Income Comparisons | GP for Pollies

Average taxable income by occupation (2022–23)

Surgeon~$472k

Anaesthetist~$447k

Internal medicine specialist~$342k

Psychiatrist~$286k

Other medical practitioners~$260k

General medical practitioner~$163k

Gross billings vs taxable income vs take-home pay

These are not the same number:

Most GPs work as independent contractors, not employees. A GP's income flows through several deductions before it becomes take-home pay:

Gross billings - total Medicare benefits + any patient fees claimed.
After practice costs - the practice typically retains ~30% of billings for rent, staff, insurance, equipment, and compliance. The GP receives the remaining ~70%.
Taxable income - the GP's share minus allowable business deductions (professional memberships, indemnity insurance, continuing education, equipment).
Take-home pay - taxable income minus income tax, Medicare levy, and any self-funded superannuation contributions.

The ATO figures above (~$163k for GPs) are at step 3. The specialist figures are also at step 3, but many specialists are salaried employees where the employer covers overheads - making the comparison uneven.

The Minister's $400k claim

Unpacking the $403,805

$576,864

Gross annual billings (modelled)

Total MBS benefits claimed for a full-time, fully bulk billing metro GP under new incentive rates

$403,805

After 30% practice costs

The Minister's headline figure - what the GP receives after the practice takes its share

~$350k

Approximate taxable income

After the GP's own deductions (indemnity, CPD, memberships, equipment)

~$215k

Approximate take-home pay

After income tax, Medicare levy, and self-funded super on ~$350k taxable income

Hospital CMO comparator

A CMO pay band in Queensland Health (MOCA7 agreement) shows base salaries of around $170k–$188k for L10–L13 from 1 July 2025, before overtime and allowances. This overlaps the ATO average for general medical practitioners, but the employment model differs - leave entitlements, super structure, and paid admin time matter when politicians compare "doctor pay" naively.