What is the minimum wage for a speech pathologist in Australia?

The minimum wage for a speech pathologist is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. For a Level 1 employee with a bachelor’s degree (AQF Level 7) in their first year, the minimum hourly rate is $34.44 per hour (or $1,308.80 per week for a full-time employee). This rate is higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour because the award provides occupation-specific minimums.

Does the speech pathology salary include superannuation?

No, the minimum rates in the award do not include superannuation. Employers must pay superannuation on top of the minimum wage, currently at 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a full-time speech pathologist on the award minimum, that means an additional $157.06 per week into their super fund.

Speech Pathology Salary Guide 2026: Award Minimums and What You Should Know

Q: Are there higher rates for experienced speech pathologists?

Yes. The award has multiple levels and pay points. A Level 1 speech pathologist with 7+ years of experience at AQF Level 7 earns a minimum of $44.46 per hour. Higher classifications (Levels 2, 3, and 4) apply to more senior roles, with Level 2.1 starting at $51.19 per hour. Enterprise agreements or individual contracts can also set rates above the award minimum.

The legal minimum for a speech pathologist is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, with a Level 1 (AQF 7) graduate starting at $34.44 per hour, plus 12% superannuation on top.

Understanding the Speech Pathology Salary in Australia

If you are researching the speech pathology salary in Australia, the first thing to know is that most speech pathologists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (the Award). This award sets minimum pay rates that are significantly higher than the national minimum wage. The Award is enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman and applies to employees in private practice, hospitals, community health, and other settings.

Legal Minimum Under the Award

The Award classifies speech pathologists as Health Professional employees. The minimum rate depends on the employee’s qualification level (AQF level) and years of experience. A speech pathologist typically holds a bachelor’s degree, which corresponds to AQF Level 7. For a Level 1 employee at AQF Level 7 in their first year, the minimum is:

$34.44 per hour
$1,308.80 per week (based on a 38-hour week)

These rates increase with experience. For example, a Level 1 AQF 7 employee in their 4th to 6th year earns $41.19 per hour, and after 7 years it rises to $44.46 per hour. Higher classifications (Levels 2, 3, and 4) apply to more senior or specialised roles, with Level 2.1 starting at $51.19 per hour.

Importantly, the Award also includes provisions for juniors, apprentices, and trainees, but these are uncommon for qualified speech pathologists. The rates above are the minimum; your employer may pay more under an enterprise agreement or individual contract.

What the ABS Survey Shows

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collects earnings data through the Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours. However, for the specific occupation of Speech Pathologists (ANZSCO 252712), the ABS does not publish a median weekly earnings figure because it is a 6-digit occupation with a relatively small sample size. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for speech pathologists provides other useful data: the median age is 33 years, 97% of workers are female, and 56% work full-time. Full-time speech pathologists average 40 hours per week. This profile confirms that the occupation is predominantly female and relatively young, but it does not give a median salary figure.

Because the ABS does not release a median for this occupation, any figure you see online claiming to be the “average speech pathology salary” should be treated with caution. The only guaranteed pay floor is the Award minimum.

Superannuation: An Employer Payment on Top

All minimum rates in the Award are before superannuation. Under the Superannuation Guarantee, employers must contribute 12% of ordinary time earnings into a super fund for each employee. For a full-time speech pathologist on the Award minimum of $1,308.80 per week, the employer pays an additional $157.06 per week into super. This is not deducted from the employee’s take-home pay; it is paid on top.

How the Award Compares to the National Minimum Wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week). The Award minimum for a speech pathologist is well above this. Even the lowest Award classification for a health professional (AQF Level 5, 1st year) is $32.44 per hour. This means that a speech pathologist cannot legally be paid the national minimum wage; the Award overrides it.

However, the national minimum wage still matters for award-free employees. If a speech pathologist is not covered by any award (rare in this profession), the national minimum would apply, but junior rates or supported wages could be lower. Always check your specific award coverage.

For more detail on how minimum wages apply to different workers, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also explore Rate tables for a full list of Award classifications.

Key Takeaways

The legal minimum for a speech pathologist is set by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award.
A new graduate (AQF Level 7, 1st year) must be paid at least $34.44 per hour.
Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of the minimum wage.
The ABS does not publish a median salary for speech pathologists, so rely on Award rates as the floor.
Enterprise agreements or individual contracts can set higher rates, but never lower than the Award.

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