Neurologist salary: award rates and what they mean against the national minimum wage

Neurologist salary: award rates and what they mean against the national minimum wage

When you search for a "neurologist salary" in Australia, public data is surprisingly thin. The Australian Bureau of Statistics, through the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile, reports median weekly earnings for neurologists as 'N/A' – not available. That doesn't mean neurologists aren't paid well; it means the sample size is too small to publish a reliable figure. What we do have are the minimum rates set by the Medical Practitioners Award, and those give a clear floor for understanding where this specialty sits against the national minimum wage and the broader earnings landscape.

The national line and the index

Salary Index uses a simple benchmark: full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That's index 100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, annualised $52,255 – index 48.2. Every pay figure can be compared to this line. For a neurologist, the award minimums are well above both.

What the Medical Practitioners Award says

The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide for the Medical Practitioners Award (MA000031, effective from 1 July 2026) sets out minimum weekly rates for specialists. A Specialist (the classification that includes neurologists) is paid $2,570.93 per week. That annualises to $133,688. Against the national line, that's an index of about 123.4 – 23.4% above the average full-time worker. A Senior Specialist at pay point 1 gets $2,749.01 per week (index ~132), and at the top of the senior specialist scale (pay point 3) it's $2,940.72 per week (index ~141). These are minimums, not typical earnings, but they show the award floor is high.

How that compares to the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage is $1,004.90 per week. The specialist award rate is more than two and a half times that. Even the lowest doctor-in-training rate (intern, $1,277.54 per week) is 27% above the national minimum. The award structure recognises the years of training and responsibility. For a neurologist, the path from medical school through residency and specialty training takes a decade or more. The award rates reflect that investment, but they are only the starting point.

What the data doesn't tell us

Jobs and Skills Australia's occupation profile for neurologists shows 570 employed neurologists nationally, with a median age of 45 and 38% female. Average full-time hours are 48 per week – above the all-occupations average of 44. But median weekly earnings are marked N/A. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) does not produce figures for 6-digit ANZSCO occupations like neurologists because the relative standard error would be too high. So we cannot give a precise "neurologist salary" figure. What we can say is that the award floor is strong, and actual earnings – especially for those in private practice or with senior hospital roles – are likely significantly higher.

Awards versus the national minimum wage: the bigger picture

The writing angle here is awards versus the national minimum wage. The Medical Practitioners Award is one of the higher-paying awards in Australia. Its specialist rate sits at index 123.4, while the national minimum wage is at 48.2. That gap is not unusual for professions requiring extensive training. But it's worth noting that the award itself is a safety net. Many neurologists are employed under enterprise agreements or individual contracts that pay above the award. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database shows that award rates are updated annually, and the 2026 data includes a 4.75% increase from the Annual Wage Review. That same review lifted the national minimum wage, but the relativity between the specialist rate and the minimum has remained wide.

State and industry context

Neurologists work almost exclusively in Health Care and Social Assistance, an industry with an index of 97.8 – slightly below the national line. But that industry average includes many lower-paid roles. Specialist physicians pull the average up. State indexes vary: New South Wales is 101.2, Victoria 98, Queensland 97.9, Western Australia 106.9, and the ACT 109.9. A neurologist working in Perth or Canberra might see higher overall earnings due to market factors, but the award minimum applies nationally. For more on how location affects pay, see our states page.

Superannuation and tax considerations

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%, with a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a neurologist earning at the specialist award minimum ($133,688), the employer contribution would be $16,042.56 per year. On top of that, the 2026–27 tax rates apply: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above. Plus the Medicare levy of 2%. A single neurologist earning $133,688 would pay roughly $30,238 in tax plus $2,674 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of about $100,776 before any deductions or HELP repayments. That's a rough estimate; actual tax depends on individual circumstances.

Where to find more

If you're comparing pay across roles, the Salary Index explains how the index is calculated. For award rates across different medical classifications, see our pay guides section. And for industry comparisons, the industries page shows how health care stacks up against mining, retail, and professional services.

The bottom line on neurologist salary

Public data won't give you a single number for a neurologist's salary. The award minimum for a specialist is $2,570.93 per week (index 123.4), and senior specialists can earn up to $2,940.72 per week (index 141) under the award. But actual earnings are almost certainly higher, especially for neurologists with years of experience, those in private practice, or those working in high-demand regions. The award provides a strong floor, well above the national minimum wage, but it's only the starting point for understanding this profession's pay.