GP Salary: Award Rates, National Minimum Wage, and Median Earnings

Understanding GP Salary in Australia

When researching "gp salary" in Australia, it is important to distinguish between the legal minimum pay floor, award rates for employed doctors, and survey-based averages. Each serves a different purpose: the national minimum wage is the absolute baseline, modern awards set higher minimums for specific roles, and median earnings reflect what typical GPs actually earn.

The National Minimum Wage: The Legal Floor

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, which from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee working 38 ordinary hours. This is the minimum for award-free employees (those not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. However, this rate rarely applies to GPs because most are covered by an award or are self-employed.

Award Rates Under the Medical Practitioners Award

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the Medical Practitioners Award, which covers employed doctors including GPs, registrars, and resident medical officers. For career medical practitioners (a classification that includes many GPs), the award minimum weekly rates from 1 July 2026 are:

• Career Medical Practitioner pay point 1: $2,037.52 per week ($53.62 per hour)
• Career Medical Practitioner pay point 2: $2,113.15 per week ($55.61 per hour)
• Career Medical Practitioner pay point 3: $2,155.08 per week ($56.71 per hour)
• Career Medical Practitioner pay point 4: $2,234.38 per week ($58.80 per hour)
• Senior Career Medical Practitioner pay point 1: $2,304.85 per week ($60.65 per hour)
• Senior Career Medical Practitioner pay point 2: $2,378.17 per week ($62.58 per hour)
• Senior Career Medical Practitioner pay point 3: $2,458.04 per week ($64.69 per hour)
• Senior Career Medical Practitioner pay point 4: $2,532.77 per week (hourly rate not published but approximately $66.65)

These rates are the legal minimum for employees covered by the award. They include penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work, as well as overtime. An enterprise agreement can set higher rates, but never lower.

Survey Averages: Median GP Earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), through Jobs and Skills Australia, reports median full-time earnings for General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers at $2,446 per week (before tax) as of May 2025. This is a survey average, not a legal minimum. It reflects the midpoint of all full-time earnings in the occupation, including those above and below award rates. The median hourly earnings are $60 per hour. These figures are useful for benchmarking but do not represent a guaranteed pay rate.

Award Coverage vs Award-Free

Many GPs are not employees under the Medical Practitioners Award. Self-employed GPs, practice owners, or those working under independent contractor arrangements set their own fees and income. In such cases, the national minimum wage is the only legal floor, but actual earnings are typically much higher. For employed GPs, the award applies unless an enterprise agreement provides better conditions. Always check your employment contract and the applicable award or agreement.

Superannuation: An Additional Employer Payment

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of the salary. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For example, a GP earning the award minimum of $2,037.52 per week would receive an additional $244.50 in super, making total remuneration $2,282.02 per week. This is not deducted from the salary; it is an extra cost to the employer.

Summary: Which Rate Applies to You?

• If you are an award-free employee (rare for GPs), the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour applies.
• If you are an employee covered by the Medical Practitioners Award, the minimum is at least $2,037.52 per week (Career Medical Practitioner pay point 1).
• If you are self-employed, your income depends on your billings and expenses; there is no set minimum.
• Enterprise agreements may set higher rates.

For more details, see our Which minimum wage applies guide and Rate tables for award classifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage for a GP? There is no single minimum wage for all GPs. For GPs who are employees and covered by the Medical Practitioners Award, the minimum weekly rate ranges from $2,037.52 (Career Medical Practitioner pay point 1) to $2,532.77 (Senior Career Medical Practitioner pay point 4) as of 1 July 2026. For award-free employees, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) applies. Many GPs are self-employed or work under enterprise agreements, which can set higher rates.

Do all GPs get the award rate? No. The Medical Practitioners Award covers most employed doctors, including GPs working in hospitals, clinics, or practices where an employer-employee relationship exists. However, many GPs operate as independent contractors or run their own practices, meaning the award does not apply. In those cases, their pay is determined by their business revenue, contracts, or enterprise agreements. Always check your employment status and any applicable award or agreement.

How does superannuation affect GP salary? Superannuation is an employer contribution on top of the salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For example, if a GP earns the award minimum of $2,037.52 per week, the employer must also contribute $244.50 to super. This is not deducted from the salary. Self-employed GPs are responsible for their own super contributions.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.