Neurosurgeon Salary: What the Data Shows
Neurosurgeons are among the most highly trained medical professionals, performing complex surgery on the brain, spine and nervous system. Their salary reflects this expertise, but finding a precise figure is not straightforward. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for neurosurgeons because the occupation is too small to produce a reliable estimate. This means we cannot give you a single number that represents the typical neurosurgeon salary. Instead, we can look at the minimum pay set by the Medical Practitioners Award and the typical hours worked to give you a sense of where pay sits.
Award Minimums for Specialists
The Medical Practitioners Award 2020, as updated from 1 July 2026, sets minimum weekly pay for specialists employed in the public health system. These are the legal minimums, not the market rate, but they provide a floor. For a specialist (non-senior), the minimum weekly pay is $2,570.93, which equates to $67.66 per hour on a 38-hour week. Senior specialists have five pay points, ranging from $2,749.01 per week ($72.35 per hour) up to $3,193.92 per week ($84.05 per hour). Most neurosurgeons would be classified as senior specialists after gaining experience.
However, these award rates assume a 38-hour week. Neurosurgeons typically work much longer hours. According to the 2021 Census, 86% of neurosurgeons work full-time, and the average full-time hours are 57 hours per week. That is 13 hours more than the all-occupations average of 44 hours. If a senior specialist at pay point 1 worked 57 hours at the award hourly rate of $72.35, their weekly pay would be about $4,124, or roughly $214,448 per year. At the top pay point, 57 hours at $84.05 per hour gives about $4,791 per week, or $249,132 per year. But remember, these are minimum rates; actual earnings in private practice or with additional allowances can be substantially higher.
How Neurosurgeon Pay Compares to the National Average
The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the line we use on this site. Even the lowest award minimum for a specialist ($2,570.93 per week) is already above that line. When you account for the longer hours, the gap widens. The full-time adult average weekly total earnings (which includes overtime) is $2,160.00 per week, so the national average including overtime is about $112,320 per year. Again, neurosurgeons are well above that.
For context, the full-time median earnings across all occupations is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median (including part-time) 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 a 38-hour week. Neurosurgeons earn many times the minimum wage.
State and Territory Variations
Where a neurosurgeon works also affects their pay, though award rates are national. The state full-time averages give a sense of local labour markets: 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 the Australian Capital Territory $119,090. Neurosurgeons in the ACT and WA may have higher earning potential due to higher overall wages and cost of living. States and territories page has more detail.
Tax on a Neurosurgeon's Salary
For the 2026–27 income year, the tax rates are: nil up to $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above $190,000. Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). A neurosurgeon earning $250,000 would pay about $65,167 in tax plus $5,000 Medicare levy, leaving about $179,833 after tax. That is a rough estimate; actual tax depends on deductions and other factors.
Where to Find More Information
If you want to see how your own salary compares to the national average, you can Place a salary on the line. For more on how we calculate these figures, see How the figures are set. The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year (May and November), and the Employee Earnings and Hours survey provides medians for larger occupations. For neurosurgeons, the best source is the Medical Practitioners Award and industry reports.
Summary
There is no single published median for neurosurgeon salary. The award minimums for senior specialists start at $2,749 per week, and typical hours are 57 per week. Actual earnings are likely well above the national full-time average of $108,352 per year. For a more precise figure, you would need to consult industry surveys or individual hospital agreements.