ANZSCO 4232 · Carers and aides
Dental nurse or assistant salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian dental nurse or assistant is $41,735 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $37,623 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 4232, based on 34,803 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $43,213 | $41,735 | $44,761 |
| Average (mean) | $43,900 | $40,839 | $45,426 |
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 $dental nurse or assistant salary
| Gross salary (median) | $41,735 |
| Income tax | −$3,277 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$835 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$488 |
| Take-home pay | $37,623 |
| + Employer super | $5,008 |
Related occupations · Carers and aides
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Aged or disability carer | 202,751 | $42,719 |
| Child care worker | 191,505 | $41,005 |
| Education aide | 102,939 | $40,647 |
| Nursing support or personal care worker | 98,010 | $46,607 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental nurse or assistant earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian dental nurse or assistant in 2022-23 was $41,735, based on 34,803 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $40,839; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical dental nurse or assistant.
What is a dental nurse or assistant salary after tax?
On the median $41,735 salary for a dental nurse or assistant, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $37,623 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $1,447 per fortnight or $724 per week.
How much tax does a dental nurse or assistant pay?
On the median $41,735 salary, a dental nurse or assistant in FY2025-26 pays about $4,112 in total tax — $3,277 income tax plus $835 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 9.9%.
How many people work as a dental nurse or assistant in Australia?
34,803 Australians lodged a tax return as a dental nurse or assistant in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 4232 on their return.
What is the average vs median dental nurse or assistant salary?
Average (mean): $40,839. Median: $41,735. 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 dental nurse or assistant 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).