GP Salary Melbourne: How to Compare Job Offers Using After-Tax Take-Home Pay

GP Salary Melbourne: What Reaches Your Bank Account?

When you see a job ad for a GP role in Melbourne, the headline figure is usually the gross annual salary. But what you actually take home after tax and the Medicare levy is what matters for your budget. This guide helps you compare offers by focusing on the amount that lands in your bank account each fortnight.

Typical GP Salaries in Melbourne

Salary data for GPs in Melbourne varies because many work under different arrangements – some are employees, others are contractors or practice owners. According to PayScale, the average base salary for a General Practitioner in Melbourne is $134,681 per year. The range is wide: from about $89,000 at the 10th percentile to $291,000 at the 90th percentile, with a median of $135,000. These figures are before tax and do not include superannuation, which is typically paid on top.

Note that these are market rates, not award rates. The Fair Work Medical Practitioners Award covers doctors in training (interns, registrars) in hospitals, not GPs in private practice. For example, a registrar at pay point 1 earns $1,543.23 per week ($80,248 per year), but a GP’s income is set by the practice or their own billing.

From Gross to Take-Home: Tax and Medicare

To compare job offers, you need to estimate your after-tax income. For the 2026–27 tax year, Australian residents pay:

• Nil tax on the first $18,200
• 15c per $1 from $18,201 to $45,000
• 30c per $1 from $45,001 to $135,000
• 37c per $1 from $135,001 to $190,000
• 45c per $1 over $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income. The full 2% applies if your taxable income is above $35,013 (the single upper threshold). If you earn between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate (10c per $1 over $28,011). Below $28,011, no Medicare levy.

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) – up to $700 if your taxable income is $37,500 or less, then phasing out. This can only reduce your tax to zero.

Example: Take-Home Pay for a GP Earning $135,000

Let’s take the median GP salary of $135,000. Assuming no other deductions or offsets:

• Tax on $135,000: $4,020 + 30c per $1 over $45,000 = $4,020 + 0.30 × ($135,000 - $45,000) = $4,020 + $27,000 = $31,020
• Medicare levy: 2% of $135,000 = $2,700
• Total deductions: $31,020 + $2,700 = $33,720
• After-tax income: $135,000 - $33,720 = $101,280

That’s about $3,895 per fortnight (divide by 26). Super is extra – your employer must contribute 12% on top of your salary (up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830). So your total remuneration package is $135,000 + $16,200 super = $151,200.

If your salary is lower, say $89,000, the take-home is higher proportionally:

• Tax: $4,020 + 0.30 × ($89,000 - $45,000) = $4,020 + $13,200 = $17,220
• Medicare: $1,780
• After-tax: $89,000 - $19,000 = $70,000 (about $2,692 per fortnight)

Comparing Offers: Look at Fortnightly Take-Home

When you have two GP job offers, compare the after-tax amount per fortnight. Use the Take-home pay calculator on this site to run your own numbers. Remember:

• Super is not deducted from your salary – it’s paid on top. A job advertised as “$135,000 plus super” means your gross salary is $135,000, and super is additional.
• Salary packaging (e.g., for not-for-profit employers) can reduce your taxable income and increase take-home. See Salary packaging for details.
• HELP/HECS repayments are separate – they come out of your after-tax income but are collected via the tax system. This guide excludes them.

Benchmarks for Context

To see how a GP salary stacks up:

• National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, about $52,255 per year (from Fair Work, 1 July 2026).
• All employees average weekly total earnings: $1,579.20 per week ($82,118 per year) – includes part-time workers (ABS, May 2026).
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) – excludes overtime and employer super (ABS, May 2026).

A GP earning $135,000 is above the full-time average, but after tax the take-home of $101,280 is still above the average gross. However, GPs often have higher practice costs if self-employed, so net income (after expenses) may be lower.

Key Takeaways

• GP salary in Melbourne ranges from about $89k to $291k, with a median of $135k.
• After tax and Medicare, a $135k salary yields about $101k take-home ($3,895 per fortnight).
• Always compare offers on after-tax, after-Medicare income, not the headline figure.
• Use the Tax and Medicare guide to estimate your own situation.
• Check the Average pay benchmarks to see where you stand.

This estimate is for resident tax only. It does not include the Medicare levy surcharge, HELP repayments, or salary sacrifice. For a precise calculation, use the ATO’s tax estimator or consult a tax professional.