Anaesthetists and the national average
Anaesthetists are among the highest-paid professionals in Australia. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median weekly earnings for full-time anaesthetists is $8,293 (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). That is about $431,236 a year before tax. By contrast, the national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 a year), as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. The gap is enormous: an anaesthetist earns roughly four times the average full-time worker.
This page looks at what would move an anaesthetist's pay above or below that national line. Because the starting point is so high, the question is almost always about staying above—but we also consider scenarios that could bring it down.
How the figures compare
The ABS data gives us the national benchmark. The full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week is the line used on this site. For anaesthetists, the median is $8,293 per week. That is $6,209 above the line. Even the median for all employees—$1,425 per week (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025)—is far below the anaesthetist figure.
It is important to note that the $8,293 is a median, not an average. The average for anaesthetists is not published by the ABS because of high standard errors. The median tells us that half of full-time anaesthetists earn more than that, half less. Given the distribution of medical specialist incomes, the average is likely higher still.
What could move this pay?
Several factors could shift an anaesthetist's earnings relative to the national average. The national average itself moves with wage growth across the economy—it rose 3.7% annually to May 2026. Anaesthetist pay is influenced by different forces.
Medicare and private health insurance rebates. Anaesthetists in private practice bill patients, often with gap payments. If the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fees for anaesthesia are indexed slowly, or if private health insurers tighten coverage, anaesthetists may need to charge higher gaps to maintain income. That could reduce patient demand and lower earnings. Conversely, a large increase in MBS fees would push pay up.
Public hospital employment. Many anaesthetists work in public hospitals under awards or enterprise agreements. The public sector full-time average weekly total earnings is $2,331.70 (ABS, May 2026). But senior medical officers and staff specialists have their own pay scales, often higher than the sector average. Changes to state health budgets or industrial agreements could move public anaesthetist pay up or down.
Supply of anaesthetists. Australia trains about 150 new anaesthetists each year through the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. If training places increase significantly, or if overseas-trained specialists enter the workforce more easily, supply could outpace demand. That would put downward pressure on earnings. However, the median age of anaesthetists is 49 (Jobs and Skills Australia), and many are approaching retirement, which may keep demand strong.
Hours worked. The average full-time anaesthetist works 46 hours per week (Jobs and Skills Australia). If hours fall—due to lifestyle preferences, regulatory limits, or a shift to part-time work—weekly earnings would drop. But the national average is based on a 38-hour week for full-time workers, so even at 38 hours an anaesthetist would still earn well above the line.
Tax and after-tax income. The 2026–27 tax rates mean an anaesthetist earning $431,236 pays 45% on income above $190,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy. After tax, take-home pay is still far above the average worker's. But changes to tax rates or the Medicare levy could affect net income without changing gross pay.
Other considerations
It is worth noting that the national full-time average includes all industries and sectors. Anaesthetists are in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, which has its own industry median of about $1,500 per week (ABS, August 2025). That industry median is much lower than the anaesthetist figure because it includes many lower-paid health workers.
The state where an anaesthetist works also matters. The highest state full-time average is the Australian Capital Territory at $119,090 per year; the lowest is Tasmania at $96,008. But anaesthetist pay is not tied to state averages—it is determined nationally by Medicare and private markets.
For a personalised comparison, you can place a salary on the line to see how it stacks up against the national full-time average. You can also browse job medians for other occupations.
Summary
Anaesthetists earn a median of $8,293 per week, far above the national full-time average of $2,083.70. The gap is so wide that only a dramatic change in healthcare funding, supply, or working hours could bring an anaesthetist's pay below the line. For now, this occupation sits comfortably above the average.