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Anaesthetist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an anaesthetist is $431,200 per annum, before tax, up $92,100 since 2018.
Public hospital anaesthetists are usually paid under state health service awards or enterprise agreements, which set the salary bands and the loadings for on-call, recall and overtime. In private practice, income depends on the fee for each procedure and how many lists you run, so it moves with your hours and your case mix. Subspecialty matters too, since obstetric, cardiac, paediatric and pain medicine work carry different demands and different rates.
How to negotiate a higher anaesthetist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time anaesthetist salary is $431,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Anaesthetists are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Patient care and support and Medication management tend to command a premium over general anaesthetist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Anaesthetist salary questions
How much do anaesthetists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an anaesthetist is $431,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is anaesthetist pay rising or falling?
The median anaesthetist salary is up $92,100 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.