Biologist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a biologist is $96,200 per annum, before tax, up $20,300 since 2018.
Where you work moves the figure more than anything else. Universities and government agencies pay against classification scales and enterprise agreements, while consultancies and industry set their own bands, and a specialist skill usually matters more than years served. Fixed-term project roles often carry a loading in place of the security an ongoing position offers.
Roles that pay more than biologist
The largest typical pay rise is $5,200 a year, moving into Biotechnologist.
- Biotechnologist+$5,200/yr
- Biochemist+$3,600/yr
- Zoologist+$2,600/yr
How to negotiate a higher biologist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time biologist salary is $96,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Laboratory analysis and Field research and sampling tend to command a premium over general biologist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Biotechnologist pays a typical $5,200 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Biologist salary questions
How much do biologists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a biologist is $96,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is biologist pay rising or falling?
The median biologist salary is up $20,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than biologist?
Biotechnologist pays a typical $5,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to biologist.