What is the average neurologist salary in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a specific average salary for neurologists. The occupation is small (around 570 employed) and median earnings data is not available from Jobs and Skills Australia. However, the Medical Practitioners Award sets a minimum weekly rate of $2,570.93 for specialists (about $133,688 per year), which serves as a lower bound. Actual salaries may be higher depending on experience, location, and private practice.

How does a neurologist salary compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The minimum award rate for a specialist neurologist is $2,570.93 per week, which is about 23% higher than the national average. Even the lowest specialist rate exceeds the average, and many neurologists likely earn significantly more.

What is the minimum wage for a neurologist under the Medical Practitioners Award?

Under the Medical Practitioners Award (MA000031) effective from 1 July 2026, a specialist is entitled to a minimum weekly pay of $2,570.93, which equates to $67.66 per hour for a 38-hour week. Higher rates apply for senior specialists, with pay point 3 at $2,940.72 per week. These are minimum rates; actual salaries are often negotiated above award.

Neurologist Salary in Australia: How It Compares to the National Average

Neurologist Salary in Australia

If you are researching a neurologist salary in Australia, you will find that published averages are scarce. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not break out earnings for this narrow medical specialty, and the occupation is too small for reliable median estimates. What we do know is that neurologists are covered by the Medical Practitioners Award, which sets a minimum rate well above the national full-time average. This page explains what the data can and cannot tell you, and how a neurologist’s pay compares to the line drawn by the ABS.

What the Data Says

The most recent ABS Average Weekly Earnings release (May 2026) puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year. This is the benchmark we use on this site. For comparison, the full-time median (from the ABS Employee Earnings survey, August 2025) is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100.

Jobs and Skills Australia profiles neurologists (ANZSCO 253318) but notes that median weekly earnings are not available. The occupation employs only about 570 people, with a part-time share of 27% and a median age of 45. Average full-time hours are 48 per week, higher than the all-occupations average of 44. Without a published median or average, we must rely on the award as a floor.

The Medical Practitioners Award

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Medical Practitioners Award (MA000031) sets minimum pay rates for doctors, including specialists. The rates effective from 1 July 2026 are as follows:

Specialist: $2,570.93 per week ($67.66 per hour)
Senior specialist pay point 1: $2,749.01 per week
Senior specialist pay point 2: $2,843.41 per week
Senior specialist pay point 3: $2,940.72 per week

These are minimums. A neurologist employed in a public hospital or under the award would earn at least these amounts. Many neurologists in private practice or with seniority earn considerably more. The award also provides penalty rates for weekends, public holidays, and overtime, which can boost total earnings.

How It Compares to the National Average

Even the base specialist rate of $2,570.93 per week is about 23% higher than the national full-time average of $2,083.70. Annualised (×52), that minimum is roughly $133,688, compared to the national average of $108,352. A senior specialist at the top pay point earns about $152,917 per year at minimum, which is 41% above the average.

For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. A neurologist’s award minimum is more than double that. The gender pay gap in medicine is also relevant: the ABS reports that female full-time ordinary-time earnings average $100,594, while male average $113,412. Neurologists are 38% female, so the gender mix may influence overall earnings in the specialty.

Factors Affecting Neurologist Pay

Actual neurologist salaries depend on several factors:

Experience and seniority: Registrars and senior registrars earn less (e.g., registrar pay point 4: $1,731.12 per week) until they become specialists.
Public vs private practice: Public hospital employment follows the award; private practice can yield higher income but with more overhead.
Location: State full-time averages vary, from Tasmania ($96,008) to the ACT ($119,090). Neurologists in high-cost states may command higher pay.
Hours worked: The average full-time neurologist works 48 hours per week, which increases total earnings through overtime and penalties.

How This Site Uses the Data

On this site, we place a salary on the line by comparing it to the national full-time average. For neurologists, because no official average exists, we use the award minimum as a reference. You can also explore how the figures are set to understand the methodology behind the ABS and Fair Work sources.

Conclusion

A neurologist salary in Australia is not published as a single figure, but the award minimum for specialists is clearly above the national full-time average. If you are a neurologist or considering the career, expect earnings well into six figures, with the floor set at about $133,688 per year. For a more precise estimate, consult industry surveys or speak with a medical recruitment specialist.

Note: All figures are before tax. For tax estimates, see the ATO’s 2026–27 rates: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus the 2% Medicare levy.