GP Salary and the National Average Line
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average sits at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year, according to the (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the benchmark line used by Average line. For GPs, the typical full-time salary is higher. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) reports a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,446 for General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers, which translates to roughly $127,192 annually. That is about $18,840 above the national full-time average. But the keyword “gp salary” covers a wide range, and two factors – the applicable award and the state or territory – can move a GP’s pay off that national line.
Award Minimums vs. Market Rates
Many employed GPs are covered by the Medical Practitioners Award 2020, which sets minimum weekly wages. The (Fair Work Ombudsman) pay guide effective from 1 July 2026 lists rates for doctors in training and career medical practitioners. For example, a registrar at pay point 1 earns a minimum of $1,543.23 per week, while a senior specialist at the top rate earns $3,193.92 per week. These award rates are minimums; actual GP salaries often exceed them, especially for experienced GPs in private practice. However, for junior doctors or those in public hospitals, the award rate may be the actual pay, which can be below the national full-time average. An intern’s minimum weekly pay is $1,277.54, well under the $2,083.70 national line. So the award can pull a GP’s salary down if they are early in their career or working in a setting where the award is the ceiling.
State and Territory Variation
Where a GP works also shifts their salary relative to the national average. The ABS data shows state full-time adult ordinary-time earnings vary from $1,846.30 per week in Tasmania to $2,290.20 in the Australian Capital Territory. A GP in Western Australia, where the state average is $2,227.40 per week ($115,825 per year), may earn a GP salary that is above the national line, while a GP in Tasmania may earn closer to the state average, which is below the national $2,083.70. The on-site notes give state averages: 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, and ACT $119,090. A GP in the ACT could earn a salary that is 10% above the national line, while a GP in Tasmania might be 11% below. These differences reflect cost of living, demand, and the mix of public vs. private practice.
Putting It on the Line
Average line’s chart places any salary against the national full-time average of $108,352. For a GP earning the median $127,192, the line would show a positive distance. But if that GP is a junior doctor on award rates, the line would be negative. Similarly, a GP in Western Australia might see their salary above the line, while one in Tasmania might see it below. The tool also shows the weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38-hour week. For example, the median GP hourly rate is about $60 per hour, compared to the national full-time hourly equivalent of $54.83 ($2,083.70 / 38).
Other Benchmarks
It is useful to compare GP salary to other benchmarks. The full-time median for all occupations is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year on 38 hours. A GP salary, even at the lowest award rate for an intern ($1,277.54 per week, about $66,432 per year), is above the minimum wage but below the full-time median. Most GPs earn well above the median, but state and award factors can push some below.
Summary
The keyword “gp salary” is not a single figure. It depends on whether the GP is an employee or contractor, their experience, the award classification, and the state they work in. The national full-time average line provides a useful reference, but a GP’s actual pay can be significantly higher or lower. For a precise comparison, Place a salary on the line using the tool. You can also explore States and territories to see how location affects earnings, or check Job medians for other occupations. The Guides section offers more detail on how awards and enterprise agreements set minimums. For the methodology behind the figures, see How the figures are set.