16 Highest-Paid Doctors in Australia (With Average Salaries)
Updated 28 July 2023
After completing medical school and registering with the Medical Board of Australia, you can gain experience by caring for patients as a doctor. You can then choose to specialise in a certain area of health care. Learning about the types of doctors that earn high wages can help you select a speciality that allows you to reach your professional and financial goals. This article explores 16 of the highest-paid doctors in Australia, including their national average salary and primary duties.
16 highest-paid doctors in Australia
Here are 16 of the highest-paid doctors in Australia:
1. Podiatrist
National average salary: $80,016 per year
Primary duties: A podiatrist renders treatments to an individual's feet to relieve discomfort or pain. Podiatrists often create individualised care plans for patients and monitor their improvement. These medical professionals also give tips to patients on how to take care of their feet and the optimal shoes to wear for their foot type.
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2. Family medicine physician
National average salary: $86,405 per year
Primary duties: A family medicine physician, or family doctor, cares for patients throughout their lives, from birth through the geriatric years. These doctors tend to develop in-depth relationships with their patients. This can give them a comprehensive understanding of their medical history and provide effective recommendations and treatment options. Besides annual and general medical check-ups, family medicine physicians can treat illnesses like infections and arthritis.
3. Dermatologist
National average salary: $93,099 per year
Primary duties: A dermatologist is a doctor specialising in diagnosing and caring for skin conditions and diseases. They evaluate patients with many skin concerns, such as acne, rosacea and allergic reactions, and suggest and provide treatment options. Dermatologists help patients maintain their skin health by providing regular examinations, recommending products like cleansers and sunscreens and developing customised skincare routines based on their needs and skin types. These medical professionals can also diagnose and treat skin cancer or refer the patient to an oncologist.
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4. Urgent care physician
National average salary: $99,484 per year
Primary duties: Urgent care physicians examine patients with a critical need for medical attention, typically for minor medical issues. Patients may go to an urgent care clinic instead of a hospital emergency department (ED), depending on the severity of their illness. An urgent care physician often helps patients with ailments like illnesses, severe rashes or minor injuries that require first aid or medications.
5. Optometrist
National average salary: $105,250 per year
Primary duties: An optometrist is a specialist who examines the structure of the eye, diagnoses eye conditions and provides treatment recommendations based on their observation. They can prescribe medications and lenses, perform therapeutic procedures, conduct surgery, and evaluate a patient's vision. Optometrists frequently evaluate patients who have a vision or eye health concerns so they can monitor the patient's progress.
Related: How to Become an Optometrist (Plus Skills To Develop)
6. Dentist
National average salary: $121,489 per year
Primary duties: A dentist is a doctor specialising in the care of teeth, the mouth and oral conditions. They provide regular preventive care, including examinations and cleanings, to help patients maintain or improve their oral health. Dentists also treat dental issues by performing a filling, root canals and tooth extractions. These medical professionals can use anaesthesia and pain medications to help keep patients comfortable. They also give patients recommendations for home oral care.
Related: How to Become a Dentist
7. Urologist
National average salary: $122,023 per year
Primary duties: A urologist addresses problems related to the urinary tract and male fertility. They specialise in treating concerns regarding the kidneys, bladder, urethra and the male reproductive system. Urologists can treat many conditions, such as kidney stones or urinary tract infections (UTIs). After evaluating a patient's health, urologists create a treatment plan to maintain or improve their health and can refer them to other medical specialists as necessary.
Related: What Does a Urologist Do? (Including Duties and Skills)
8. Neurologist
National average salary: $122,471 per year
Primary duties: A neurologist provides health care services to patients who require treatment for their nervous system. The nervous system involves the brain, spine, nerves and other body parts that allow the brain to communicate with and control the rest of the body. Neurologists can perform diagnostic tests, confirm a diagnosis and render treatments for conditions like headaches, seizures and strokes. They also refer patients to neurosurgeons for operations as needed.
Related: How to Become a Neurologist in Australia (With Career Overview)
9. Surgeon
National average salary: $139,410 per year
Primary duties: A surgeon uses specialised medical equipment to perform operations that may improve a patient's health. They can repair bones, tissues, and other physical abnormalities from injury. Surgeons may also remove malignant tissues and affected organs to preserve the patient's life. They provide medications to the patient to manage the pain of an injury or a procedure, monitor their healing processes and may offer health or dietary advice that can help them prevent future conditions.
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7 Types of Neurosurgeon Specialities (And How to Become One)
How Much Do Neurosurgeons Make? (And Tips to Increase Your Pay)
10. Cardiology physician
National average salary: $139,568 per year
Primary duties: A cardiology physician is a specialist who focuses on their patient's heart health. They often see patients who received referrals from other doctors because of symptoms that may indicate a heart problem. Cardiology physicians evaluate their patients, conduct extensive testing and imaging to diagnose cardiac diseases and treat the conditions based on their needs and medical history. They also offer patients lifestyle advice to help them resolve or prevent certain health issues.
Related: 13 Careers in Cardiology (With Responsibilities and Salaries)
11. Obstetrics and gynaecology physician
National average salary: $183,446 per year
Primary duties: An obstetrics and gynaecology physician is a doctor who specialises in women's reproductive health. They focus on the care of female organs by performing preventative examinations, diagnosing conditions and providing treatments such as medications and operations. They also monitor patient and foetal health during pregnancy, deliver babies and care for patients after childbirth. Obstetrics and gynaecologist doctors may help their patients treat and manage fertility issues.
Related: How to Become an Obstetrician and a Gynaecologist: A Guide
12. Oncologist
National average salary: $184,391 per year
Primary duties: An oncologist is responsible for treating patients who have received cancer diagnoses. They evaluate the stage of the patient's disease, explain treatment options and help patients make informed decisions about their care. Oncologists often work in specialised treatment areas, such as radiation or surgery. Oncologists can remove cancerous tissues or administer treatments that can increase their chances of successfully treating the patient's cancer.
Related: How to Become an Oncologist in Australia (Including Skills)
13. Paediatrician
National average salary: $188,908 per year
Primary duties: A paediatrician is a specialist who provides health care for children. They focus on preventative care measures such as regular examinations and immunisations to help their patients stay healthy. They also treat medical concerns that affect children, such as minor illnesses and injuries. Paediatricians monitor the health of their patients as they grow, refer them to specialists as needed for specific conditions and give their patients' guardians advice on children's health and wellness.
Related: How to Become a Paediatrician
14. General practitioner
National average salary: $223,218 per year
Primary duties: A general practitioner (GP) has similar duties to a family medicine physician, as they can provide care to patients of all ages. The primary difference between the two roles is their training. Family medicine physicians often have additional training in paediatrics or obstetrics to provide comprehensive care to their patients. GPs treat general medical conditions and refer patients to specialists as needed. They often provide basic health care services like annual examinations and the treatment of minor illnesses.
Related: General Practitioner Roles (With Responsibilities)
15. Orthopaedist
National average salary: $245,000 per year
Primary duties: An orthopaedist is a doctor who focuses on treating a patient's bones. Other doctors may refer a patient to an orthopaedist after determining a potential injury or bone disease. An orthopaedist examines the patient to identify broken bones or bone concerns that require testing or an additional procedure to remedy the diagnosis. Some conditions an orthopaedist can treat include bone tumours, back pain and ankle injuries.
16. Internal medicine physician
National average salary: $253,446 per year
Primary duties: An internal medicine physician has many of the same duties as a family medicine physician, but the fundamental difference is that they only treat adults instead of children. They evaluate patients, perform diagnostic tests when necessary, confirm diagnoses and provide treatments related to their physical health. Internal medicine physicians treat chronic conditions, provide short-term care for minor issues and refer patients to specialists for certain conditions.
Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at the time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.
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