Doctor Salary in Australia

Doctors salary in Australia can range from around AUD 65,000 to more than AUD 600,000 per year, depending on experience, specialty, seniority, and location. Interns may earn about AUD 65,000–90,000, while general practitioners can earn around AUD 190,000–340,000 annually. 

Experienced specialists, surgeons, and consultants may earn AUD 400,000–680,000+, with overtime, allowances, and rural incentives potentially increasing total earnings. The MBBS doctor salary in Australia can therefore vary significantly based on the career path and specialization chosen.

Doctors Salary in Australia by Experience 

Doctors usually see their earnings increase as they move from internship and residency into registrar training and specialist positions. The MBBS doctor salary in Australia can vary by experience, role, and workplace, with public hospitals generally following structured salary scales while private employers may offer different packages.  

For example, NSW Health publishes separate pay arrangements for interns, resident medical officers, and registrars, with additional payments available for duties such as on-call work. 

Experience Level	Job Role	Annual Salary Range
Entry-level	Resident Doctor	AUD 80,000–90,000   (₹53.6L–₹60.3L)
Mid-level	Experienced Resident Doctor	AUD 90,000–120,000   (₹60.3L–₹80.4L)
Specialist	Specialist Doctor	AUD 180,000–300,000   (₹1.21Cr–₹2.01Cr)
Senior	Senior Doctor	AUD 250,000–350,000   (₹1.68Cr–₹2.35Cr)
Senior leadership	Chief Doctor / Department Head	AUD 350,000–400,000   (₹2.35Cr–₹2.68Cr+)

Actual salaries vary by state, employer, specialty, and additional payments. These ranges are indicative rather than a single national pay scale. 

Doctors Salary in Australia by Specialization 

Medical specialty is one of the biggest factors affecting earning potential. Highly specialized fields can command substantially higher salaries than general medical roles, although income also depends on experience, employment model, location, and private practice activity.  

Medical Specialty	Annual Salary	Monthly Salary
Radiology	AUD 229,000–541,000 (₹1.53Cr–₹3.62Cr)	AUD 19,083–45,083 (₹12.79L–₹30.21L)
Anesthesiology	AUD 247,000–436,000 (₹1.65Cr–₹2.92Cr)	AUD 20,583–36,333 (₹13.79L–₹24.34L)
Surgery	AUD 200,000–400,000 (₹1.34Cr–₹2.68Cr)	AUD 16,667–33,333 (₹11.17L–₹22.33L)
Psychiatry	AUD 200,000–400,000 (₹1.34Cr–₹2.68Cr)	AUD 16,667–33,333 (₹11.17L–₹22.33L)
Pediatrics	AUD 188,000–390,000 (₹1.26Cr–₹2.61Cr)	AUD 15,667–32,500 (₹10.50L–₹21.78L)
Cardiology	AUD 200,000–300,000 (₹1.34Cr–₹2.01Cr)	AUD 16,667–25,000 (₹11.17L–₹16.75L)
Emergency Medicine	AUD 144,000–329,000 (₹96.48L–₹2.20Cr)	AUD 12,000–27,417   (₹8.04L–₹18.37L)

Source: Glassdoor 

Specialist training can therefore have a major impact on earning potential. Doctors who move into highly specialized areas or combine hospital work with private practice may have opportunities to earn considerably more than the standard public-sector salary. 

Doctors Salary in Australia by City 

The doctor salary in Australia per month can vary between cities, although differences in salary are often smaller than differences in specialty and seniority. Living costs are also important, particularly housing costs in Sydney and Melbourne. 

City	Indicative Annual Salary Range
Sydney	AUD 100,000–300,000 (₹67L–₹2.01Cr)
Melbourne	AUD 100,000–250,000 (₹67L–₹1.68Cr)
Brisbane	AUD 100,000–280,000 (₹67L–₹1.88Cr)
Perth	AUD 100,000–250,000 (₹67L–₹1.68Cr)
Adelaide	AUD 100,000–250,000 (₹67L–₹1.68Cr)
Canberra	AUD 105,000–400,000 (₹70.4L–₹2.68Cr)
Gold Coast	AUD 95,000–250,000 (₹63.7L–₹1.68Cr)

City-level figures should be treated as indicative because the same city can have doctors at very different career stages. Current salary data, for example, shows reported doctor salaries in Sydney ranging widely, while recent submissions also show substantial differences between junior and experienced doctors in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. 

Worries about the living expenses? Check out Cost of Living in Australia! 

Taxes and Take-Home Salary for Doctors in Australia 

Doctors in Australia generally receive a gross salary before income tax and other applicable deductions. The amount deposited into a doctor's bank account is the net or take-home salary, so the annual figures shown in salary tables should not be considered the final amount received. 

Australia follows a progressive income-tax system, which means the tax rate increases as taxable income rises. Doctors may also be required to pay the Medicare levy, generally 2% of taxable income. However, reductions or exemptions may apply depending on individual circumstances. 

Main Deductions from a Doctor's Salary 

A doctor's salary may be affected by several taxes and deductions: 

• Income tax: Calculated based on taxable income and the applicable tax rates.  
• Medicare levy: Generally 2% of taxable income for eligible Australian tax residents.  
• Work-related deductions: Eligible professional and work-related expenses may reduce taxable income when they meet Australian tax rules.  
• Other deductions: Salary packaging, private insurance arrangements, or other individual financial commitments may also affect take-home pay.  

Tax treatment can also differ for Australian tax residents and foreign residents. Foreign residents generally do not pay the Medicare levy, but different income-tax rules can apply to their Australian income. 

Example of Gross vs. Take-Home Salary 

Consider a doctor earning AUD 200,000 per year (₹1.34Cr) before deductions. The doctor will not receive the full amount as monthly take-home pay because income tax and, where applicable, the Medicare levy will reduce the amount received. 

The exact net salary depends on factors such as: 

• Tax residency status  
• Taxable income  
• Medicare levy eligibility  
• Work-related deductions  
• Other applicable tax circumstances  

For this reason, doctor salary in Australia per month should generally be presented as a gross salary unless a specific tax profile is used to calculate the estimated take-home amount. 

Also Read: Career Opportunities in Australia 

What Determines a Doctor's Salary in Australia? 

Several factors can affect how much a doctor earns in Australia: 

• Specialization: Some specialties have much higher earning potential than general medical roles.  
• Experience: Pay generally increases as doctors progress through postgraduate training.  
• Public vs. private healthcare: Private-sector compensation can differ significantly from public hospital salary scales.  
• State or territory: Each state and territory has its own employment arrangements and salary structures.  
• Seniority and qualifications: Specialist registration, advanced qualifications and leadership positions can increase earnings.  
• On-call and overtime payments: Additional duties can increase total compensation.  
• Rural and regional incentives: Doctors working in eligible rural and remote areas may receive additional financial incentives.  

The Australian Government's Workforce Incentive Program, for example, provides payments to eligible doctors working in regional, rural and remote communities. For some non-vocationally registered doctors, eligible payments can range from AUD 3,600 to AUD 48,000, depending on activity, location and service duration. 

Do Read: Jobs in Australia 

Conclusion 

The MBBS doctor salary in Australia can range from structured junior-doctor pay to several hundred thousand Australian dollars for experienced specialists and senior doctors. Specialty, experience, state, workplace and additional duties all influence total earnings.  

Australia can be an attractive option for international medical professionals, but they should also consider registration requirements, taxes, living costs and career progression before making a decision. The salary of MBBS doctor in Australia per month will ultimately depend on the doctor's experience, registration status, training pathway and eventual specialization. 

Planning to start a career abroad? Book a Free 1:1 Session with upGrad Study Abroad Experts and take your first step!