What is the paramedicine salary under the award?

The Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020 sets minimum rates for paramedics classified as Ambulance Officers. As of 1 July 2026, the Year 1 rate is $1,309.50 per week or $34.46 per hour. Rates increase with service: Year 2 is $1,319.50 per week ($34.72 per hour) and Year 3 is $1,326.90 per week ($34.92 per hour). These are the legal minimums before tax and before superannuation (which is paid on top).

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

According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) reported by Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time earnings for Ambulance Officers and Paramedics are $2,852 per week, or $71 per hour. That is more than double the award minimum, reflecting experience, overtime, penalty rates, and enterprise agreements. The award minimum is the floor; actual paramedicine salaries are often much higher.

Do all paramedics get paid the award rate?

Not necessarily. The award minimum applies to employees covered by the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020. However, many paramedics are covered by enterprise agreements that set higher rates. State public sector paramedics may be under state awards or agreements. Always check your specific employment instrument. If no award or agreement applies, the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) would be the floor, but paramedics are almost always covered by the industry award or a higher agreement.

Paramedicine salary: award rates and what paramedics actually earn

The minimum pay for a qualified Ambulance Officer under the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020 is $1,309.50 per week or $34.46 per hour (Year 1 rate), with superannuation on top.

Understanding the paramedicine salary: award minimums vs actual earnings

When researching a paramedicine salary, it is essential to distinguish between the legal minimum pay set by the industry award and the median earnings reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This guide explains both, using the most current public data from the Fair Work Ombudsman and Jobs and Skills Australia.

The legal minimum: the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020

Most paramedics in Australia are covered by the Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020. This award sets minimum hourly and weekly rates for classifications such as Ambulance Officer, Student Ambulance Officer, and Patient Transport Officer. The rates increase with years of service.

For a qualified Ambulance Officer (the main paramedic role), the minimum rates from 1 July 2026 are:

Year 1: $1,309.50 per week / $34.46 per hour
Year 2: $1,319.50 per week / $34.72 per hour
Year 3: $1,326.90 per week / $34.92 per hour

These are the minimums for full-time ordinary hours (38 per week). Part-time and casual employees receive proportional rates plus casual loading (25% for casuals under the award). Superannuation is paid on top of these rates at the legislated 12% super guarantee.

Employers cannot pay less than the award rate. If an enterprise agreement covers the workplace, it may set higher rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that the award is the baseline; any agreement must not undercut it.

Survey averages: what paramedics actually earn

The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) provides a snapshot of actual earnings. For Ambulance Officers and Paramedics, the median full-time weekly earnings are $2,852, and the median hourly earnings are $71. This is significantly above the award minimum, reflecting factors such as:

Overtime and penalty rates for shift work, weekends, and public holidays
Allowances (e.g., on-call, remote area)
Higher classification levels (e.g., Station Officer)
Enterprise agreement over-award payments

The data from Jobs and Skills Australia also shows that 90% of paramedics work full-time, averaging 47 hours per week. The median hourly rate of $71 is more than double the award minimum, illustrating that experienced paramedics earn well above the floor.

How the national minimum wage fits in

The national minimum wage (currently $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) applies only to employees not covered by an award or agreement. Since paramedics are almost always covered by the industry award, the national minimum is not their pay floor. However, it serves as a backstop: no award rate can fall below the national minimum. The award rates above are all higher.

For award-free employees (rare in paramedicine), the national minimum would apply, but junior, apprentice, or supported wage rates may be lower. The Which minimum wage applies page explains these exceptions.

Superannuation and tax considerations

All figures above are before tax. Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of ordinary time earnings (currently 12% from 1 July 2026). For an Ambulance Officer earning the award minimum of $1,309.50 per week, the employer would add approximately $157.14 per week in super. The Rate tables page shows how super affects total remuneration.

Key takeaway

The paramedicine salary is governed by a modern award that sets a minimum well above the national minimum wage. Actual earnings are typically much higher due to overtime, penalties, and enterprise agreements. Always check your specific award classification or agreement to determine your correct pay rate.

If you are unsure which award applies, use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool. For more detail on how minimum wages are calculated, see How the figures work.