Surgeon Salary In Australia – Getting your Surgeon license opens up a huge range of opportunities in this country. A career as a Surgeon is both challenging and highly rewarding, with opportunities to make a real difference to the lives of your patients through life-changing surgery.
As a neurosurgeon, you’ll be working with the brain and nervous system. Your job is to diagnose and treat disorders of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. You may also perform surgery on the skull or brain to treat diseases such as tumors or remove blood clots from the brain.
As a general surgeon you will be expected to perform surgical operations on patients suffering from a wide range of disorders and injuries. This includes repairing organs such as the liver, kidneys and stomach as well as performing other procedures such as orthopaedic surgery or treating cancerous tumors in the body. If you are interested in becoming a specialist in either field then check out our guide below for more information about how much surgeons earn in Australia!
There’s little doubt that doctors are paid well in Australia. Some are paid very well, like those who have their own practice. Others, who work for practice owners, might earn less – but still more than the average worker. There are a broad range of surgeon and doctor salaries available, depending on a number of factors. But generally, a starting salary from around $100,000 up to $400,000 annually when you are more experienced is expected. So you maybe asking…
What is the average doctor salary in Australia?
The average yearly physician or doctor salary (working in a general practice) is a little over $101,000. This is closely behind a physician or doctor working in an emergency department in a hospital, who brings in about $102,000. The same titles in internal medicine see about $118,000, while a cardiologist takes home around $120,000.
What about experienced doctors?
Fairly experienced general practitioners can expect to earn between $200,000 and $300,000. However, with overtime this can expect to rise to about $400,000. Of course, this varies depending on a number of variables such as:
- Location, Urban or Rural
- Hours
- Private Practices or General Practices
- Experience and Qualification
- Employment Type (Own Practice/Contractor/Full Time Employee)
- The Kind of Work Undertaken (Medical Specialities)
Wage Averages for Senior Surgeons
Then there are average salaries earned by “senior” doctors and physicians whom are classed as surgeons with a specialised niche. For example, an “average” surgeon salary for a plastic surgeon might be around $150,000. however, a “senior” plastic surgeon would commonly earn well over $300,000. The difference for a neurosurgeon might be $100,000 to almost $600,000. Therefore, the average salary is sometimes hard to define due to a number of different thresholds. An “average” salary is nice in comparison to other industries. Although, it would be smart to strive towards “senior” roles, even with all the additional training and insurance.
Tasks And Duties Of A Surgeon
Surgeons spend a lot of time in their offices consulting with patients to discuss their cases and planning the surgery. The following are some of the tasks:
- Consult with patients and examine their reports to understand their medical history, present health conditions, allergies, and medical challenges to identify the need for surgery and determine the appropriate surgical procedure
- Discuss the case with other specialized surgeons
- Study various surgical techniques that can be useful to upcoming operations
- Perform surgeries to repair injuries, treat ailments, and correct deformities
- Stay current with modern surgical technologies and methods such as nanotechnology and imaging systems
- Be a mentor for budding professionals
- Use specialized equipment to operate on patients to treat injuries, diseases, and deformities
- Oversee the operating room, equipment, and instruments to ensure sterility
- Recommend suitable post-operative care, follow up with the patient, and complete medical records
- Consult with anaesthetists to determine the suitable anaesthesia for patients
- Supervise the activities of medical staff, including nurses, assistants, and specialists
- Train other nursing, medical, and associated staff to prepare the patient, instruments, and equipment for surgery
3. What Skills Do You Need To Become A Surgeon?
Is a career as a surgeon right for you? You need a combination of the following technical and non-technical skills to work in this role:
Technical skills
- In-depth knowledge of the human body and its biology
- Specialist knowledge for precise diagnosis
- Able to read diagnostic images such as ultrasounds, MRIs, X-rays, etc.
- Good knowledge of pre-and postoperative care
Soft Skills
- A steady hand
- Precision
- Quick decision-making skills
- Strategic mind
- Clear communication
- Problem-solving
- Compassion
- Critical-thinking skills
- Organizational skills
- Manual dexterity
- Leadership skills
- Diagnosis and analysis skills
- Emotional resilience
- Ability to support the team
- Eager mind
- Commitment and enthusiasm to learn new techniques and skills
- Adaptability to a changing environment
4. Surgeon Qualifications In Australia
Before starting to work as a registered Surgeon, you need several years of formal training that includes a medical degree and work experience in a hospital.
- Gain your Higher School Certificate or equivalent in pre-requisite subjects such as high-level mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, and English.
- Complete an accredited medical degree such as six years of full-time Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine degree. Alternatively, if you have completed a relevant undergraduate degree, complete four years of a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree.
- Complete a one-year internship to apply for general registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
- Complete 1 to 2 years of training as a Resident.
- Apply for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’ Surgical Education and Training program in any of the nine surgical specialities:
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- General Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopaedical Surgery
- Otolaryngology (ENT)
- Paediatric Surgery
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Urology
- Vascular Surgery
It is a 5 or 6 years training program that includes clinical placements, short courses, research, and examination.
Those who complete the speciality training become a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and are accredited to practice as an independent Surgeon.
