Oral health therapist salary: award minimums and how they compare

Oral health therapist salary: award rates and legal minimums

If you are looking for the oral health therapist salary in Australia, the legal minimum is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027), not the national minimum wage. This award covers health professionals in the health industry, including oral health therapists who hold a relevant qualification.

How the award classifies oral health therapists

Under the award, an oral health therapist is a Health Professional employee. The classification depends on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level of their qualification. Most oral health therapists hold a Bachelor degree, which corresponds to AQF Level 7. The award sets minimum weekly and hourly rates for each AQF level and year of experience.

For example, a Level 7 first-year employee must be paid at least $34.44 per hour or $1,308.72 per week (based on a 38-hour week). This is significantly above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Rates increase with experience: after seven years at Level 7, the minimum rises to $44.46 per hour.

If an oral health therapist holds a Diploma (AQF Level 5 or 6), the rates are slightly lower but still above the national minimum. For instance, a Level 5 first-year rate is $32.44 per hour.

Separating the legal minimum from other figures

The award rate is the legal floor. There is no publicly available survey average or median for oral health therapists from the Australian Bureau of Statistics or the Australian Taxation Office that we can cite. The ABS May 2026 data shows average weekly ordinary-time earnings for all full-time adults at $2,083.70, but that is not specific to this occupation. An individual employer or enterprise agreement may offer a higher salary, but that is a negotiated amount, not a minimum.

Superannuation and casual loading

Superannuation is paid on top of the award rate. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. So the total cost to an employer for a Level 7 first-year oral health therapist is $34.44 plus 12% super = $38.57 per hour.

Casual employees receive a 25% loading instead of paid leave. For a Level 7 first-year casual, the minimum hourly rate becomes $43.05 ($34.44 × 1.25).

When the national minimum wage applies

The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) only applies to employees not covered by any award or agreement. Since oral health therapists are covered by the Health Services Award, their minimum is the award rate, which is higher. The award also includes penalty rates for weekend, evening, or public holiday work, which can increase pay further.

Enterprise agreements

Some employers may have an enterprise agreement registered with the Fair Work Commission. Such an agreement can set different rates, but it must pass the Better Off Overall Test, meaning the employee must be better off overall compared to the award. Always check your employment contract or agreement for the exact pay rate.

For more details on how minimum wages are set, see our How the figures work guide. You can also browse Rate tables for other classifications.

Key points to remember

• The oral health therapist salary minimum is governed by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award.
• The award rate depends on AQF level and years of experience.
• Superannuation of 12% is paid on top.
• Casual employees get a 25% loading.
• Enterprise agreements may provide higher rates.
• The national minimum wage is a backstop only for award-free employees.

If you are unsure which classification applies, consult the award definitions or speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman for advice.