What do GP Registrars and GPs earn? What are the hours? Here are some financial facts and figures.

Reward for effort is something we all contemplate when choosing a specialty career, during training and beyond. Remuneration is attractive for both GP Registrars and GPs when you consider the flexibility and work-life balance of the profession.

GP Registrar salaries

Full-time GP Registrars work a minimum of 38 hours a week. This includes education time and administration time. The actual hours of consulting (seeing patients) are usually between 27 and 33 hours a week. This can vary, especially in rural areas. Remuneration is really determined by how many patients are seen and whether there is
bulk-billing or private billing. The GP Registrar can negotiate an hourly rate of pay and/or payment of a percentage of gross billings generated.

Minimum terms and conditions

During the first two GP Terms (or ACRRM equivalent), GP Registrars are guaranteed minimum terms and conditions of employment as agreed by GPRA and the National General Practice Supervisors Association (NGPSA).

For each stage of training, there is a minimum salary or hourly rate of pay or the Registrar is paid a minimum of 45% of gross billings (whichever is greater).

Improved remuneration

Changes to Medicare rebates have improved GP remuneration. These include an increase from 85% to 100% of the Medicare schedule fee for rebates for bulk-billing and additional bonuses for bulk billing in areas of doctor shortage.

Once established, a GP Registrar may bill anywhere from about $100 -$240 per hour of patient consulting. They would then be entitled to receive 45% of billings = $45 -$108/hr = $1215 -$2916/wk. As an employee, the GP Registrar is also entitled to 9% superannuation and four weeks annual leave, which is paid by the practice.

Different remuneration systems

Those GP Registrars who do on-call and hospital VMO work should also earn a minimum of 55% of the hospital billings.

Some Registrars work in salaried practice, especially ADF Registrars, those in Aboriginal Medical Services and some rural and remote hospitals that also provide GP services to the community.

It is important to note that working in rural areas, doing procedural work and working as a hospital VMO tend to attract significantly higher incomes.

However, even in urban areas, once established in their practices GP Registrars often earn more than what is stipulated in the National Minimum Terms and Conditions (NMT&C) document.

For Registrars practising in rural areas, generous incentive payments are available on top of a regular salary.

What established GPs earn

Established GPs can earn good money, with the actual amount dependent on the nature of the practice and hours worked. In addition, there is the opportunity to run your own medical practice if you choose. All this with flexible hours and choice of practice style!

The table shows some approximate examples of the real amounts earned by some GP Registrars and GPs (before tax).