Your radiologist salary Australia guide: what you take home after tax

Understanding radiologist pay in Australia

When researching radiologist salary Australia, you'll find two main sources: the Australian Taxation Office's taxation statistics and public hospital enterprise agreements. Both give you a solid starting point, but your actual take-home pay depends on how your income is structured and taxed.

What the ATO data shows

The ATO's latest published figures (2023-24) show that 2,525 radiologists reported a median salary or wage of $271,780 and an average of $383,218 . The large gap between median and average tells you that a minority of radiologists earn very high amounts, likely from private practice billing. The median is a better benchmark for a typical full-time radiologist.

Note the gender split: the median for men was $390,965, while for women it was $146,504. This partly reflects differences in hours worked and career stage, but it's a reminder that averages can mask variation.

Public hospital staff specialist scales

If you work in a public hospital, you're paid on the staff specialist scale. The Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile notes that diagnostic and interventional radiologists are classified under ANZSCO 253917. Public hospital rates vary by state:

• NSW Health (from 1 July 2025): Year 1 staff specialist $197,583, Year 5 $243,822, senior staff specialist $266,942.
• Queensland Health (from 1 September 2026): Staff Specialist L18–L24 $225,305 to $260,864; Senior Status L25–L27 $268,430 to $284,318; Eminent Status L28 $296,058; Pre-Eminent L29 $311,764.

Most radiologists in private practice earn more than these scales, but public hospital roles offer predictable income and benefits.

Estimating your take-home pay

To work out what reaches your bank account, you need to subtract income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:

• $0–$18,200: nil
• $18,201–$45,000: 15c per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001–$135,000: $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001–$190,000: $31,020 plus 37c per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c per $1 over $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% on taxable income (with a shade-in for low incomes). The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013 – full-time salaries pay the full 2%.

Example: median radiologist salary

Take a gross salary of $271,780. Using the 2026–27 rates:

• Tax on first $190,000: $51,370
• Tax on remaining $81,780 at 45c: $36,801
• Total income tax: $88,171
• Medicare levy (2% of $271,780): $5,435.60
• Total deductions: $93,606.60
• Estimated take-home: $178,173.40

This is a rough estimate. It doesn't include the low-income tax offset (which phases out well below this income), HELP/HECS repayments, or the Medicare levy surcharge if you don't have private hospital cover. It also assumes all income is salary or wage – if you have private practice income through a company or trust, the tax treatment differs.

Public hospital example

If you're a Year 1 staff specialist in NSW earning $197,583:

• Tax: $31,020 on first $135,000 + 37c on $62,583 = $23,155.71 → total $54,175.71
• Medicare levy: $3,951.66
• Take-home: $139,455.63

Again, this is before any salary packaging (e.g., for cars or living expenses) which can reduce your taxable income.

Superannuation and other considerations

Employer superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2026, on earnings up to $270,830. If your salary is quoted as 'plus super', the super amount is on top and doesn't reduce your take-home. If it's 'including super', the super component is deducted from the total before you see the cash.

For more on how tax and Medicare affect your pay, see our Tax and Medicare guide. You can also use the Take-home pay calculator to run your own numbers.

Key takeaways

• The ATO median radiologist salary is $271,780; the average is $383,218.
• Public hospital radiologists earn between $197,583 and $311,764 depending on state and seniority.
• Take-home pay after tax and Medicare is roughly 65–70% of gross for these income levels.
• Actual pay varies widely by hours, private work, and practice structure.

For a deeper look at how your pay compares, check our Benchmarks page.