Typist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a typist is $57,200 per annum, before tax, up $12,100 since 2018.
The setting matters more than the job title: in-house typists in law firms, hospitals and government departments are usually paid under an award or enterprise agreement, with penalty rates for overtime and casual loading for agency shifts. Legal and medical transcription pays above general copy typing because of the vocabulary involved. Freelance transcription is usually paid per line or per audio minute, so earnings depend on how quickly you can work without losing accuracy.
Roles that pay more than typist
The largest typical pay rise is $38,100 a year, moving into Personal Assistant.
- Personal Assistant+$38,100/yr
- Secretary+$27,400/yr
- Data Entry Clerk+$14,100/yr
How to negotiate a higher typist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time typist salary is $57,200; 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 Operations management tend to command a premium over general typist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Personal Assistant pays a typical $38,100 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."
Typist salary questions
How much do typists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a typist is $57,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is typist pay rising or falling?
The median typist salary is up $12,100 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than typist?
Personal Assistant pays a typical $38,100 a year more and draws on similar skills to typist.