Dermatologist salary in Australia: award rates, take-home pay and what changes your fortnight

What the data shows for a dermatologist salary

If you are researching a dermatologist salary in Australia, the most reliable public sources are the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Fair Work Ombudsman’s award rates, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The ABS, through Jobs and Skills Australia, reports that there were about 670 employed dermatologists in the 2021 Census, with a median age of 46 and 56% female. However, median weekly earnings are not published for this occupation, so we cannot give you a single “average” figure.

What we do have are the minimum rates under the Medical Practitioners Award 2020 (MA000031), which covers employed doctors including specialists. For a dermatologist working as a “career medical practitioner” (the classification for specialists), the weekly pay rates from 1 July 2026 are:

• Pay point 1: $2,037.52 per week
• Pay point 2: $2,113.15 per week
• Pay point 3: $2,155.08 per week
• Pay point 4: $2,234.38 per week
• Senior career medical practitioner pay point 1: $2,304.85 per week
• Senior career medical practitioner pay point 2: $2,378.17 per week
• Senior career medical practitioner pay point 3: $2,458.04 per week
• Senior career medical practitioner pay point 4: $2,532.77 per week

These are the minimum rates for full-time employees. Many dermatologists in private practice or with specialist fellowships earn above these amounts. The award also provides penalty rates for weekends, public holidays, and overtime.

What changes your fortnight: tax brackets, Medicare levy and super

Your take-home pay depends on three main factors: income tax brackets, the Medicare levy, and superannuation (if your salary is quoted as “plus super”).

Income tax brackets for 2026–27

For a resident earning between $45,001 and $135,000, the marginal rate is 30¢ per dollar over $45,000, plus a base tax of $4,020. For a dermatologist on the award rates above, most will fall into this bracket. The full tax table for 2026–27 is:

• Up to $18,200: Nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15¢ per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30¢ per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37¢ per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,020 plus 45¢ per $1 over $190,000

You can use the [Tax and Medicare section on Tax and Medicare for more details.

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For the 2026–27 tax year, the single-person thresholds are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper). If your income is between these, you pay a reduced rate. Full-time dermatologists earning well above $35,013 pay the full 2%. This is deducted from your pay along with income tax.

Superannuation

If your salary is quoted as “plus super”, your employer will contribute 12% of your ordinary earnings into super (from 1 July 2026). This does not come out of your take-home pay – it’s an extra payment on top. For a dermatologist on $2,534.77 per week, the annual super contribution base is $270,830 per year.

How to estimate your take-home pay

To get a rough idea of your fortnightly take-home, you can:

1. Multiply your weekly rate by 52 weeks divided by 26 fortnights.
2. Subtract income tax using the 2026–27 brackets.
3. Subtract the Medicare levy (2%.
4. Add any LITO (low income tax offset if applicable.

For example, a career medical practitioner pay point 4: $2,234.38 per week annual = $116,188.76 per year. After tax and Medicare, your take-home might be around $1,600 per week (rough estimate). But this is not a tax assessment.

See the Take-home pay guide for a more detailed breakdown.

Factors that affect your actual salary

• Experience and seniority: Senior career medical practitioners earn higher award rates.
• Private practice: Many dermatologists run their own clinics and earn significantly more.
• Location: Salaries may be higher in remote areas or through locum work.
• Hours: The average full-time hours for dermatologists is 46 hours per week, above the national average of 44 hours.

Minimum wage comparison

For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week. A dermatologist on the lowest award rate ($2,037.52 per week) earns more than double the minimum wage.

Summary

While there is no single published dermatologist salary figure, the award rates for employed specialists provide a solid benchmark. Your take-home pay will vary based on your pay point, tax bracket, Medicare levy, and super contributions. For a personalised estimate, use the Clearance tool on this site.