What’s the average GP salary in Australia?

General practitioners (GPs) play a vital role at the frontline of Australia’s healthcare system. For patients, they represent the primary point of contact, handling everything from routine check-ups and coughs to chronic illness management and mental health support.

Despite the critical nature of their work, many Australians still Ask: “What does a GP earn in today’s system?”. In this article, we will explore what general practitioners earn in Australia, comparing city vs country pay, hourly vs yearly income, and the key drivers behind GP salary in Australia.

What is a general practitioner?

General practitioners in Australia are fully certified doctors responsible for managing everyday health concerns and coordinating ongoing care. They provide preventive health services, diagnose and manage a wide range of medical conditions, and refer patients to specialists when necessary. GPs administer community clinics, Aboriginal Medical Services, rural health centres, and private practices.

To become a GP in Australia, a doctor must complete:

•  A validated medical degree.
• Training via resident programmes and internships.
• Wide registration with AHPRA.
• For complete credit, fellowship via the RACGP or ACRRM.

Often serving both individuals and families, GPs establish confidence and monitor patients’ whole health during their lifetime.

How much do GPs earn in Australia in 2025?

A GP’s income in Australia depends on several factors including work location, billing model, and number of sessions worked per week.

• Full-time GPs (9–10 sessions per week): approx. $365,000 annually
• Part-time GPs (up to 6 sessions): approx. $230,000 annually
• National average across all practice types: approx. $296,000 annually, with hourly rates between $150 and $170

These pre-tax numbers exclude running expenses or clinic service fees if the GP is self-employed.

City vs rural GP salaries

Yes! Location is one of the key factors influencing how much a GP earns in Australia.

City-based GPs

Depending on their billing processes, doctors in big cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, may make between $150,000 and $350,000. Though patient flow is consistent, competition can be strong, particularly in bulk billing systems.

Rural and remote GPs

Rural GPs earn significantly more, with total packages ranging from $400,000 to $550,000, often with:

• Housing allowances
• Relocation bonuses
• Transport support
• Locum rates of up to $4,000/day

Some hard-to-fill regional roles have advertised total packages exceeding $680,000.

Why GP salaries are changing in 2025

In 2025, GP remuneration is changing in Australia due to increased Medicare indexation, a move towards more private billing and chronic disease rates continue to increase. GPs are taking on rising roles in mental health, skin checks and preventative care that create new income opportunities and flexible service models.

GP hourly rates and locum work

Not all GPs stick to standard schedules. Some decide on flexible or temporary jobs at reasonable rates:

• Standard GP hourly rate: $150–$200/hour
• Specialist or urgent care GPs: $250–$300/hour
• Locum work in rural/remote areas: $2,000–$4,000 per day, often including accommodation and travel

Locums appeal to GPs looking for variation or temporary contracts with competitive remuneration.

What influences GP income?

The income of a general practitioner is affected by several elements outside of office hours and billing systems:

1. Location

Rural and regional areas offer higher salaries along with government incentives due to labour shortages.

2. Workload

GPs who work more than 9+ sessions a week would surely have more expenses than those who work part-time or just a few days.

3. Special interests

Skills in skin checks, chronic disease, or minor procedures often boost consultation rates.

4. Fellowship and experience

RACGP or ACRRM fellows typically access higher-paying roles and better opportunities.

5. Clinic ownership

Running your clinic gives control over invoicing, services, and long-term profit margins, even if it raises overhead expenses.

How government incentives impact GP salaries

In order to combat rural doctor shortages, the Australian Government offers substantial inducements through programs including the Workforce Incentive Program (WIP), relocation grants and rural retention bonuses. These incentives can increase GP salary in Australia by tens of thousands per annum, especially in off-land and underserved communities.

Private practice vs employment: What pays more?

A general practitioner employed by a clinic usually earns somewhere around 65–70% of their billings. In contrast, general practitioners who own or co-own a practice are more flexible with fees, workload and receive a larger proportion of revenue. While private practice provides more risk and administration work, it offers the potential to exponentially increase one’s overall earnings.

GP salary snapshot: 2025 breakdown

1. Part-time GP (up to 6 sessions/week)

Depending on the area, patient volume, and billing system, part-time general practitioners might make between $200,000 and $250,000 a year. This alternative will be interesting to doctors looking for work-life balance or flexibility.

Full-time GP (9–10 sessions/week)

Depending on highly sought-after clinics or areas with flexible billing policies, a full-time GP practising in Australia should expect to make between $300,000 and $400,000 annually.

3. Mixed or private billing GP

Because of increased per-patient costs and the capacity to offer longer, more specialist consultations, those who use private or mixed billing systems usually earn $350,000 to $450,000.

4. Rural and remote GP

Often paid $400,000 to $600,000 or more, doctors working in rural or remote places also get extra amenities, including housing, travel packages, and incentive bonuses.

5. Locum GP (rural, short-term contracts)

Working temporarily in remote locations, locum general practitioners might earn $2,000 to $4,000 every day.

GP vs specialist salaries

While a GP in Australia may look modest compared to specialist surgeons or anaesthetists like the ones that earn more than $500,000 annually, GPs usually work vastly different hours, have a much more varied patient contact, and often have a much better work-life balance. General practice is many doctors’ first choice because they can have the variety and autonomy of working in a specialty and can also maintain some income security.

Is becoming a GP financially worthwhile in Australia?

For many doctors, the answer is a definite yes. Although specialists might earn more than some GPs, the GP salary in Australia offers not only financial security and considerable flexibility but also a high level of autonomy. Whether you pick a metropolitan clinic, a rural position, or a locum lifestyle, general practice remains one of the most rewarding and flexible career pathways in medicine.

Conclusion 

Being a GP in Australia is more than a job—it’s a highly respected career path that combines service to the community with financial stability. Whether your dream is to have more freedom in the city or to make more money in the wilderness, several professional routes will enable you to reach different objectives. As Australia’s healthcare needs evolve, general practice will always be vital. And for those who are ready to search for fresh prospects, especially in their neighbourhoods, the benefits are personal as well as financial.