a higher rate is set by a modern award or enterprise agreement. From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time worker (38 ordinary hours). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour.

These figures come from the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review 2026. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces these rates. If you are award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum is your floor. But for most dental technicians, a modern award will apply.

Award coverage for dental technicians

Dental technicians are classified under ANZSCO 411213 and fall within the broader group of Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists (4112). The most likely modern award is the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. This award sets minimum pay rates for classifications such as Dental Technician Grade 1, Grade 2, and so on. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, award minimum wages rose by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification cannot fall below the national minimum of $26.44 per hour. An introductory rate (first 6 months) cannot be less than $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

To find the exact award rate for your level of experience and qualification, use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool or check the Health Professionals and Support Services Award pay guide. Enterprise agreements may also set higher rates.

Survey averages and what we know about dental technicians

Jobs and Skills Australia provides useful context about the occupation. As of the 2021 Census, there were about 2,800 dental technicians employed in Australia. Two-thirds work full-time, and the average full-time hours are 42 per week – slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours. The median age is 41, and 40% of dental technicians are female. Educationally, 43.5% hold an Advanced Diploma or Diploma, and 22.2% have a Certificate III/IV.

But when it comes to earnings, the ABS does not publish a median for this 6-digit occupation. That means any figure you see online claiming a specific average dental technician salary is not from an official Australian source. Be cautious of inflated numbers.

Separating the legal minimum from negotiated salary

Legal minimum: The national minimum wage or the applicable award rate (whichever is higher).
Award rate: Set by the modern award that covers your workplace. Check if you are classified correctly.
Enterprise agreement rate: If your employer has a registered agreement, that rate overrides the award but must still be above the national minimum.
Negotiated salary: What you actually agree to with your employer. This can be above the minimum, but never below.

Remember: superannuation (12% from 1 July 2026) is paid on top of your ordinary time earnings. It is not part of the quoted hourly or weekly rate.

How to find the right rate for you

Start by identifying which award covers your job. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Which minimum wage applies page can help. Then use the Rate tables to find the specific classification. If you are award-free, the national minimum applies. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, that agreement sets your rate.

For more detail on how these figures are calculated, see How the figures work. And if you need a broader overview of pay conditions, visit Guides or Topics.

The bottom line

A dental technician salary in Australia is not publicly averaged, but the legal floor is clear: $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week as a minimum, with award rates likely higher. Always check your award or agreement, and remember that super is extra.