Cardiologist salary in Australia
Cardiologists are specialist medical practitioners who diagnose and treat diseases of the heart. They are among the highest-paid professionals in Australia, but the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a precise median or average weekly earnings figure for this occupation. The Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for cardiologists notes that median weekly earnings are not available, likely because the sample size in the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours is too small to produce a reliable estimate.
National full-time average as a benchmark
While we cannot give an exact cardiologist salary, the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings provides a useful reference point. According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, the average is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is the figure used by Average line as the line against which all salaries are compared. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual workers) is about $74,100 per year, and the full-time median is about $90,532 per year.
Award rates for specialists
The Fair Work Medical Practitioners Award sets minimum pay rates for doctors, including specialists. As of 1 July 2026, a specialist (not a senior specialist) is entitled to at least $2,570.93 per week, which equates to $133,688 per year on a 38-hour week. Senior specialists can earn up to $3,149.16 per week ($163,756 per year) under the award. These are minimum rates; many cardiologists working in private practice or under enterprise agreements earn considerably more. The award also provides penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work, as well as overtime.
Take-home pay sketch
Using the national full-time average of $108,352, we can estimate take-home pay for a single resident with no dependants. Under the 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, 45% above) plus the 2% Medicare levy, the tax and Medicare bill is approximately $25,200, leaving about $83,200 per year. A cardiologist earning the specialist award minimum of $133,688 would pay about $34,700 in tax and Medicare, taking home roughly $99,000. Those earning more would have a higher take-home, though the top marginal rate of 45% applies above $190,000.
How cardiologists compare to other occupations
Cardiologists are classified under ANZSCO 253312. The occupation profile from Jobs and Skills Australia shows that 82% of cardiologists work full time, with an average of 49 hours per week, compared to 64% and 44 hours for all occupations. The median age is 47, and only 19% are female. These factors influence earnings, but the lack of published earnings data means we cannot give a precise percentile ranking. However, given that the specialist award rate is already 23% above the national full-time average, it is safe to say cardiologists are in the top earning occupations.
Where to find more information
If you are a cardiologist or employer wanting to check pay rates, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can help calculate entitlements under the Medical Practitioners Award. For broader salary comparisons, you can Place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national average. You can also explore Job medians for other occupations or Industry medians for sector-wide figures. For more detail on how the figures are set, visit How the figures are set.
Summary
- The ABS does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for cardiologists.
- The national full-time adult average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year).
- The minimum award rate for a specialist is $2,570.93 per week ($133,688 per year).
- A cardiologist’s take-home pay is well above the average, with the award minimum yielding roughly $99,000 after tax and Medicare.
- For personalised comparisons, use the tools on this site.