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Entomologist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an entomologist is $98,800 per annum, before tax, up $20,600 since 2018.
Pay follows the sector you work in and the classification level you hold, with government and university roles set by awards and enterprise agreements that step up with experience and qualifications. Private agricultural and environmental consultancies pay on their own scales, and project-funded contracts may trade a higher rate for less security. A PhD or a scarce taxonomic skill tends to open the higher bands, while seasonal field assistant work sits well below them.
Roles that pay more than entomologist
The largest typical pay rise is $2,600 a year, moving into Fisheries Scientist.
- Fisheries Scientist+$2,600/yr
How to negotiate a higher entomologist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time entomologist salary is $98,800; 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 Field research and sampling and Laboratory analysis tend to command a premium over general entomologist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Fisheries Scientist pays a typical $2,600 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."
Entomologist salary questions
How much do entomologists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an entomologist is $98,800 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is entomologist pay rising or falling?
The median entomologist salary is up $20,600 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than entomologist?
Fisheries Scientist pays a typical $2,600 a year more and draws on similar skills to entomologist.