Median salary
$89,459
ANZSCO 2345 · Design, engineering, science and transport professionals
Life scientist salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian life scientist is $89,459 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $70,044 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$70,044
Fortnightly
$2,694
Tax returns
17,329
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 2345, based on 17,329 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $90,859 | $89,459 | $93,283 |
| Average (mean) | $97,390 | $90,425 | $100,256 |
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 $life scientist salary
| Gross salary (median) | $89,459 |
| Income tax | −$17,626 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$1,789 |
| Take-home pay | $70,044 |
| + Employer super | $10,735 |
See the $90,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $89,459 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Design, engineering, science and transport professionals
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Civil engineering professional | 67,246 | $114,004 |
| Industrial, mechanical or production engineer | 50,706 | $109,004 |
| Graphic or web designer, or illustrator | 39,326 | $70,592 |
| Electrical engineer | 33,914 | $124,140 |
| Environmental scientist | 32,430 | $84,746 |
| Other engineering professional | 30,000 | $114,430 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a life scientist earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian life scientist in 2022-23 was $89,459, based on 17,329 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $90,425; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical life scientist.
What is a life scientist salary after tax?
On the median $89,459 salary for a life scientist, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $70,044 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $2,694 per fortnight or $1,347 per week.
How much tax does a life scientist pay?
On the median $89,459 salary, a life scientist in FY2025-26 pays about $19,415 in total tax — $17,626 income tax plus $1,789 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 21.7%.
How many people work as a life scientist in Australia?
17,329 Australians lodged a tax return as a life scientist in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 2345 on their return.
What is the average vs median life scientist salary?
Average (mean): $90,425. Median: $89,459. 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 life scientist 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).