For its high standards and competitive salaries, Australia has earned a reputation as one of the best places in the world to be a doctor. But how exactly are the pay rates for locum doctors? 

Generally, the rates for a locum doctor in Australia would be within the range of $120 to $400 per hour, making it one of the best paying jobs. This may be because Locum positions need to be filled within a short period of time. A full time equivalent can be anywhere from $250,000 to $750,000 or more dependent on many factors including:

The specialty

Qualifications

Level of experience

Location of the practice (metro or rural)

Size of the Practice/clinic

Public or Private Sector

Number of assignments/works taken up

Urgency of the locum shift

For instance, a locum doctor in Sydney will generally be paid less than a locum doctor in a rural hospital. Likewise, jobs in higher demand and less supply such as anaesthetist jobs will be on the higher end of the pay spectrum in contrast to those in the family medicine sect.

Moreover, doctors working in the private sector are usually salaried considerably higher than those in the public sector. However, in Australia, the salaries of locum doctors within the public sector are governed by several frameworks and policies in place. Take a look at these example policies —the NSW Junior Doctor Rates Policy and the QLD Health Locum arrangements and conditions.

Often enough, these job roles will also come with travel and accommodation allowance as many of the locum positions will not be in major cities. 

How do I get paid?

Mainly, there are three methods of payment a practice/ hospital may choose to entitle you to:

1.        Be paid by the hospital or clinic as an employee

2.        Be paid by the hospital or clinic as a contractor

3.        Be paid by a Recruitment Agency as a contractor

Before your locum placement, these payment methods will be discussed with you fully by the Medfuture Consulting Team.

What’s important to keep in mind is that as a locum, you are in full control of your career—generally, the more you work, the more you earn. Your Choice is what defines your pay and the right role for you could be just around the corner!

Interested in learning more?

Medfuture’s experienced recruitment consultants will guide you in more detail about the different payment options and requirements for each specific locum assignment. If you have any questions about becoming a locum doctor, feel free to get in touch with our experienced team at Medfuture on feed@medfuture.coym.au.