General practitioner salary and the national line
A general practitioner’s salary in Australia is not a single fixed number. It depends on the type of employment, the state or territory, and whether the doctor works under an award or in private practice. The most current national benchmark comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, which puts full-time adult ordinary-time earnings at $2,083.70 a week – about $108,352 a year on a 38-hour week. That is the line this site uses to compare any salary.
For general practitioners specifically, the best available figure is a median, not an average. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, drawing on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time weekly earnings for General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers is $2,446. That is about $127,192 a year if you multiply by 52 weeks. However, this median is based on actual hours worked, which for GPs average 45 hours a week – above the standard 38-hour week used for the national line. The median hourly earnings are $60, compared to the all-occupations median of $47.
So a typical GP earns more than the national full-time average, but the gap narrows when you account for longer hours. The site’s tool lets you place a salary on the line and see exactly where it sits against the national average, calculated on a 38-hour week.
How the award and state affect GP pay
General practitioners may be covered by the Medical Practitioners Award 2020, which sets minimum wages for employees in the health industry. The award classifies doctors by experience and responsibility – for example, a Level 1 GP (first year after internship) has a lower minimum than a Level 2 GP. From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%, in line with the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review. But many GPs in private practice earn well above the award, especially those who bill patients directly or work in high-demand areas.
State and territory also play a role. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026) shows full-time adult ordinary-time earnings vary from $96,008 a year in Tasmania to $119,090 in the Australian Capital Territory. While these are averages across all occupations, they reflect differences in cost of living, industry mix, and labour demand that also affect GP pay. For example, GPs in remote or regional areas often receive higher salaries or incentives to attract them. You can explore state-by-state averages on the states and territories page.
Another factor is the split between public and private sectors. GPs employed in public hospitals or community health centres may be paid under state health awards, while those in private clinics negotiate their own terms. The ABS data for May 2026 shows public sector full-time ordinary-time earnings average $2,263.10 a week ($117,681 a year), compared to $2,034.10 in the private sector ($105,773 a year). This gap may be reflected in GP salaries depending on the employer.
Placing a GP salary on the line
If you are a general practitioner or considering the career, you can use this site to see how your salary compares. Enter your yearly before-tax income into the tool on the Place a salary on the line page. The site will calculate your weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week, and show the distance from the national full-time average of $108,352. It will also display where you sit relative to the full-time median ($90,532) and the all-employees median ($74,100), as well as the national minimum wage ($52,255).
Remember that the national average is a broad measure. Your own salary may be influenced by your state, your award classification, and whether you work full-time or part-time. For a deeper look at how different occupations compare, visit the job medians page, which draws on the same ABS data.
Understanding the numbers
The figures in this article come from trusted sources:
- National full-time average: ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- GP median earnings: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, via Jobs and Skills Australia.
- Minimum wage: Fair Work, from 1 July 2026.
- State averages: ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 (original, full-time adults).
These sources are updated at different intervals. The Average Weekly Earnings survey is released twice a year (May and November), while the Employee Earnings survey is less frequent. The site uses the most recent data available and clearly labels whether a figure is an average, median, or minimum.
If you have a specific salary in mind, the quickest way to see where it stands is to use the Place a salary on the line tool. It does the maths for you, showing the weekly and hourly rate on a 38-hour week and the distance from the national line.