Exercise Physiologist Salary: Which Pay Floor Applies and What the Figures Show

Understanding the Exercise Physiologist Salary in Australia

When you search for an exercise physiologist salary in Australia, you will quickly find that there is no single official figure. The confusion arises because people mix up the legal minimum, the award rate, and survey averages. This guide separates those layers so you know which pay floor applies and what the available data actually shows.

The Legal Minimum: The National Minimum Wage

Every employee in Australia who is not covered by an award or registered agreement is entitled to the national minimum wage. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, that rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full‑time adult employee. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual minimum to $33.05 per hour.

However, this is only the backstop. Most exercise physiologists work in the health care and social assistance industry and are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020. That award sets higher minimum rates for different classification levels. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains the calculated minimum rates, allowances and penalty rates for that award. The 2026 data includes changes from the Gender‑based undervaluation review that took effect from 1 October 2026, so the award rates may have increased beyond the national minimum.

Important: The national minimum wage is not always the rate you must be paid. If a modern award or enterprise agreement applies, the higher rate in that instrument is the legal minimum for that job. Always check your award classification first.

Award Rates for Exercise Physiologists

The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 covers health professionals including exercise physiologists. The award has several classification levels (e.g., Health Professional Level 1, Level 2, etc.) based on qualifications and experience. The exact dollar amounts are set by the Fair Work Commission each year and are published in the Modern Awards Pay Database.

Because the award rates are updated annually and may include transitional adjustments from the gender undervaluation case, we cannot give a single figure here without the latest database extract. What we can say is that the lowest ongoing classification under the award cannot be less than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Introductory rates (for the first six months) may be lower, but they cannot fall below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week from 1 July 2026.

To find the exact award rate for your role, use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool or refer to the award itself. The Rate tables on this site summarise the national minimum and award backstop rates, but for a specific classification you need the award document.

Survey Data: What the ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia Show

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish median weekly earnings for the 6‑digit occupation of exercise physiologist (ANZSCO 234915). The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours only produces median figures for broader 4‑digit occupation groups, and even then only when the sample size is large enough.

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) provides a profile based on the 2021 Census and other sources. Key points:

• Employment: About 5,100 exercise physiologists were employed at the time of the 2021 Census.
• Age: The median age is 29, much younger than the all‑occupations median of 40. Over half (57.7%) are aged 25–34.
• Full‑time share: 62% work full‑time, close to the national average of 64%.
• Average full‑time hours: 41 hours per week, compared to 44 hours for all occupations.
• Education: Nearly all have a bachelor degree or higher (51.6% bachelor, 45.1% postgraduate).
• Industry: Most work in Health Care and Social Assistance, with a smaller share in Arts and Recreation Services.

These figures give a picture of the workforce but do not provide a salary figure. Without a published median, any claim about the “average exercise physiologist salary” should be treated with caution. Some private surveys or job advertisements may quote figures, but they are not official and may not reflect the full distribution.

Separating the Pay Floor from Negotiated Salaries

It is essential to distinguish between:

• Legal minimum: The national minimum wage or the applicable award rate. This is the least you can be paid.
• Award rate: The minimum set by the modern award for your classification. This is often higher than the national minimum.
• Enterprise agreement rate: If your workplace has a registered agreement, that rate may be higher (or occasionally lower, but only if approved by the Fair Work Commission).
• Negotiated salary: What an employer offers above the minimum. This can vary widely based on experience, location, and employer type.

When you see an “exercise physiologist salary” quoted online, ask whether it is the award minimum, a survey median, or an advertised range. Only the award and national minimum are legally enforceable floors.

Superannuation: An Extra Cost on Top

All salary figures discussed here are base pay before tax. Employers must also pay the superannuation guarantee, which is 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2026. This is paid into a super fund on top of the salary. So if your award rate is, say, $30 per hour, the total cost to the employer is $30 plus $3.60 super = $33.60 per hour. Always remember that super is not part of the quoted hourly or weekly wage.

How to Find Your Correct Pay Floor

1. Determine if you are covered by a modern award. Most exercise physiologists are under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020.
2. Find your classification level in the award based on your qualifications and duties.
3. Check the current minimum rate for that classification using the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database or the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool.
4. If no award applies, the national minimum wage is your floor.
5. If an enterprise agreement applies, that agreement sets the minimum.

For more guidance, see Which minimum wage applies and our Guides on award coverage.

Summary

• The legal minimum for an exercise physiologist is $26.44 per hour (national minimum wage), but award rates are likely higher.
• The ABS does not publish a median salary for this occupation.
• Jobs and Skills Australia data shows a young, highly educated workforce with typical full‑time hours of 41 per week.
• Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of the base salary.
• Always verify the specific award classification to know your correct minimum rate.