What is the minimum hourly rate for a paramedic in Melbourne under the award?

Under the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award, a first-year ambulance officer (paramedic) earns a minimum of $34.46 per hour, or $1,309.50 per week for full-time work. Higher rates apply for higher classifications and after experience. These rates are effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.

How does the median paramedic salary in Melbourne compare to the award minimum?

According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time weekly earnings for ambulance officers and paramedics nationally was $2,852, or about $71 per hour. This is significantly above the award minimum, reflecting experience, allowances, and enterprise agreements. Actual pay in Melbourne may vary.

Does the award rate include superannuation?

No. The award rates are base pay only. Employers must also pay the superannuation guarantee, which is 12% of ordinary time earnings on top of the hourly or weekly rate. For a first-year ambulance officer, that adds about $4.14 per hour in super.

Paramedic Salary Melbourne: Award Rates and Market Pay in 2026

The minimum pay for a paramedic in Melbourne is set by the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award, with an hourly rate of $34.46 for a first-year ambulance officer, plus 12% superannuation.

Understanding the paramedic salary in Melbourne

If you are researching the paramedic salary Melbourne market, the first step is to separate the legal minimum from the typical market rate. In Australia, paramedics are covered by the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award, which sets minimum pay rates that apply to most employees in the sector. These rates are updated each year following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review.

The award minimum for ambulance officers

Under the award, a full-time ambulance officer (paramedic) in their first year earns a minimum of $34.46 per hour, or $1,309.50 per week based on a 38-hour ordinary week. This is the base rate before any allowances, penalty rates, or overtime. The rate increases with experience: a third-year ambulance officer earns $34.92 per hour. Student paramedics and clinical transport officers have lower minimum rates, starting at $31.03 per hour for a first-year student paramedic level 1.

These figures come from the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide for the award, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The award also includes specific penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, public holidays, and shift work, as well as on-call and recall allowances. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate, bringing the casual hourly rate for a first-year ambulance officer to $43.08.

How the award relates to the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). However, the award rates for paramedics are well above this floor. The award itself contains a backstop that no classification can fall below the national minimum, but in practice all paramedic roles exceed it. It is important to note that junior employees, apprentices, and trainees may be paid less than the adult rate, but the award specifies its own progression for student paramedics.

Market pay versus the award

While the award sets the legal floor, actual paramedic salary Melbourne figures are often higher. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) reports a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,852 for ambulance officers and paramedics nationally, equating to roughly $71 per hour. This median includes experienced paramedics, intensive care paramedics, and those covered by enterprise agreements that provide above-award pay. The median is a guide only and does not reflect starting salaries.

Jobs and Skills Australia notes that 90% of ambulance officers work full-time, with average full-time hours of 47 per week. The higher median reflects both higher base rates for experienced staff and additional payments for overtime, penalties, and allowances.

Superannuation and other payments

All minimum and market pay figures discussed are before tax and do not include superannuation. Employers must pay the superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. For a first-year ambulance officer on the award rate, that adds approximately $4.14 per hour in super contributions. Enterprise agreements may specify higher super contributions.

Which minimum wage applies to you?

Most paramedics in Melbourne are national system employees covered by the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award. However, if you work for a state government ambulance service, you may be covered by a state award or an enterprise agreement. It is essential to check your specific employment instrument. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a Pay and Conditions Tool to help determine the correct rates.

For more detail on how pay floors are set, see our How the figures work page. You can also explore Rate tables for other occupations.

Allowances and penalties can boost pay

The award includes several allowances that can significantly increase take-home pay. For example, a shift allowance of $59.71 per shift applies when work finishes between 6pm and 8am or starts between 6pm and 6.30am. On-call and recall payments are also specified. Penalty rates for Saturday (time-and-a-half) and Sunday (double-time) further lift earnings. These extras are not reflected in the base award rates but are common in practice.

Summary

When evaluating a paramedic salary Melbourne offer, start with the award minimum: $34.46 per hour for a first-year ambulance officer. Then consider experience, allowances, penalties, and any enterprise agreement that may apply. The ABS median of $2,852 per week gives a sense of what experienced paramedics earn, but individual salaries vary widely. Always remember that superannuation is an additional employer cost of 12%.

For further reading, see our Guides on award interpretation and Topics related to healthcare pay.