Cardiothoracic surgeon salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

Understanding the cardiothoracic surgeon salary

A cardiothoracic surgeon performs heart and lung surgery. It is a highly specialised medical role requiring years of training. In Australia, the occupation is classified under ANZSCO 253512, and according to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are about 170 employed cardiothoracic surgeons. Most work full-time (90%), averaging 51 hours per week. The median age is 49, and only 11% are women.

When people ask about the cardiothoracic surgeon salary, they usually want to know how it compares to typical Australian earnings. That is where the Salary Index helps. The index sets 100 as the national line: full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Any figure above 100 means the pay is above the national average.

Where the cardiothoracic surgeon salary sits on the salary index

Publicly available median weekly earnings for cardiothoracic surgeons are not published by the ABS or Jobs and Skills Australia. However, we can use the minimum rates set by the Medical Practitioners Award (MA000031) as a floor. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes these rates, and they apply to doctors employed in hospitals and clinics.

From 1 July 2026, the award minimum for a Specialist is $2,570.93 per week. That gives a salary index of:

$2,570.93 ÷ $2,083.70 × 100 = 123.4

For a Senior principal specialist, the minimum is $3,374.36 per week, yielding an index of 162.0. These are the lowest possible full-time rates under the award. In reality, many cardiothoracic surgeons earn more, especially those in private practice or with many years of experience.

To put this in perspective, the national minimum wage (from 1 July 2026) is $1,004.90 per week, index 48.2. A cardiothoracic surgeon on the specialist award rate earns more than 2.5 times that. The index of 123 places the role well above the average for health care and social assistance (index 97.8) and far above retail trade (index 75.9).

Award rates and the salary floor

The Medical Practitioners Award covers doctors in training, career medical practitioners, specialists, and senior specialists. The specialist classification is the most relevant for cardiothoracic surgeons. The award also includes on-call allowances and penalty rates, but these are already built into the weekly rates shown.

Here are the key specialist rates from the award (full-time, per week):

• Specialist: $2,570.93
• Senior specialist pay point 1: $2,749.01
• Senior specialist pay point 2: $2,843.41
• Senior specialist pay point 3: $2,940.72
• Senior specialist pay point 4: $3,149.16
• Senior specialist pay point 5: $3,193.92
• Principal specialist: $3,259.00
• Senior principal specialist: $3,374.36

These rates are minima. A cardiothoracic surgeon employed in a public hospital might be paid at one of these levels, but many work in private hospitals or run their own practices. In those cases, earnings can be significantly higher. The pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman provide the full classification details.

Factors that influence actual pay

Several factors push the cardiothoracic surgeon salary above the award floor:

• Experience and seniority: Senior specialists with decades of experience command higher pay.
• Private practice: Surgeons who operate their own practices or work in private hospitals often earn more than those in public hospitals.
• Location: Surgeons in major cities may have higher patient volumes. State indexes vary: New South Wales has an index of 101.2, while Western Australia is 106.9 and the ACT is 109.9. However, surgeon salaries are less tied to state award rates than to individual contracts.
• Specialisation within cardiothoracic surgery: Some procedures, such as heart transplants or complex lung surgeries, may attract higher fees.

It is also important to consider superannuation. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a surgeon earning $150,000, that means an extra $18,000 per year into super. Tax is progressive: the 2026–27 rates start at nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus a 2% Medicare levy. A surgeon on $200,000 would pay about $57,000 in tax and Medicare, leaving a take-home of around $143,000 plus super.

How the salary index works for cardiothoracic surgeons

The how the index works page explains that the index is a simple ratio: yearly gross ordinary-time earnings divided by the national line ($108,352) times 100. For a cardiothoracic surgeon earning $150,000, the index would be 138. For $200,000, it would be 185. For $300,000, it would be 277. These are rough estimates; actual earnings depend on the surgeon's practice structure.

Because the ABS does not publish median earnings for this specific occupation, the index for a cardiothoracic surgeon salary is uncertain. But based on award rates and anecdotal evidence, it is safe to say the index is well above 100, likely in the range of 120 to 200 or more for experienced surgeons.

Summary

The cardiothoracic surgeon salary in Australia is not precisely measured in public data, but award minima show a floor at index 123. Actual earnings are higher, often pushing the index well above 150. This places the role among the highest-paid medical specialities, reflecting the extensive training, long hours, and critical nature of the work. For comparison, the topics page covers other medical salaries and how they stack up against the national line.

If you are researching pay for a specific role, remember that the salary index is a benchmark, not a quote. Always check the relevant award or contract for exact figures.