Surgeon Salary in Australia: Where It Sits on the Salary Index

Surgeon salary on the Australian salary index

When people ask about a surgeon salary in Australia, they are usually trying to understand how much surgeons earn compared to the average worker. The salary index is a useful tool for that: it takes a yearly gross figure, divides it by the national line of $108,352 (based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings of $2,083.70 per week in May 2026), and multiplies by 100. A score of 100 means you earn exactly the national average. Anything above means you earn more.

For surgeons, the median weekly earnings are $3,905, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. That annualises to roughly $203,060, giving a salary index of about 187. That is nearly double the national line. To put it in perspective, the national minimum wage index is 48.2, and the health care and social assistance industry index is 97.8. Surgeons are clearly in a high-earning bracket.

Where the data comes from

The most reliable public source for surgeon salary is Jobs and Skills Australia, which publishes median weekly earnings from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours. Their latest data (May 2025) shows surgeons earning $3,905 per week before tax, with median hourly earnings of $80. Surgeons work long hours – an average of 54 per week – and 93% work full-time. The female share of the profession is 26%, and the median age is 43.

It is important to note that these figures are for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. They exclude part-time workers and managers, which helps give a clearer picture of typical surgeon pay. However, the data is based on the ANZSCO classification and will not be updated; a new OSCA-based profile is expected in mid-2026.

Award rates for surgeons

Surgeons who are employees (rather than self-employed) are often covered by the Medical Practitioners Award 2020. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide with minimum rates. From 1 July 2026, the weekly minimum for a specialist is $2,570.93. Senior specialists range from $2,749.01 to $3,193.92 depending on pay point. Principal specialists get $3,259.00, and senior principal specialists $3,374.36. These are minimums – many surgeons earn above award through enterprise agreements or by working in private practice.

The Fair Work Commission also maintains a Modern Awards Pay Database that includes the latest rates. The 2026 data incorporates a 4.75% increase from the Annual Wage Review and changes from the gender-based undervaluation review for health professionals.

How surgeon salary compares to other roles

To give a concrete example: a surgeon earning the median of $3,905 per week takes home roughly $2,700 after tax (using 2026–27 tax rates with the tax-free threshold and 2% Medicare levy). That is about $140,000 net per year. In contrast, a worker on the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week takes home around $800 per week, or $41,600 net. The surgeon earns more than three times as much after tax.

Compared to other medical professionals, surgeons are at the top. Registrars under the award start at $1,543.23 per week, and interns at $1,277.54. Even senior specialists at the top award rate of $3,374.36 are below the median surgeon earnings, which suggests many surgeons earn above award.

Super and tax considerations

Super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, with a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a surgeon earning $203,060, the employer super contribution would be $24,367.20 per year. Tax on the salary itself is progressive: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, 30% on the next $90,000, and 37% on the remainder up to $190,000. For a surgeon earning $203,060, the tax (excluding Medicare) would be about $52,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy. This is a rough estimate and does not include HELP repayments or the Medicare levy surcharge.

State and industry context

The salary index varies by state and industry. For example, the ACT has the highest state index at 109.9, while Tasmania is lowest at 88.6. Surgeons are part of the health care and social assistance industry, which has an index of 97.8 – but surgeons themselves are far above that. The mining industry index is 154.7, but surgeons still outpace that.

Final thoughts

A surgeon salary in Australia is well above the national average, with an index around 187 based on median earnings. Award rates provide a floor, but actual earnings can be much higher, especially for experienced surgeons in private practice. When using the salary index, remember it is a benchmark for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings – it is not a quote for any specific job. For more on how the index works, see how the index works. For pay guides and award rates, visit pay guides. And for state comparisons, check states.