Median salary
$62,507
ANZSCO 2721 · Legal, social and welfare professionals
Counsellor salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian counsellor is $62,507 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $51,779 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$51,779
Fortnightly
$1,992
Tax returns
17,976
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 2721, based on 17,976 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $64,614 | $62,507 | $68,339 |
| Average (mean) | $67,628 | $62,714 | $71,254 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $counsellor salary
| Gross salary (median) | $62,507 |
| Income tax | −$9,478 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$1,250 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$62 |
| Take-home pay | $51,779 |
| + Employer super | $7,501 |
See the $65,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $62,507 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Legal, social and welfare professionals
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor | 70,952 | $113,532 |
| Social worker | 52,571 | $72,035 |
| Psychologist | 25,931 | $72,699 |
| Religious leader | 17,699 | $28,818 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a counsellor earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian counsellor in 2022-23 was $62,507, based on 17,976 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $62,714; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical counsellor.
What is a counsellor salary after tax?
On the median $62,507 salary for a counsellor, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $51,779 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $1,992 per fortnight or $996 per week.
How much tax does a counsellor pay?
On the median $62,507 salary, a counsellor in FY2025-26 pays about $10,728 in total tax — $9,478 income tax plus $1,250 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 17.2%.
How many people work as a counsellor in Australia?
17,976 Australians lodged a tax return as a counsellor in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 2721 on their return.
What is the average vs median counsellor salary?
Average (mean): $62,714. Median: $62,507. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical counsellor earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).