NSW Health pay rates from 1 July 2026: administration officers, health managers and allied health professionals in the NSW public health system, with yearly pay and take-home pay in 2026–27.
A first-year allied health professional (physio, OT, social worker and others) gets $79,419 a year. An AO3 gets $1,416.58 a week. Rates rose 4% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
Allied health professionals (Levels 1 to 8)
| Level | Per year | Per week | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1, Year 1 | $79,419 | $1,527.29 | $2,442 |
| Level 1, Year 2 | $82,262 | $1,581.96 | $2,516 |
| Level 1, Year 3 | $87,090 | $1,674.81 | $2,642 |
| Level 1, Year 4 | $92,801 | $1,784.63 | $2,792 |
| Level 2, Year 1 | $98,936 | $1,902.62 | $2,952 |
| Level 2, Year 2 | $104,964 | $2,018.54 | $3,110 |
| Level 2, Year 3 | $109,881 | $2,113.10 | $3,238 |
| Level 2, Year 4 | $113,301 | $2,178.87 | $3,328 |
| Level 3, Year 1 | $121,568 | $2,337.85 | $3,544 |
| Level 3, Year 2 | $125,507 | $2,413.60 | $3,647 |
| Level 4, Year 1 | $131,585 | $2,530.48 | $3,806 |
| Level 4, Year 2 | $134,775 | $2,591.83 | $3,890 |
| Level 5, Year 1 | $141,319 | $2,717.67 | $4,044 |
| Level 5, Year 2 | $144,756 | $2,783.77 | $4,124 |
| Level 6, Year 1 | $151,736 | $2,918.00 | $4,288 |
| Level 6, Year 2 | $155,492 | $2,990.23 | $4,376 |
| Level 7, Grade 1 | $163,070 | $3,135.96 | $4,554 |
| Level 7, Grade 2 | $171,030 | $3,289.04 | $4,741 |
| Level 7, Grade 3 | $179,382 | $3,449.65 | $4,937 |
| Level 8, Grade 1 | $171,030 | $3,289.04 | $4,741 |
| Level 8, Grade 2 | $179,382 | $3,449.65 | $4,937 |
| Level 8, Grade 3 | $188,159 | $3,618.44 | $5,143 |
| Level 8, Grade 4 | $197,370 | $3,795.58 | $5,336 |
NSW Health Service Health Professionals (State) Award. Covers Audiologist, Art Therapist, Counsellor, Dietitian, Diversional Therapist, Exercise Physiologist, Genetics Counsellor, Music Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Orthoptist, Orthotist/Prosthetist, Physiotherapist, Play Therapist, Podiatrist, Sexual Assault Worker, Social Worker, Speech Pathologist, Welfare Officer.
Administration officers (AO)
| Level | Per week | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1, 1st year | $1,138.62 | $59,208 | $1,917 |
| Level 1, 2nd year | $1,183.43 | $61,538 | $1,977 |
| Level 1, 3rd year | $1,226.74 | $63,790 | $2,035 |
| Level 1, 4th year | $1,255.25 | $65,273 | $2,073 |
| Level 1, 5th year | $1,284.76 | $66,808 | $2,112 |
| Level 2, 1st year | $1,327.60 | $69,035 | $2,170 |
| Level 2, 2nd year | $1,371.64 | $71,325 | $2,230 |
| Level 2A, 1st year | $1,396.56 | $72,621 | $2,264 |
| Level 2A, 2nd year | $1,416.58 | $73,662 | $2,291 |
| Level 3, 1st year | $1,416.58 | $73,662 | $2,291 |
| Level 3, 2nd year | $1,460.73 | $75,958 | $2,351 |
| Level 4, 1st year | $1,498.39 | $77,916 | $2,402 |
| Level 4, 2nd year | $1,532.69 | $79,700 | $2,449 |
| Level 5, 1st year | $1,578.00 | $82,056 | $2,511 |
| Level 5, 2nd year | $1,613.79 | $83,917 | $2,559 |
| Level 6, 1st year | $1,665.37 | $86,599 | $2,630 |
| Level 6, 2nd year | $1,704.75 | $88,647 | $2,683 |
Health Employees' Administrative Staff (State) Award.
Health managers (HM)
| Level | Minimum per year | Maximum per year | Take-home per fortnight (minimum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $91,326 | $121,497 | $2,753 |
| Level 2 | $118,821 | $140,201 | $3,472 |
| Level 3 | $137,525 | $156,231 | $3,955 |
| Level 4 | $153,559 | $182,954 | $4,331 |
| Level 5 | $180,279 | $201,662 | $4,958 |
| Level 6 | $197,473 | $215,676 | $5,338 |
Health Managers (State) Award: salary is set within the range for the level.
Nurses and doctors have their own scales: NSW nurse pay and NSW doctor pay.
How it works
- NSW Health staff are paid under state awards made by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. The 2025 awards gave 4% from July 2025 and another 4% from July 2026.
- Take-home pay is after income tax and the Medicare levy for a full year in 2026–27. Super is paid on top.
Common questions
How much does a new graduate physio or OT earn in NSW Health?
Allied health professionals start at Level 1, Year 1: $79,419 a year from 1 July 2026, rising to $92,801 in Year 4. That's about $2,442 a fortnight after tax in the first year.
What is the AO3 salary in NSW Health?
An Administration Officer Level 3 gets $1,416.58 a week in the first year, about $73,662 a year.
What does a Health Manager Level 3 earn?
Between $137,525 and $156,231 a year from 1 July 2026.
When did NSW Health pay go up?
By 4% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the second of two 4% increases in the 2025 awards (NSW Health Information Bulletin IB2026_030).
Which professions are on the Health Professionals scale?
Audiologist, Art Therapist, Counsellor, Dietitian, Diversional Therapist, Exercise Physiologist, Genetics Counsellor, Music Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Orthoptist, Orthotist/Prosthetist, Physiotherapist, Play Therapist, Podiatrist, Sexual Assault Worker, Social Worker, Speech Pathologist, Welfare Officer.
Sources: NSW Health, awards and determinations (Health Professionals, Administrative Staff, Health Managers), Table 1 rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026; IB2026_030. Take-home pay: ATO tax rates. Checked 2026-10-23. General information only.