Doctors Salary Guide: Hourly to Annual Pay Under the Medical Practitioners Award
For a full-time doctor under the Medical Practitioners Award, annual salary is the hourly rate × 38 hours × 52 weeks, with super paid on top.
Understanding Your Doctors Salary: Hourly to Annual Conversion
If you're a medical practitioner or employer trying to work out a doctors salary from an hourly rate, the process is straightforward but requires attention to the correct award classification. Under the Medical Practitioners Award 2020, most doctors are classified as full-time employees working an average of 38 ordinary hours per week. This guide explains how to convert that hourly rate into annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures, including tax and superannuation.
The Basic Formula
Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks.
For a full-time doctor under the award, we assume 38 ordinary hours per week. So the calculation is:
Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × 38 × 52
For example, an Intern on the minimum hourly rate of $33.62 (from the award's pay table) would earn:
$33.62 × 38 × 52 = $66,433.12 per year (matching the award's minimum annual salary of $66,432).
This formula works for all classifications in the award, from Resident Medical Officer to Senior Specialist. The award provides minimum annual salaries and corresponding weekly and hourly rates.
Fortnightly and Weekly Pay
A fortnightly pay is simply the weekly rate multiplied by 2. For a full-time employee, the weekly rate is the annual salary divided by 52. Using the Intern example:
- Weekly: $1,277.54
- Fortnightly: $2,555.08
Many employers pay fortnightly, so knowing this figure helps with budgeting.
Distinguishing Minimum Wage, Award Rates, and Casual Loading
It's important to understand the layers of pay:
- National Minimum Wage (from 1 July 2026): $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week. This is the legal floor for all employees not covered by an award.
- Award rates: The Medical Practitioners Award sets higher minimums for doctors. For example, an Intern must be paid at least $33.62 per hour. These rates are the minimum; actual pay may be higher by agreement.
- Casual loading: Casual employees receive an additional 25% on top of the ordinary hourly rate (clause 11.1). This compensates for lack of paid leave and other entitlements. When using our calculator, enter the base hourly rate (e.g., $33.62) and tick the casual loading checkbox to see the casual rate of $42.03.
Superannuation Paid on Top
Under clause 19 of the award, employers must make superannuation contributions to avoid the super guarantee charge. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of the salary. This means the total employment cost is higher than the gross salary. The super is capped at the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Our calculator estimates super at 12% but stops at that cap.
Tax and Medicare
For the 2026–27 financial year, the Australian Taxation Office's resident tax rates are:
- $0 – $18,200: Nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15%
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30%
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37%
- Over $190,000: 45%
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (generally). Our calculator uses these rates and the full tax-free threshold. Note that the Medicare levy reduction thresholds for singles are based on 2025–26 figures as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed in this estimate.
Using the Calculator on This Site
Our timesheet (home page) lets you enter a base hourly rate. If you are a casual doctor, tick the casual loading checkbox – the calculator will add 25% on top. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading. The tool then shows:
- Annual gross (hourly × 38 × 52)
- Fortnightly gross (weekly × 2)
- Estimated tax and Medicare
- Estimated super (12% on top)
- Estimated take-home pay
For more detail on award rates, see our pay guides and reference tables. You can also explore minimum wage and casual loading topics.
Applying the Award to Different Classifications
The Medical Practitioners Award has multiple classification levels. Below are some key hourly rates from the pay guide effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026:
| Classification | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Intern | $33.62 |
| Resident – Pay point 1 | $35.69 |
| Registrar – Pay point 4 | $45.56 |
| Senior Registrar – Pay point 2 | $55.17 |
| Specialist | $67.66 |
| Senior Specialist – Pay point 5 | $84.05 |
These are minimum rates. Actual doctors salary may be higher, especially for senior roles. The award also includes allowances (e.g., on-call, managerial) and penalty rates for overtime and weekend work. Our calculator does not include those; it assumes the same rate every hour.
Important Disclaimer
Annual pay shown is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax uses the 2026–27 resident scale with full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
Further Reading
- Take-home pay – how tax and super affect net income.
- Super and packaging – more on salary sacrifice and contribution caps.
- Average pay – compare with ABS average weekly earnings ($2,083.70 for full-time adults in May 2026).
- Hourly conversion – general guide for all occupations.
- Job pay – how to evaluate a salary offer.
Remember, the Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission are the authoritative sources for award conditions. Always check the latest pay guides for your specific classification.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.