Dentists · Tool
Associate dentist pay calculator
Enter your yearly billings, lab fees and percentage to see what you'd be paid, how a move from 40% to 35% changes it, and a rough after-tax figure for 2026-27. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is sent to us.
By Inam Asiful
Senior Consultant, WeGrow Accountants · Director of a dental clinic in a metro region · Last reviewed 7 October 2026
Key points
- Pay = (billings minus lab fees) × your percentage, the most common setup we see.
- Rates across our clients: 25% to 45%, including corporate clinics.
- Compare your rate at 40% and 35% side by side, as rates drift towards 35%.
- The tax estimate is rough and ignores offsets, HELP and super.
Calculator
| At your rate | At 40% | At 35% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings after lab fees | |||
| Your pay (before tax) | |||
| Rough tax and Medicare levy | |||
| Rough after tax | |||
| Your billings per clinical hour | |||
How it works
- Lab fees come off your billings first, then your percentage applies. Check your agreement: some clinics define or share lab fees differently.
- Tax uses the 2026-27 resident rates (nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above) plus the 2% Medicare levy, on your pay less the deductions you enter.
- It's an estimate only. It ignores tax offsets, HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, super contributions and any other income.
- The hourly figure compares your billings with the targets we set with clients: $450 to $650 an hour for associates.
For what goes into your agreement, see associate dentists. For how your income compares, see what dentists actually earn.
Frequently asked questions
How is associate dentist pay calculated?
Usually as a percentage of your billings after lab fees are taken off. The norm is 40%, with 35% becoming the new standard. Across our clients we see 25% to 45%, including corporate clinics.
How accurate is the after-tax estimate?
It's rough. It uses the 2026-27 resident tax rates and the 2% Medicare levy on your pay less any deductions you enter. It ignores offsets, HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, super and your other income.
Does this include super?
No. As a contractor you may need to fund your own super. The concessional cap for 2026-27 is $32,500, and contributions within it are generally taxed at 15% in the fund. We can explain the tax effect for you.
Want this applied to your numbers?
Book a free 30-minute consult. We'll go through where you are now and what we'd do next if we were in your shoes.
Related guides
Associate dentists: pay, ABN, tax and agreements
Percentage rates, lab fees, contractor vs employee, structure and what you can claim.
What dentists actually earn in Australia
Income by experience, metro vs regional, specialists, and why hours and scope matter more than ownership.
Super for dentists
The 2026-27 concessional cap, how contributions are taxed, catch-up contributions, associates and SMSFs.
WeGrow Dental Benchmarks 2026
Income, hourly KPIs, chair revenue, cost ratios and sale multiples from our dental client base.
Sources
- WeGrow client data: ranges we see regularly across our dental clients, reviewed by Inam Asiful (7 October 2026).
General information only, not tax, financial or legal advice. Figures are ranges from our client base and public sources as at 7 October 2026; your situation will differ. Talk to us before acting on anything here.