What is the average radiologist salary in Australia?

The Australian Taxation Office reports that for the 2023–24 income year, 2,525 radiologists had an average taxable income of $500,262 and a median of $430,250. For those paid a salary or wage only, the median was $271,780. These figures include part-time and practice owners, so they are not a standard full-time rate.

How is a radiologist's salary calculated from an hourly rate?

Annual gross pay is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. For a full-time radiologist, we assume 38 hours per week. For example, at the ATO median salary of $271,780 (salary-only), the equivalent hourly rate is about $137.50. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of ordinary earnings, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is calculated using the 2026–27 resident tax scale plus the 2% Medicare levy.

Radiologist Salary in Australia: Hourly, Annual, and Take-Home Pay Guide

Q: Do radiologists have a minimum award rate?

Yes, but only in specific settings. Under the Medical Practitioners Award, a radiologist employed in a private hospital or other settings listed in clause 4.2 is classified as a specialist with a minimum of $121,535 per year from 1 July 2026. Private medical imaging practices are not covered by the award, and radiologists who own part of a practice or contract are not employees, so no award minimum applies.

Based on ATO median taxable income of $430,250, a full-time radiologist working 38 hours per week earns about $217.80 per hour before tax, with take-home pay of approximately $10,083 per fortnight after income tax and Medicare.

Radiologist Salary in Australia: A Complete Guide

Understanding the radiologist salary in Australia requires looking beyond a single number. Radiologists work in public hospitals, private hospitals, and private practices, each with different pay structures. This guide uses data from the Australian Taxation Office, Fair Work Commission, and state health awards to give you a clear picture of what radiologists earn, how to convert hourly rates to annual figures, and what your take-home pay looks like after tax and super.

How Annual Pay Is Calculated

Annual gross pay is calculated using the formula:

Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For full-time work, we assume 38 hours per week, the standard under the National Employment Standards. If you have an hourly rate, multiply it by 38 and then by 52 to get your yearly salary before tax. For example, $100 per hour × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $197,600 per year.

Your fortnightly pay is the weekly amount multiplied by 2. So a $197,600 annual salary gives about $7,600 per fortnight before tax.

This calculation assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Superannuation is paid on top at 12% of ordinary earnings, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base.

Radiologist Salary: The Key Figures

The most authoritative source for radiologist income is the Australian Taxation Office. For the 2023–24 income year (the latest available), 2,525 people who identified as diagnostic and interventional radiologists (occupation code 253917) reported:

Average taxable income: $500,262
Median taxable income: $430,250
Average salary or wages: $383,218
Median salary or wages: $271,780

Taxable income includes business and investment income minus deductions, so it is not a pure salary rate. The salary or wages figure is employer pay only, but it still includes part-time workers and practice owners who take a wage.

For a full-time employee, the median salary of $271,780 equates to about $137.50 per hour (based on 38 hours per week). The median taxable income of $430,250 gives an hourly rate of approximately $217.80.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings for the broader group "Other Medical Practitioners" (which includes radiologists) at $5,013 per week ($260,676 per year). This is a useful benchmark for salaried specialists, though it is not radiologist-specific.

Public Hospital Staff Specialist Pay

Radiologists employed in public hospitals are classified as staff specialists and paid under state awards or enterprise agreements. Here are the latest rates:

New South Wales

Under the Staff Specialists (State) Award, interim rates apply from July 2025. A first-year staff specialist earns a base salary of $197,583, plus a 17.4% special allowance, bringing total to $231,962. Senior staff specialists earn $266,942 base ($313,390 with allowance).

Victoria

The Medical Specialists (Victorian Public Health Sector) Enterprise Agreement 2022–2026 sets weekly rates. A Year 1 specialist earns $5,040.37 per week, or $262,099 per year. Year 9 specialists earn $360,392 per year.

Queensland

Under the Medical Officers' (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement (No. 7) 2025, staff specialists at entry level (L18) earn $222,059 per year from July 2026. A 50% attraction and retention allowance applies on top, reduced if the specialist opts into private practice revenue retention.

These public hospital rates are minimums; actual pay may be higher with allowances, on-call payments, and salary packaging.

Award Coverage for Radiologists

The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database and the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides set minimum rates for employees covered by the Medical Practitioners Award. Under this award, a radiologist employed in a private hospital or other settings listed in clause 4.2 is a specialist with a minimum of **$121,535 per year from 1 July 2026. Private medical imaging practices are not listed in the award's coverage, so no award minimum applies there. Radiologists who own part of a practice or contract to one are not employees, so no award rate applies.

For employees covered by the award, the minimum hourly rate is $23.45 per hour for a specialist (full-time). Casual employees get a 25% loading on top, making it $29.31 per hour.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the 2% Medicare levy, here is what a radiologist might take home:

$231,962 (NSW staff specialist year 1 with allowance): tax $70,253, Medicare $4,639, take-home $157,070 per year ($6,041 per fortnight).
$271,780 (ATO median salary): tax $88,171, Medicare $5,436, take-home $178,173 per year ($6,853 per fortnight).
$430,250 (ATO median taxable income): tax $159,483, Medicare $8,605, take-home $262,162 per year ($10,083 per fortnight).
$500,262 (ATO average taxable income): tax $190,988, Medicare $10,005, take-home $299,269 per year ($11,510 per fortnight).

These calculations assume no HELP debt, no Medicare levy surcharge (with private hospital cover), and no salary packaging. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of ordinary earnings, but for high-income earners, Division 293 tax may apply an extra 15% on super contributions if income plus concessional super exceeds $250,000.

Conclusion

A radiologist salary in Australia varies widely depending on employment setting. Public hospital staff specialists earn between $197,000 and $360,000 per year base, while those in private practice can earn significantly more, as reflected in the ATO's $430,250 median taxable income. When comparing offers, use the hourly conversion formula and consider tax, super, and allowances. For the most accurate estimate, use our timesheet, check pay guides for award rates, or explore take-home pay calculations.

Disclaimer: Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.