Where GP pay sits against the national full-time average
When people search for the average GP salary in Australia, they are often trying to understand how general practitioners’ earnings compare with the broader workforce. The most direct benchmark is the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in its Average Weekly Earnings series. For May 2026, that figure was $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is the line that this site uses as its reference point.
The best available figure: a median, not an average
The ABS does not produce a single ‘average GP salary’ figure. The most authoritative source for GP earnings is the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers, which draws on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. That profile reports median full-time weekly earnings of $2,446 and median hourly earnings of $60 for full-time non-managerial employees. Because this is a median, it is not the same as an average; it tells you the middle point of the distribution. About half of full-time GPs earn more than $2,446 a week, and half earn less.
At $2,446 per week, the GP median sits well above the national full-time average of $2,083.70. That is a gap of roughly $362 per week, or about 17% higher. However, it is important to note that the national average includes all full-time adult workers across all industries and occupations, from entry-level roles to senior executives. GPs are highly skilled professionals, so a premium over the all-occupations average is expected.
Award minimums provide a floor
The Fair Work Medical Practitioners Award 2026 sets legally enforceable minimum pay rates for doctors covered by the award. These rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, following the 4.75% increase to award minimums. For a career medical practitioner (a classification that may cover many GPs), the weekly minimum ranges from $2,037.52 at pay point 1 to $2,532.77 at senior career medical practitioner pay point 4. For a specialist, the minimum is $2,570.93 per week. These award rates are lower than the GP median, confirming that most GPs earn above the minimum. The award also provides penalty rates for weekend, public holiday, and overtime work, which can boost take-home pay.
Comparing with other benchmarks
The national full-time median earnings for all occupations is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), which is lower than the GP median. The all-employees median (including part-time workers) is about $74,100 per year. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, equating to about $52,255 per year. GPs clearly earn multiples of the minimum wage.
State-by-state full-time averages also provide context. For example, the full-time average in New South Wales is about $109,658 per year, in Victoria about $106,137, and in Western Australia about $115,825. The GP median of $2,446 per week ($127,192 per year if multiplied by 52) exceeds all state averages except perhaps the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090). However, these comparisons are rough because GP earnings vary by location and practice setting.
What the figures mean for your salary check
If you are a GP or considering the profession, the key takeaway is that the typical full-time GP earns above the national full-time average. But the ‘average GP salary’ is not a single published number; the best proxy is the median from Jobs and Skills Australia. For a more personalised comparison, you can place your own salary on the line to see how it stacks up against the national average and other benchmarks. You can also explore job medians for other occupations.
Limitations of the data
The GP median comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which is conducted every two years. The most recent data is from May 2025. It excludes self-employed GPs and those who work as contractors, which is common in general practice. Many GPs operate their own businesses, so their taxable income may differ from the employee earnings captured in the survey. The Fair Work award rates apply only to employees covered by the award; some GPs are covered by enterprise agreements or individual contracts.
Tax considerations
For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. A GP earning the median of $127,192 per year would fall into the 30% marginal tax bracket, plus the 2% Medicare levy (subject to reductions for low-income earners). After tax and Medicare, the weekly take-home pay would be lower than the gross figure.
Summary
While there is no official ‘average GP salary’ published by the ABS, the median full-time weekly earnings of $2,446 from Jobs and Skills Australia is the most reliable guide. It sits comfortably above the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week, reflecting the specialised training and responsibility of general practitioners. Award minimums provide a safety net, but most GPs earn above those rates. For a more detailed picture, consult the ABS Average Weekly Earnings release and the Fair Work Medical Practitioners Award pay guide.