Doctor shocks Aussies with low hourly pay: ‘System is messed’

A doctor has revealed how much she is getting paid to work in the Australian hospital system, and people have been shocked by the amount. While doctors usually land on lists of the highest-paid professions, it appears there's a long road before that big payday.

An emergency department (ED) doctor was stopped on the streets of Brisbane and asked how much she was earning. She revealed it was around $40 per hour.

"I make just enough to support myself," she added.

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She said that's the starting salary after seven years of studying at university, which included an undergraduate and post-graduate degree.

According to the Medic Mind, the average annual cost of a medicine degree in Australia is between $10,000 to $40,000 per year for a domestic student. International students can pay upwards of $80,000 per year to do their studies.

The price difference is based on where you study and what type of medical degree you do.

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The ED doctor in Brisbane said a perk of medicine was that a job straight after university was almost "guaranteed", which is in stark contrast to other degrees where graduates spend months trying to find a role in an oversaturated market.

At the moment, she's working 40 hours per week, meaning her take-home pay is roughly $1,600.

"Pursue [medicine] only if you really like it. Don't start medicine just because you want to chase money," she said.

The doctor added that she's working a variety of shifts week-to-week, including morning, day, evening and overnights.

"It's taking a toll on my social life, because you don't really get the weekends off... otherwise, I just go through the day and hope for the best."

Shock erupts over doctor's low pay

Aussies were shocked that a doctor could be paid as low as $40 per hour.

"System is MESSED. Pay our medical professionals more," wrote one person.

"That is so underpaid," added another.

A third said: "Damn that’s underpaid. I make $47 an hour in an office, my qualifications are two diplomas which took me 18 months total."

According to the Queensland Health Department, a resident doctor, who is in their second year after finishing university, is paid $45.46 per hour.

It works out to be an annual salary of $90,141 based on a 76-80 hour week.

The pay will vary between each state and territory and some hospitals and health departments will pay big bucks for you to go regional or rural.

The ED doctor admitted that her pay will go up each year as she gains more experience.

But medics also have to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on registration fees, indemnity insurance, conferences, college fees, courses, and exams (which you have to pay for even if you fail).

How much can doctors get paid?

It's a tough question to answer because it depends on which speciality you choose, what level of seniority you are, where you are in the country, whether you work in the private versus public system, and whether you take on extra shifts.

Consultants are the highest rank in seniority for medics and you can earn a pretty penny if you get into the right speciality.

Below is a list of the highest-paid areas of medicine in Australia:

• Neurosurgeon: Pay bracket is $300,000 to $800,000+ per year

• Cardiothoracic Surgeon: $300,000 to $700,000+

• Orthopaedic Surgeon: $250,000 to $650,000+

• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon: $200,000 to $600,000+

• Ophthalmologist: $200,000 to $600,000

• Gastroenterologist: $200,000 to $550,000

• Radiologist: $250,000 to $550,000

• Dermatologist: $200,000 to $500,000

• Anaesthetist: $250,000 to $600,000+

• Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: $200,000 to $550,000

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