General information, not legal advice. The award sets the minimum, and an employer can pay more. Check your own pay with the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool.
Which award covers medical receptionists
The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] covers receptionists who work for employers in the health industry, including medical and dental practices. The Fair Work Ombudsman calls it the Health Services Award.
The Clerks Private Sector Award does not apply to these employers. Its coverage clause leaves out employers covered by the Health Services Award.
Which level you start on
The award sorts support staff into levels. You can start at Level 1 if you have less than 3 months' experience in the health industry. You move to Level 2 or Level 3 depending on your responsibility, supervision, experience and training.
The award names receptionist as an example role at Level 3. Your level depends on the work you do, so read the level descriptions in Schedule A of the award.
Minimum pay from 1 July 2026
These are the minimum rates for full-time and part-time staff, before tax. A full-time week is 38 hours.
| Level | An hour | A week | Saturday or Sunday | Public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $26.97 | $1,024.70 | $40.46 | $67.43 |
| Level 2 | $28.03 | $1,065.20 | $42.05 | $70.08 |
| Level 3 | $29.11 | $1,106.20 | $43.67 | $72.78 |
Saturday and Sunday hours pay 150% of the hourly rate, and public holidays pay 250%. The rates are from the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide for the award, published 26 August 2026. The Fair Work Commission reviews award rates each year, and new rates usually apply from 1 July.
Casual rates
Casual staff get a 25% loading on the hourly rate. Each time they work, they get at least 3 hours' pay.
| Level | An hour | Saturday or Sunday | Public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $33.71 | $47.20 | $74.17 |
| Level 2 | $35.04 | $49.05 | $77.08 |
| Level 3 | $36.39 | $50.94 | $80.05 |
Evening work
The award has no separate evening rate. In a private medical practice, ordinary hours for a day worker are 7.30am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 4.30pm on Saturday. Shiftwork rates apply to staff who are regularly rostered to work outside those hours. Check your own roster with the Pay and Conditions Tool.
Super
Your employer pays super on top of your pay, at 12%. From 1 July 2026, employers have to pay it each payday.
What jobs advertise
SEEK's salary guide, refreshed on 1 October 2026, puts advertised pay for medical receptionists in Melbourne at $65,000 to $70,000 a year, or $30 to $35 an hour. SEEK works it out from the full-time pay ranges employers put in SEEK ads, and some of those include super.
Jobs and Skills Australia gives a median of $1,229 a week before tax, or $32 an hour, for full-time receptionists of all kinds (ABS, May 2025). It has no separate figure for medical receptionists.
Of 8 Melbourne GP reception ads we read on SEEK on 22 October 2026, none showed a pay figure. Ask which award level the clinic will pay you at before you accept an offer.
The reception jobs on DocHelp Jobs in October 2026 pay $27 to $32 an hour plus super, depending on experience. Casual roles get the 25% casual loading on top. See the medical receptionist jobs.
For the courses and what clinics ask for in ads, read How to become a medical receptionist in Victoria.
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Award coverage and progression for receptionists in the Health Services Award (K600075)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Health Services Award [MA000027] summary
- Fair Work Commission: Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020
- Fair Work Commission: Clerks Private Sector Award 2020, clause 4
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Pay guides (Health Professionals and Support Services Award, published 26 August 2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Pay and Conditions Tool
- Australian Taxation Office: Super guarantee
- SEEK: Medical receptionist salary in Melbourne
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Receptionists (ANZSCO 5421)
Quick answers
What is the minimum pay for a medical receptionist in Victoria?
From 1 July 2026, $26.97 an hour at Level 1 (less than 3 months in the health industry) and $29.11 an hour at Level 3, for full-time and part-time staff, plus 12% super. The casual rates are $33.71 and $36.39 an hour.
Is a medical receptionist covered by the Clerks award?
Not at a GP clinic. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 covers receptionists who work for health industry employers, including medical practices.
Do medical receptionists get paid more on weekends?
Yes. Full-time and part-time staff get 150% of their hourly rate on Saturday and Sunday, and casual staff get 175%. On public holidays the rate is 250%, or 275% for casual staff.
Fifteen years in medical practice operations. MBA, Melbourne Business School. Operating since 2015, multiple healthcare partners Australia-wide. About Jamal →