Doctor salaries in Australia vary widely, from around $70,000-$95,000 for junior doctors/interns to $250,000-$500,000+ for experienced specialists, with averages often falling in the $150,000 to $300,000 range for established physicians, depending heavily on experience, location (rural often pays more), and specialty (surgery pays most).
Doctor salaries in Australia vary widely by experience, specialty, and location, but generally range from AUD $70,000+ for interns to $200,000 - $400,000+ for experienced GPs, and $300,000 - $500,000+ for specialists, with rural roles offering significant incentives like housing and higher pay, especially for GPs. Junior doctors start around $70k-$90k, while senior registrars can earn over $190k, with top specialists exceeding $500k annually.
Jobs paying $500k+ in Australia are primarily in highly specialized fields like Medical Specialists (surgeons, anaesthetists), Senior Finance/Executive Roles (CFO, Head of Treasury, Investment Directors), and high-end Sales & Construction Management (Elite Stockbrokers, Senior Project Managers/Estimators in complex sectors). While roles like Neurosurgeon and Ophthalmologist average well over $500k, achieving this in other sectors often involves performance-based bonuses or leading major projects, with opportunities listed on job boards like SEEK and Jora.
GP salaries in Australia vary significantly but typically range from $200,000 to over $350,000 annually for experienced, full-time doctors, with some rural roles or high-billing practices reaching $400,000+; registrar earnings are lower ($85k-$130k), while locums earn per day ($2k-$3k), influenced by location (rural pays more), billing (private higher), experience, and practice type. Full-time GPs (8+ sessions) average around $345k, while part-timers average $240k.
1. Surgeon. Surgeons have one of the highest salaries in Australia among healthcare professionals, with salary packages upwards of $500,000 due to their extensive education and training, and the critical nature of their work.
Interesting Facts and Q&As about this topic...
Yes, $130k is a very good salary in Australia, placing you well above the median income and in the top earnings bracket, but whether it's "comfortable" depends heavily on your location (high-cost cities like Sydney/Melbourne vs. regional areas) and lifestyle, as high rents can still strain finances, though it generally allows for a solid middle-class life with budgeting.
Yes, $70k is a fair salary in Australia, often near the median income, making it a decent living for a single person, especially outside major cities, but it can be tight in expensive areas or for those with high living costs like mortgages, with full-time averages now closer to $90k-$100k.
Unlike hospital doctors, GPs are not employed by the NHS – the practice works like a small business, receiving a sum of money per patient.
A GP lifestyle in Australia that's hard to beat
From flexible working hours and well-paid contracts to paid travel and accommodation, Australia offers a lifestyle that's truly hard to match, especially for healthcare professionals looking for both career progression and personal freedom.
In 2022 the median income in Australia was $65,000 a year according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Anyone making less than this amount would be considered working class. Anyone making more than $137,000 falls in the top 10% which is considered upper class.
The #1 highest-paying job is consistently in the medical field, with Surgeons and Anesthesiologists often topping lists globally and in countries like Australia, earning over $400,000 AUD on average due to extensive training and high-pressure responsibilities, though roles like Financial Dealers, CEOs, and specialized Engineers also rank high.
9 jobs that pay $100K per year without a degree
This scarcity, coupled with the complexity and expertise required for the job, makes surgeons among the highest-paid healthcare professionals in the nation. However, the salary you'll earn varies widely depending on your specialisation, experience, location, and employer.
Jobs paying $500k+ in Australia are primarily in highly specialized fields like Medical Specialists (surgeons, anaesthetists), Senior Finance/Executive Roles (CFO, Head of Treasury, Investment Directors), and high-end Sales & Construction Management (Elite Stockbrokers, Senior Project Managers/Estimators in complex sectors). While roles like Neurosurgeon and Ophthalmologist average well over $500k, achieving this in other sectors often involves performance-based bonuses or leading major projects, with opportunities listed on job boards like SEEK and Jora.
Neurosurgeons top the list of highest-paying surgical specialties, with Physicians Thrive's “2024 Physician Compensation Report” estimating a median annual salary of $788,000 for these specialists.
Funding for each GP practice comes via what are called Integrated Care Boards. These 42 regional NHS organisations commission services for patients in their area. GP practices are then contracted to provide core services, with a set amount of money per patient.
Non-VR GPs earn less, around 60–65% of billings. Hourly rates are less common for non-VR GPs, but some permanent roles offer AUD$90 – AUD$120 per hour or a percentage of the billings (whichever is greater) for the first few months.
The average Australian full-time worker is now earning more than $2000 a week for the first time in history. New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the average ordinary full-time weekly earnings for adults hit $2011.40 before tax in May.
According to ABS data, just 2.61 million Aussies – or about 10 per cent of the population – earn $100,000 or more a year. Many people will never reach a six-figure income in their working lives.
Yearly / Monthly / Weekly / Hourly Converter
If you make $90,000 per year, your salary per hour is $45. 55.
Most Americans Earn Far Less Than $100k
According to last year's YouGov data, only 18% of U.S. adults earn more than $100,000 annually. And the biggest earners are mostly men—25%—and those aged 35 to 44—25%. For comparison, just 12% of women make six figures.
Finder noted the exact amount the average Australian said they would need to feel rich was $389,118 per year, which was seven times larger than the national median personal income of $55,062 a year.
Calculation details
On a £120,000 salary, your take home pay will be £76,157.40 after tax and National Insurance. This equates to £6,346.45 per month and £1,464.57 per week. If you work 5 days per week, this is £292.91 per day, or £36.61 per hour at 40 hours per week.