Surgeon Salary Australia: What You Take Home After Tax in 2026–27

Surgeon Salary Australia: What You Can Expect

If you're a surgeon in Australia or considering the career, you already know the training is demanding — but the financial rewards are substantial. This guide looks at the latest pay data from the Australian Taxation Office, Jobs and Skills Australia, and public hospital awards to give you a clear picture of surgeon salary Australia in 2026–27.

Median earnings from Jobs and Skills Australia

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that surgeons have a median full-time weekly earnings of $3,905 before tax, based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. That works out to about $80 per hour for a 54‑hour average week. These figures cover all surgical specialties — general, cardiothoracic, neurosurgery, and others — and include medical registrars training as surgeons.

ATO median salary or wage

The Australian Taxation Office's latest taxation statistics (2023‑24) show a median salary or wage of $208,000 for surgeons, with an average of $239,669. The gender split is notable: men reported a median of $221,877, women $180,000. These figures are salary or wage only — income billed through a surgeon's own practice or company is not included, so total earnings for many surgeons are higher.

How surgeon pay compares to national benchmarks

To put these numbers in perspective, here's how surgeon earnings stack up against the national minimum wage and full‑time ordinary time earnings:

• National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week (Fair Work Ombudsman, from 1 July 2026). A surgeon's median weekly earnings are nearly four times that.
• Full‑time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Surgeons earn about 87% more than the typical full‑time worker.
• All employees average weekly total earnings: $1,579.20 per week (includes part‑time). Surgeons earn more than double that.

Take-home pay after tax and Medicare

Your take-home pay depends on your total taxable income. Using the 2026–27 tax rates and the full 2% Medicare levy (since your salary exceeds the single‑person thresholds of $28,011 and $35,013), here's an estimate for a surgeon on the ATO median of $208,000:

• Annual tax (including Medicare): approximately $46,800
• Annual take-home: about $161,200
• Fortnightly take-home: about $6,200

This is a resident estimate only. It excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice, and payroll tax‑table rounding. Use the Take-home pay tool for a personalised calculation.

Public hospital rates

Surgeons working in public hospitals are paid on the staff specialist scale. In NSW Health (from 1 July 2025), a staff specialist starts at $197,583 per year and progresses to $266,942 as a senior staff specialist. In Queensland Health (from 1 September 2026), staff specialists earn $225,305 to $260,864, with senior status up to $284,318 and pre‑eminent status at $311,764. These are base salaries; many surgeons also have private practice income.

Superannuation

Employer superannuation contributions are 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. If your salary is $208,000, your employer adds $24,960 to your super each year. Job advertisements often state "plus super", meaning the quoted figure is before super is added. Super is not deducted from your take‑home pay in that case.

What this means for you

Whether you're a trainee registrar, a newly qualified specialist, or an experienced surgeon, the pay data confirms that surgery remains one of the highest‑paid professions in Australia. Your actual earnings will vary by specialty, location, public versus private practice, and years of experience. For more detailed comparisons, see our Benchmarks page or explore Tax and Medicare to understand your obligations.