What are the overtime rates for doctors in training?

For full-time and part-time doctors in training, overtime on Monday to Saturday (first 2 hours) is paid at 150% of the ordinary hourly rate, and after 2 hours at 200%. Sunday and public holidays are 200% and 250% respectively. Casual employees get higher overtime rates that include the 25% casual loading: Monday to Saturday first 2 hours at 175%, after 2 hours at 225%, Sunday at 225%, and public holidays at 275%.

How is superannuation handled for medical practitioners under the award?

The award requires employers to make superannuation contributions sufficient to avoid the superannuation guarantee charge under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992. The current super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of the base salary. The maximum contribution base for 2026–27 is $270,830. Employees can also authorise additional post-tax salary sacrifice into their super fund.

Doctor Salary Australia: Award Rates and Pay Guide for Medical Practitioners

Q: How is casual loading applied to doctors under the Medical Practitioners Award?

Casual employees under the award receive a 25% loading on the ordinary hourly rate for each hour worked. This loading is paid instead of entitlements like annual leave, personal/carer’s leave, notice of termination, and redundancy benefits. For example, a casual Intern’s ordinary hourly rate is $33.62, so the casual rate is $42.03 per hour. The loading is included in the overtime rates shown in the award’s pay guide.

For a Resident Medical Practitioner Pay Point 1, the minimum annual salary is $70,529 based on 38 ordinary hours per week.

Doctor Salary Australia: Understanding Award Rates and Pay

When researching a doctor salary Australia, the most reliable source is the Medical Practitioners Award 2020 (MA000031) from the Fair Work Ombudsman. This award sets minimum pay rates for all medical practitioners, from interns to senior specialists. Unlike the National Minimum Wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026), doctor salaries are classification-specific and significantly higher. This guide explains how to convert those award rates into annual, fortnightly, and hourly figures, and covers casual loading, overtime, and superannuation.

How to Convert Hourly Rates to Annual Salary

The standard method for converting an hourly rate to an annual salary is: hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks. For full-time employees under the award, ordinary hours are 38 per week (clause 13.1). So a Resident Medical Practitioner at Pay Point 1 earning $35.69 per hour would have an annual salary of $35.69 × 38 × 52 = $70,529 (matching the award). The fortnightly pay is simply the weekly rate multiplied by two: for that Resident, $1,356.33 × 2 = $2,712.66.

This calculation assumes the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. For casual employees, the 25% casual loading is added to the ordinary hourly rate before any overtime calculations. Always use the base ordinary hourly rate from the award, not a rate that already includes loading.

Award Classifications and Pay Points

The award lists several classifications with multiple pay points. Here are key examples from the 2026–27 pay guide:

Intern: $33.62/hour, $1,277.54/week, $66,432/year
Resident Medical Practitioner Pay Point 1: $35.69/hour, $1,356.33/week, $70,529/year
Registrar Pay Point 1: $40.61/hour, $1,543.23/week, $80,248/year (approx)
Senior Specialist Pay Point 1: $72.35/hour, $2,749.01/week, $142,949/year (approx)
Principal Specialist: $85.77/hour, $3,259.00/week, $169,468/year (approx)

These rates are the minimum for full-time employees. Part-time employees are paid proportionally. Casual employees receive the ordinary hourly rate plus 25% loading.

Casual Loading and Overtime

Casual loading (25%) is paid instead of annual leave, personal/carer’s leave, notice of termination, and redundancy benefits. For overtime, casuals receive higher rates that incorporate the loading. For example, a casual Intern working overtime on a Monday (first 2 hours) is paid 175% of the ordinary hourly rate ($33.62 × 1.75 = $58.84). Full-time and part-time employees get 150% for the same period. Sunday overtime for all employees is 200% (full-time/part-time) or 225% (casual). Public holidays attract 250% (full-time/part-time) or 275% (casual).

Superannuation and Tax

Superannuation is paid on top of the base salary at 12% of ordinary earnings (2026–27 rate), up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a Resident earning $70,529, the super contribution would be $8,463.48 per year. Tax is calculated using the 2026–27 resident tax scale: nil up to $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. Note that HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not included in these estimates.

For more details on how to calculate your pay, see our pay guides and hourly conversion pages. You can also use the timesheet to estimate your annual, fortnightly, and take-home pay based on your hourly rate.

Key Differences from Other Wage Measures

The doctor salary Australia figures above are award minimums. They differ from the National Minimum Wage ($26.44/hour) and from average weekly earnings reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). For May 2026, ABS Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings for full-time adults was $2,083.70 per week, which is higher than many doctor training classifications but lower than senior specialists. The award ensures doctors receive fair compensation for their qualifications and responsibilities.

Always check the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide for the most current rates, as they are updated annually. This page provides an estimate only; your actual pay may vary based on your employer, enterprise agreement, or individual contract.