Locum Dentist Hourly Rates in Australia (2026)
Benchmark hourly rates for locum dentists, hygienists, OHTs, dental assistants and receptionists across Australian metros, with notes on city, day-of-week and notice premiums.
This guide benchmarks hourly rates for the most commonly booked dental roles in Australia in 2026. Use it as a starting point — your actual rate depends on city, day of week, notice period, scope and experience.
Locum dentists
- General dentist (metro): $150–$220/hr
- General dentist (regional / remote): $170–$260/hr
- Specialist (e.g. endo, perio, paeds): $200–$350/hr
- Short-notice / same-day premium: typically +10–25%
Hygienists & OHTs
- Hygienist (metro): $70–$120/hr
- Oral health therapist: $70–$115/hr
Dental assistants
- Dental assistant / nurse: $30–$50/hr
- Senior or surgical assistant: $40–$60/hr
Dental receptionists
- Dental receptionist: $30–$45/hr
- Practice manager (short-term): $45–$70/hr
Travel & accommodation coverage
For shifts more than ~100km from the worker's base, or 3+ consecutive days, clinics typically cover travel and accommodation on top of the hourly rate. Without this, regional and remote shifts rarely fill — a Perth dentist won't drive to Kalgoorlie if they're paying $400 in fuel and a hotel out of pocket.
- Driving: $0.88/km (ATO rate)
- Flights: at cost
- Accommodation: typically capped at $180/night
On Dental Shift, clinics opt in when posting the shift. Reimbursement appears as a separate line on the worker's offer and on the booking — and there's no platform margin on reimbursements (1:1 passthrough). Metro single-day shifts: workers set their own travel radius and price it into their rate.
What lifts a rate
- Short notice (same-day or next-day cover)
- Weekends and public holidays
- Travel beyond a 30km radius
- Specialist scope or surgical assist
- Software fluency (D4W, Praktika, Exact, Centaur, Oasis) for reception
What clinics can do to attract candidates
- Set the rate transparently when posting
- Provide clear hours, scope and parking notes
- Favourite reliable locums and book them recurringly
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average hourly rate for a locum dentist in Australia in 2026?
- Metro general locum dentist rates typically range from $150–$220/hr. Specialist and short-notice rates are higher.
- Do locum dentist rates differ between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane?
- Yes — Sydney and Melbourne metros tend to sit toward the upper end ($190–$220/hr), Brisbane and Perth slightly below, regional and remote often above due to travel and isolation premiums.
- Are weekend and short-notice rates higher?
- Generally yes. Saturdays, Sundays and same-day cover commonly carry a 10–25% premium.
- What about hygienist, assistant and reception rates?
- Hygienists $70–$120/hr. Dental assistants $30–$50/hr. Dental receptionists $30–$45/hr. Wide variance by city, scope and experience.
- Do clinics cover travel and accommodation for regional locum shifts?
- For shifts more than 100km from the worker's base, or 3+ consecutive days, most clinics cover travel and accommodation as a separate reimbursement on top of the hourly rate. Standard guidance: $0.88/km (ATO rate), accommodation up to $180/night, flights at cost. Metro single-day shifts are not covered — workers price travel into their rate.