Surgeon salary Australia: above the national line
If you are looking at a surgeon salary in Australia, the headline figure is well above the national full-time average. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median weekly earnings for surgeons in full-time work were $3,905 in May 2025. That is based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours. For context, the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings was $2,083.70 in May 2026 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings). That works out to about $108,352 a year on a 38-hour week – the line that this site uses as a benchmark.
Where the surgeon figure comes from
The $3,905 figure is a median, not an average. It means half of full-time surgeons earn more than that each week, and half earn less. The ABS publishes medians for occupations to avoid the skew from a small number of very high earners. The data comes from the Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which collects pay information from employers. It covers full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. That is a narrower group than all surgeons, but it gives a reliable comparison across occupations.
Jobs and Skills Australia notes that surgeons work an average of 54 hours per week, well above the 44-hour average for all occupations. Their median hourly earnings are $80, compared with $47 for all occupations. So the high weekly figure reflects both a high hourly rate and longer hours.
How it compares to the national average
The national full-time average (ordinary time) is $2,083.70 per week. The surgeon median is about 87% higher. Even if we compare to the national full-time median of about $90,532 a year (from the same ABS survey), the surgeon median of about $203,060 a year is more than double.
But remember: the national average is an average of all full-time adults, including many lower-paid occupations. The surgeon median is a median for one high-paid profession. They are different measures, but both come from the ABS.
What would move a surgeon's pay above or below the average?
Most surgeons are already far above the national line, but several factors can shift individual earnings:
- Public vs private sector: Surgeons in public hospitals often have a base salary under a state award or enterprise agreement, plus allowances for on-call and overtime. Private surgeons bill patients or health funds, and their income depends on caseload, specialty, and location. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 shows public sector full-time ordinary time earnings of $2,263.10 per week across all occupations, and private sector $2,034.10. For surgeons, the gap may be larger.
- Specialty: Some surgical specialties (e.g., neurosurgery, cardiothoracic) tend to earn more than others (e.g., general surgery). The median figure covers all surgeons, so individual specialties can be higher or lower.
- Experience and seniority: A newly qualified surgeon will earn less than one with decades of experience. The median includes all career stages.
- Location: State averages vary. The highest full-time average is in the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090 a year) and Western Australia ($115,825), while Tasmania is lower ($96,008). Surgeons in high-cost cities may command higher fees.
- Hours worked: The median is based on full-time work, but many surgeons work more than 38 hours. The average full-time hours for surgeons is 54 per week, so their effective hourly rate may be lower than the weekly figure suggests.
Tax and take-home pay
A surgeon earning the median of $203,060 a year would be in the 37% tax bracket for 2026–27 (income between $135,000 and $190,000) and the 45% bracket above $190,000. The Medicare levy of 2% applies. After tax and levy, take-home pay would be roughly $130,000–$140,000, depending on deductions. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours – a stark contrast.
How this site uses the line
This site draws a line at the national full-time adult average ordinary time earnings – $2,083.70 per week, $108,352 a year. You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares. For surgeons, the line is far below the median, but for many occupations it is a useful benchmark. The site also shows how the figures are set, drawing on ABS Average Weekly Earnings, ABS Employee Earnings, and Fair Work determinations.
Key points to remember
- The surgeon median of $3,905 per week is from May 2025, while the national average is from May 2026. Both are from the ABS.
- The median is not the same as the average. For surgeons, the average is likely higher.
- Surgeon pay varies by specialty, sector, location, and experience.
- The national line is a useful reference, but high-income occupations like surgery sit well above it.
For more detail on other occupations, see the job medians page. If you want to compare your own salary, use the line tool.