What is the legal minimum wage for a neuropsychologist in Australia?

The legal minimum is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. For a Level 1 AQF 8 health professional (entry-level neuropsychologist) the minimum is $35.19 per hour or $1,337.10 per week. Higher classifications and experience lead to higher minimum rates.

How does the neuropsychologist salary compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026). The award rate for neuropsychologists is significantly higher, meaning the award minimum is the legal floor for covered employees. The national minimum acts as a backstop for award-free workers.

Neuropsychologist salary: Award coverage and minimum rates under the Health Professionals Award

Q: Does superannuation affect the neuropsychologist salary?

Yes, superannuation is paid on top of the salary. The super guarantee requires employers to contribute 12% of ordinary time earnings to a complying super fund. This is separate from the base salary and is not deducted from the advertised rate.

The legal minimum for a neuropsychologist is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, with rates starting at $35.19 per hour for a Level 1 AQF 8 classification, while the ABS reports a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,204 for psychologists and psychotherapists.

Neuropsychologist salary: Award coverage and minimum rates

When researching a neuropsychologist salary in Australia, it is essential to distinguish between the legal minimum set by industrial instruments and survey averages reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This guide explains the award coverage, minimum rates, and how the national minimum wage applies.

Which award covers neuropsychologists?

Neuropsychologists are health professionals and are typically covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (the Award). The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, and the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces the Award. The Award sets minimum rates for health professional employees, including psychologists. The classification depends on the employee’s qualifications and years of experience. For a neuropsychologist, the relevant classification is Health Professional employee—Level 1 with an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 8 or 9. The Award provides specific minimum weekly and hourly rates for each AQF level and year of experience.

Minimum rates under the Award

For a neuropsychologist at AQF Level 8, first year, the minimum rate is $35.19 per hour or $1,337.10 per week (as of 1 October 2026). With experience, rates increase: second to third year $38.02 per hour, fourth to sixth year $41.71 per hour, and seventh year and over $45.30 per hour. For higher classifications (Level 2, 3, 4), rates are higher, for example Level 2.1 is $51.19 per hour. These rates are the legal minimum that must be paid; an employer cannot pay less. An enterprise agreement or a modern award can set a higher rate than the Award. If an employee is award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour applies, but for a neuropsychologist that is unlikely because the Award covers them.

National minimum wage as a backstop

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week for adults. This applies to national-system employees who are award-free and agreement-free. Most private-sector employees are in the national system, but some state public sector and local government employees may be covered by state awards instead. The Award backstop is ongoing $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. For juniors, apprentices, trainees, introductory award rates, and supported wages can be lower. For a neuropsychologist, the Award applies, so the Award rate is the legal floor.

Survey averages from the ABS

The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025, customised report) reports median full-time weekly earnings for Psychologists and Psychotherapists (ANZSCO 2723** median weekly earnings of $2,204 per week, median hourly earnings $60 per hour. This is a survey average, not a legal minimum. It is a guide to typical earnings, not a determination. The median hourly earnings are $60 per hour, which is higher than the Award minimum. The average full-time hours per week are 42 hours per week. These figures are a guide only and should not be used to determine a wage rate as they do not take into account years of experience or other factors may influence a person’s wage.

Superannuation on top

When discussing a neuropsychologist salary, super is an employer payment on top. The super guarantee requires employers to contribute 12% of ordinary time earnings to a complying super fund. This is on top of the base salary. For example, on the Award minimum of $35.19 per hour, super is 12% on top, so total package is $39.41 per hour including super. This is separate from the salary.

How this site helps

This site provides orientation only. It is not a pay determination, tax advice, or legal advice. The adult weekly national minimum is the published $1,004.90 figure. Multiplying $26.44 by 38 lands 18 cents lower because of rounding in the order. Casual weekly figures on this site are the published casual hourly rate times 38 ordinary hours, with no penalty rates.

For more details on which minimum wage applies, see Which minimum wage applies. For rate tables, see Rate tables. For methodology, see How the figures work.

Summary

A neuropsychologist salary in Australia is covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. The legal minimum is $35.19 per hour for a Level 1 AQF 8 first year, with higher rates with experience. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour backstop. The ABS survey average median $2,204 per week. Super is on top of the salary.