Anaesthetist salary: award minimums and market earnings in Australia

Understanding the anaesthetist salary landscape

When researching an anaesthetist salary in Australia, it is important to separate the legal minimum from what the market pays. Anaesthetists are highly trained medical specialists, and their pay reflects that. This guide uses the Medical Practitioners Award 2020 (from the Fair Work Ombudsman) and data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to give you a clear picture.

Legal minimum under the Medical Practitioners Award

The Medical Practitioners Award 2020 (MA000031) covers employers of medical practitioners throughout Australia. Anaesthetists fall under the Specialist classification in clause 12. From 1 July 2026, the minimum annual salary for a full-time Specialist is $121,535. That works out to:

• Weekly: $2,337.21
• Hourly: $61.51

These rates are the legal minimum for award-covered employees. They apply to full-time workers (38 ordinary hours per week) and are before tax and superannuation. The award also has pay points for other classifications like Intern, Resident, Registrar, and Fellow, but anaesthetists are typically classified as Specialists.

How the award classification works

The award defines a Specialist as a medical practitioner who holds a fellowship or equivalent qualification in a recognised specialty and is engaged in that specialty. Progression through pay points is by annual movement for full-time employees. The award does not cover employees who are covered by a state reference public sector award or an enterprise agreement. If you work in a public hospital under a state award, your minimum may be different.

Market earnings: what the ABS data shows

The legal minimum is not the same as what most anaesthetists earn. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, which uses ABS data, the median full-time weekly earnings for anaesthetists is $8,293 (before tax). That is about $218 per hour. This figure comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and reflects full-time non-managerial adult employees.

Why such a big gap? The award minimum is a safety net. Most anaesthetists negotiate higher salaries through enterprise agreements, individual contracts, or private practice arrangements. The median figure shows that the typical anaesthetist earns well above the award floor.

The role of superannuation and other payments

Superannuation is an employer payment on top of the salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a specialist on the award minimum of $121,535, that adds $14,584.20 per year in super contributions. For someone earning the median of $8,293 per week (about $431,236 per year), super would be around $51,748.

Penalty rates and overtime may also apply under the award, but these are less common for specialists who often work under agreements that bundle all allowances into a higher base rate.

When an award or agreement can set a higher rate

The Medical Practitioners Award is a minimum standards instrument. An enterprise agreement or individual contract can set a higher rate, but not lower. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, check its rates – they are often significantly above the award. The national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) is a backstop, but it does not apply to anaesthetists because the award provides a higher minimum.

For more details on how minimum wages work, see our Rate tables and Guides.

Key takeaways

• The legal minimum anaesthetist salary under the award is $121,535 per year ($61.51/h).
• The median market salary is much higher, around $8,293 per week.
• Superannuation of 12% is paid on top.
• Always check if a state award or enterprise agreement applies to you.

This information is for guidance only. For your specific situation, consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or a workplace relations professional.