What is the minimum surgeon salary under the Medical Practitioners Award?

The Medical Practitioners Award 2020 sets minimum annual salaries for surgeons classified as Specialists at $121,535 (from 1 July 2026). Senior Specialists range from $129,953 to $150,985, and Principal Specialists start at $154,062. These are the legal floors; many surgeons earn more via enterprise agreements or private practice.

How does the median surgeon salary compare to the national average?

According to the ABS (May 2025), the median full-time surgeon earns $3,905 per week before tax, more than double the all-occupations median of $1,852. Surgeons also work longer hours (average 54 hours per week vs 44 for all occupations).

Is superannuation included in the surgeon salary figures?

No. Both the award minimum and the ABS median are before super. Employers must pay an additional 12% super guarantee on top of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). For a surgeon on the median weekly salary, that adds about $468.60 per week to total remuneration.

Surgeon Salary in Australia: Award Minimums, Median Earnings, and Tax in 2026

The legal minimum for a specialist surgeon under the Medical Practitioners Award is $121,535 per year ($2,337.21 per week), while the ABS median full-time surgeon salary is $3,905 per week before tax.

Surgeon salary: what the award says and what surgeons actually earn

If you are researching the surgeon salary in Australia, you need to separate the legal minimum from what most surgeons take home. The pay floor is set by the Medical Practitioners Award 2020, while the typical full-time surgeon earns far more, as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This guide explains both, and shows how superannuation and tax affect the final figure.

The legal minimum for surgeons under the Medical Practitioners Award

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the Medical Practitioners Award 2020, which covers employers of medical practitioners including surgeons. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum annual salary for a Specialist (which includes surgeons) is $121,535, or $2,337.21 per week. Senior Specialists are paid at one of five pay points ranging from $129,953 to $150,985 annually, and Principal Specialists receive at least $154,062 per year.

These are the minimum rates for full-time employees working an average of 38 ordinary hours per week. Surgeons who work in public hospitals or under enterprise agreements often receive higher pay. The award also provides for overtime, penalty rates, and allowances, but the base salary is the starting point. Note that junior doctors training to become surgeons (registrars) are covered by lower classifications: for example, a Registrar Pay Point 4 earns $131,704 per year.

Median surgeon salary from ABS data

For a more realistic picture of what surgeons earn, the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) reports a median weekly earnings figure of $3,905 for full-time non-managerial surgeons. That translates to roughly $203,060 per year before tax. This is more than double the all-occupations median of $1,852 per week. The median hourly rate is $80, compared to $47 for all occupations.

It is important to note that this median includes surgeons employed in both public and private sectors, but excludes self-employed surgeons who may earn significantly more. The data also shows that 93% of surgeons work full-time, and the average full-time week is 54 hours – ten hours more than the national average.

How superannuation boosts total surgeon remuneration

When discussing a surgeon salary, remember that superannuation is paid on top. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a surgeon earning the median weekly salary of $3,905, the employer must contribute an extra $468.60 per week into a super fund. That brings total remuneration (salary plus super) to about $4,373.60 per week, or $227,427 per year. Even on the award minimum for a Specialist, super adds $280.47 per week, making the total package $2,617.68 per week.

Tax and Medicare on a surgeon salary

A surgeon earning the median $3,905 per week has an annualised ordinary gross income of $203,060. Using 2026-27 tax rates with the full tax-free threshold, the estimated tax is around $60,000, and the Medicare levy (2% once income exceeds $30,000) adds about $4,061. After tax and Medicare, the weekly take-home pay is roughly $2,675. This is a simplified estimate and does not include the low income tax offset, HELP repayments, or salary sacrifice arrangements.

Award-free surgeons and other considerations

Most surgeons are covered by the Medical Practitioners Award, but some may be award-free if they are managers or in certain state public sector roles. For award-free employees, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) applies as a backstop, but this is far below any surgeon's actual pay. Enterprise agreements can set higher rates, and private practice surgeons negotiate their fees independently.

For more details on how pay floors are set, see our How the figures work page. To compare surgeon earnings with other professions, visit our Rate tables.

Summary

The surgeon salary in Australia has a legal minimum of $121,535 per year under the Medical Practitioners Award, but the typical full-time surgeon earns about $203,060 per year before tax. Superannuation adds 12% on top, and tax reduces take-home pay significantly. Always check the specific award or agreement that applies to your employment, as rates can be higher than the minimum.