Doctors salary: how the Medical Practitioners Award compares to the national minimum wage
Doctors salary in Australia is set by the Medical Practitioners Award 2020. See how award rates stack up against the national minimum wage and the salary index.
Award minimums for doctors range from an index of about 61 for interns to 139 for senior specialists, placing most well above the national minimum wage (index 48).
What is a doctors salary under Australian law?
A doctors salary in Australia is primarily governed by the Medical Practitioners Award 2020 (MA000031), a modern award that sets minimum pay rates for doctors in the private sector and some public roles. This award covers interns, residents, registrars, career medical practitioners, specialists, and senior specialists. The rates are updated each year following the Annual Wage Review. For the 2026-27 financial year, award rates rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026.
To understand where a doctors salary sits against the broader economy, we use the Salary Index. The index compares annual gross ordinary-time earnings to the national line of 100, which equals $108,352 per year (based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). A figure above 100 means above-average earnings; below 100 means below average.
Award classifications and minimum rates
The award divides doctors into several streams. Here are the key minimum annual salaries from the Fair Work Ombudsman:
- Intern: $66,432 (index 61.3)
- Resident medical practitioner (pay point 3): $74,083 (index 68.4)
- Registrar (pay point 4): $90,018 (index 83.1)
- Senior registrar (pay point 2): $109,010 (index 100.6)
- Career medical practitioner (pay point 4): $116,188 (index 107.2)
- Senior career medical practitioner (pay point 4): $131,704 (index 121.6)
- Specialist: $121,535 (index 112.2)
- Senior specialist (pay point 5): $150,985 (index 139.4)
- Principal specialist: $3,259.00 per week (approx $169,468 annualised, index 156.4)
- Senior principal specialist: $3,374.36 per week (approx $175,467 annualised, index 162.0)
These are the minimums. Actual doctors salaries can be significantly higher, especially for senior specialists in private practice or under enterprise agreements.
How does a doctors salary compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 annualised (index 48.2). Every classification under the Medical Practitioners Award pays well above this. Even an intern at $33.62/hr earns 27% more. A senior specialist at pay point 5 earns $76.41/hr, nearly three times the national minimum wage.
This gap reflects the high skill, responsibility, and training required for medical work. The award also includes penalty rates for weekend, public holiday, and overtime work, which further increase take-home pay. For example, an intern working a Sunday earns $67.24/hr (double the base rate).
The salary index in context
The industries page shows that health care and social assistance has an index of 97.8, slightly below the national average. But doctors within that industry often earn above the industry average. The award minimums for senior doctors push well above 100, while junior doctors start below 100. This is typical for professions with a long training pipeline.
For comparison, the national minimum wage sits at index 48.2, retail trade at 75.9, and mining at 154.7. A senior specialist at index 139.4 is closer to mining than to retail.
Superannuation and tax considerations
Employers must pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of the doctors salary (from 1 July 2026), up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So a doctor earning $150,985 would receive an additional $18,118 in super.
Income tax for 2026-27 (resident, excluding Medicare) is:
- $0 – $18,200: nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15%
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30%
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37%
- Over $190,000: 45% Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A senior specialist on $150,985 would pay about $39,467 in tax plus $3,020 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of roughly $108,498 before any deductions.
Why the award matters
The Medical Practitioners Award is a safety net. It ensures that no doctor is paid below a reasonable minimum, given their qualifications and responsibilities. It also provides conditions for overtime, allowances (e.g., managerial allowance for senior doctors), and recall-to-duty payments.
For more detail on how awards interact with the national minimum wage, see our pay guides and how the index works. If you want to compare doctors salaries by state, the states page shows that the ACT has the highest index (109.9) and Tasmania the lowest (88.6), but award rates are national.
The bottom line
A doctors salary in Australia is set by a modern award that guarantees pay well above the national minimum wage. Junior doctors start around index 61, while senior specialists can exceed index 139. The award provides a clear, structured path from intern to senior specialist, with regular increases. Actual earnings often exceed these minimums, making medicine one of the higher-paying professions in the country.
For more topics on professional pay, visit our topics page.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum salary for a doctor in Australia under the award?
The minimum salary depends on the classification. Under the Medical Practitioners Award 2020, an intern earns at least $66,432 per year ($33.62/hr), while a senior specialist at pay point 5 earns at least $150,985 per year ($76.41/hr). These are the legal minimums; many doctors earn more.
How does a doctor's salary compare to the national minimum wage?
Even the lowest-paid doctor (intern) earns $33.62/hr, which is 27% above the national minimum wage of $26.44/hr. Senior specialists earn more than three times the national minimum wage. The award ensures doctors are paid well above the national floor.
Do all doctors earn the award rates?
Not necessarily. The award sets minimum rates, but many doctors are covered by enterprise agreements or individual contracts that pay higher salaries. Public hospital doctors often have state-based awards or agreements. The award acts as a safety net, so no doctor can be paid less than these minimums.