Anaesthetist pay in Australia
Anaesthetists are among the highest-paid medical specialists in Australia. Their earnings come from a mix of public hospital employment, private practice, and sometimes a combination of both. Because income can be structured as salary, fee-for-service, or through a practice entity, published figures vary depending on the source.
Median weekly earnings from the ABS
The most recent dedicated data comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, published through Jobs and Skills Australia. For full-time non-managerial anaesthetists paid at the adult rate, the median weekly earnings are $8,293. That works out to:
- Yearly: $8,293 × 52 = $431,236
- Hourly: $218 (based on a 38-hour week)
This figure is a median, meaning half of full-time anaesthetists earn more and half earn less. It includes both public and private sector employees but excludes those who are self-employed or bill through their own company. The median is far above the national full-time adult average ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026.
ATO taxation statistics
The Australian Taxation Office publishes median and average salaries or wages by occupation in its annual Taxation Statistics. For 2023-24, the ATO reported:
- Median salary or wage: $235,037
- Average salary or wage: $269,923
- Median for men: $248,966
- Median for women: $216,977
These figures only include income reported as salary or wage on an individual tax return. Many anaesthetists earn additional income through private practice that is not captured here, which explains why the ATO median is lower than the ABS survey median.
Public hospital staff specialist scales
Anaesthetists employed in public hospitals are paid on the same staff specialist scale as other specialists. Rates vary by state and are set by enterprise agreements. Current examples include:
- NSW Health (from 1 July 2025): $197,583 (Year 1) to $266,942 (Senior Staff Specialist)
- Queensland Health (from 1 September 2026): $225,305 to $311,764 depending on status (L18 to L29)
These are base salaries and do not include overtime, on-call allowances, or private practice income. Many public hospital anaesthetists also work privately, which can substantially increase total earnings.
How anaesthetist pay compares to the national line
The site's benchmark is the national full-time adult ordinary time average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year). The median anaesthetist weekly earnings of $8,293 are about 398% of that average. Even the ATO median of $235,037 is about 217% of the national average. This places anaesthetists well above most other occupations.
For context, the full-time median across all occupations is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week.
State and territory comparisons
While anaesthetist pay is not tied to state averages, it is useful to see how the national average varies by location. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 gives these full-time adult ordinary time averages by state (annualised):
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Anaesthetist earnings in any state are likely to exceed these averages by a wide margin.
Tax on anaesthetist income
For the 2026-27 financial year, resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). An anaesthetist earning the median of $431,236 would be in the top bracket, with a marginal tax rate of 47% (including Medicare). Take-home pay depends on deductions, offsets, and whether income is structured through a practice entity.
Where to see how your salary sits on the line
You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, the median, and the minimum wage. For more on how these figures are calculated, see how the figures are set.
Summary
Anaesthetist pay in Australia is high by any measure. The ABS survey median of $8,293 per week ($431,236 per year) is the most current and comprehensive figure for full-time employees. Public hospital scales start around $197,583 and can exceed $300,000 for senior roles. Private practice income can push total earnings even higher. When comparing to the national average of $108,352, anaesthetists earn well above the line.