Take-home pay calculator for OTs, speech pathologists and physios in Queensland (2026–27)
How much does an OT, speech pathologist or physio take home in Queensland? At HP3.0, the grade where allied health new graduates most commonly start in Queensland Health (A$83,824 a year from 1 September 2026), a full-year Australian tax resident takes home about A$66,480 a year, or A$1,278 a week, after A$15,667 income tax and a A$1,676 Medicare levy (ATO 2026–27 rates; each figure is rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ by A$1 from a sum of the rounded parts). Your employer pays at least 12% super (A$10,059), the legal minimum, on top of that salary. Some pay more: a Queensland Health allied health graduate program advert quotes 12.75%. Use the calculator for your own grade, award level or offer.
What this estimate leaves out
It's an estimate, not tax advice. Your actual pay depends on your payslip, your tax return and your circumstances. Talk to a registered tax agent or the ATO about your own tax.
Not included: HELP or other student loan repayments, salary packaging, tax offsets (including the low income tax offset), deductions, annual leave loading (17.5% of the award minimum rate under the award), and penalty rates, overtime or allowances.
Medicare levy: 2% of taxable income. The low-income reduction isn't modelled; it only applies at low incomes (single thresholds A$28,011 to A$35,013 in 2025–26). Medicare levy surcharge and exemptions for residents aren't modelled.
Your first year: if you become an Australian resident part-way through the year, your tax-free threshold is A$13,464 plus A$4,736 apportioned by the months you're here, not the full A$18,200, so your first-year tax can be higher than shown.
Working holiday makers: the ATO treats working holiday makers as foreign residents for tax unless their circumstances change. The ATO hasn't yet published a 2026–27 working holiday maker rates table, so this uses the 2025–26 rates (the latest published). Foreign residents for the full year can claim a full Medicare levy exemption, which this assumes. Some working holiday makers who are residents are taxed at resident rates instead; the ATO page explains who. From 1 July 2026, registered employers withhold a flat 15% up to A$45,000; that's withholding, not your final tax.
Super is at least 12% of ordinary time earnings (the legal minimum; some employers pay more, and a Queensland Health allied health graduate program advert quotes 12.75%), paid by your employer into your super fund on top of salary. You don't get it in your pay. If you leave Australia on a temporary visa you can claim it as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment, which is taxed (65% if you held a working holiday visa and contributions were made while on it).
Fortnight and week figures are the annual figure ÷ 26 and ÷ 52, for comparison. Queensland Health's real fortnightly pay uses a 26.089-fortnight year (HP3.0 is about A$3,213 a fortnight before tax).
Currency comparison converts your Australian take-home pay at the Reserve Bank's 27 October 2026 rates. It's a conversion only: tax, pension and living costs are different in each country.
From Callum
I'm a physio and I run a multi-site paediatric allied health practice in South East Queensland. I've been the one hiring, so I know what a good employer offers and what a weak one hides.
Your next step
Occupational therapists: the award pays OTs on AQF Level 7 only, so a master's degree doesn't lift your award minimum. What decides when you can start earning here is your registration route with Ahpra, which depends on where and when you graduated. The pathway check asks exactly that and shows your route. See occupational therapy in Australia and the OT salary comparison.
Speech pathologists: you aren't registered with Ahpra; Speech Pathology Australia assesses you. The award pays speech pathologists by the qualification held (AQF 7, 8 or 9), so check your qualification's level as well as your assessment route. The pathway check shows which Speech Pathology Australia route fits you. See speech pathology in Australia and the speech pathologist salary comparison.
Physiotherapists: like OTs, physios are on the award's AQF Level 7 scale only. If you're registered in New Zealand with a current practising certificate, your route to Ahpra registration is Trans-Tasman mutual recognition. Everyone else goes through the Australian Physiotherapy Council, and the route depends on where you trained. The pathway check shows which one applies. See physiotherapy in Australia and the physio salary comparison.