Neurosurgeon salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

Neurosurgeon salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

If you are looking for a single, official figure for the neurosurgeon salary in Australia, you will not find one. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish median earnings for this occupation because the sample size is too small at the 6-digit ANZSCO level. That does not mean we cannot get a sense of where neurosurgeon pay sits on the national salary index. By using award minimums, industry benchmarks, and the index methodology, we can place neurosurgeon earnings well above the national line.

What the data tells us

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are about 280 neurosurgeons employed nationally. Most work full-time (86%), and those who do average 57 hours per week – far above the all-occupations average of 44 hours. The median age is 44, and only 18% are female. These demographics hint at a highly experienced, specialised workforce.

But when it comes to pay, the official record is silent. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) does not produce median weekly earnings for 6-digit occupations like neurosurgeons. So we turn to the next best source: the award that covers them.

Award rates as a floor

Neurosurgeons are classified under the Medical Practitioners Award 2020 (MA000031). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides with minimum weekly rates effective from July 2026. For specialists, the rates are:

• Specialist: $2,570.93 per week
• Senior specialist (pay point 1): $2,749.01
• Senior specialist (pay point 5): $3,193.92
• Principal specialist: $3,259.00
• Senior principal specialist: $3,374.36

These rates include an on-call allowance. They are minimums – many neurosurgeons earn more under enterprise agreements or in private practice.

Where that sits on the salary index

The Salary Index uses full-time adult ordinary-time earnings as its baseline of 100. As of May 2026, that baseline is $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352. To find an occupation’s index, you divide its weekly earnings by $2,083.70 and multiply by 100.

For the specialist award minimum of $2,570.93:

$2,570.93 ÷ $2,083.70 × 100 = 123.4

For the senior principal specialist minimum of $3,374.36:

$3,374.36 ÷ $2,083.70 × 100 = 162.0

Even at the lowest specialist award rate, a neurosurgeon’s pay sits at an index of 123 – well above the national line. At the top award rate, it reaches 162, comparable to high-earning professions like mining (index 154.7) and professional services (index 114.7).

But remember: these are award minima. Actual neurosurgeon earnings are likely higher. The average full-time hours of 57 per week also mean that total compensation (including overtime) could push the index even further. However, without a published median, we cannot give a precise number.

Industry and state context

Neurosurgeons work almost exclusively in Health Care and Social Assistance, an industry with a salary index of 97.8 – slightly below the national average. That industry figure is an average across all roles, from nurses to administrators. Neurosurgeons, as highly specialised medical practitioners, sit far above that average.

State by state, the index varies. For example, New South Wales has an index of 101.2, Victoria 98.0, and Western Australia 106.9. Neurosurgeons in WA may benefit from the state’s higher overall earnings, but their pay is likely determined more by their employer (public hospital vs private practice) than by location.

How the index helps compare

The salary index is a tool to see how any pay figure relates to the national benchmark. For a neurosurgeon, even the award floor is 23% above the national line. For context, the national minimum wage sits at an index of 48.2. A neurosurgeon at the specialist award rate earns more than 2.5 times the minimum wage.

If you are negotiating a contract or evaluating an offer, the index can help you see where you stand relative to other professionals. Use the how the index works page to calculate your own index.

Tax and super considerations

A neurosurgeon earning $133,688 (specialist award minimum) would fall into the 30% tax bracket for 2026–27, plus the 2% Medicare levy. After tax and Medicare, take-home pay would be roughly $96,000, assuming the tax-free threshold and no other deductions. That does not include the 12% super guarantee, which on that salary would add about $16,042 per year (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830).

Higher earners, such as a senior principal specialist on $175,467, would be in the 37% bracket, with take-home around $119,000. Super at 12% would add $21,056.

The bottom line

While we cannot give a single neurosurgeon salary figure, the available data points to earnings well above the national average. The specialist award minimum alone places neurosurgeons at an index of 123, and actual pay is likely higher. For the most current award rates, check the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman. For industry comparisons, see our industries page. And for more on how the index works, visit how the index works.

If you are a neurosurgeon or considering the profession, remember that the salary index is a benchmark, not a guarantee. Your individual pay will depend on experience, location, employer, and whether you work in public or private practice.