General practice salaries - what can you earn?

GPs earn good money

Australian general practitioners earn good money, with the actual amount dependent upon the nature of the practice and the hours worked. In general practice there is also the opportunity to run your own medical practice if you choose.

All this with flexible hours and the choice of practice style!

• The average annual income for a full-time Australian GP is up to $200,000 or more.

• GPs earn a higher average income than most non-medical professionals including lawyers, veterinarians, architects, engineers and accountants.

• Compared to family practitioners elsewhere in the world, Australian GPs are among the highest income earners, above countries like France, Germany and Canada.

• Yes, it is true that GPs on average earn less than some other medical specialists. But many consider a lifestyle of flexible, sociable working hours and part-time options better than money in the bank.

Our handy Earnings Calculator allows you to estimate your individual earning potential based on the kind of GP you want to be.

What can you earn as a GP registrar?

During the first two GP terms (or ACRRM equivalent) there are two earning models for GP registrars:

•    Set salary model – National Minimum Terms and Conditions; or

•    Percentage of billings model.

The minimum employment conditions and salary of GP registrars in GP terms 1 and 2 are set by the National Minimum Terms and Conditions for GP registrars. This agreement is negotiated every two years by the National GP Supervisors’ Association (NGPSA) and General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA).

For 2011 the minimum salary in accordance with the NMTC is:

Registrar minimum salary

When registrars first start in general practice they are typically on the base rate, but as soon as they are settled and start seeing a modest number of patients they quickly swap to a percentage of billings instead.

To find out how much you could earn while you train using the percentage of billings model, use our Earnings Calculator.

GP registrar sample salaries

Example 1:

A GP registrar in term 1

•    with 45% of billings earned for regular hours
•    seeing 3 patients an hour
•    doing 8 clinical sessions a week,
•    billing 45% of patients privately at $65 an hour
•    with no "after - hours" or "on call" duty and
•    with 4 weeks annual leave

Estimated Earnings

Urban GP registrar (with no procedural)                $103,576 – $113,933

Rural & remote registrar (with procedural work)    $145,006 – $186,437

Example 2:

A GP registrar in term 2

•    with 50% of billings earned for regular hours
•    seeing 4 patients an hour
•    doing 9 clinical sessions a week,
•    billing 50% of patients privately at $65 an hour
•    with no "after hours" or "on call" duty and
•    with 4 weeks annual leave

Estimated Earnings

Urban GP registrar (with no procedural)                $153,364 – $170,900

Rural & remote registrar (with procedural work)    $217,510 – $279,656