NT Intern & Resident Pay 2026–27
This page is for NT interns, residents and early-career doctors who want the practical pay picture without registrar rows. It focuses on base salary, estimated take-home, intern-to-resident progression, shift penalties, overtime, leave and restrictive-duty items that can affect real payslips.
By Jacob Stretton, RN & final-year medical student · figures sourced from the public EBAs & the ATO · About & methodology →
Key takeaways
- Resident - Year 1 is $102,781: a $12,631 base increase before roster effects.
- Relocation allowance of $678/fortnight (employee only) or $937/fortnight (with family) applies while relocating; almost all NT doctors qualify (NT Determination 1 of 2026).
- On-call (restrictive duty) pays $5.02/hr; annual leave loading is a flat $1,811/annum from NT Determination By-law 5, not the 17.5% percentage used elsewhere.
NT Intern & Resident Pay Levels (Base Salary and Estimated Take-Home)
Filtered to the early-career NT rows so you can compare intern and resident pay without registrar lines getting in the way.
| Level | Base salary | Estimated take-home | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intern | $90,150 | $68,649 | Open calculator |
| Resident - Year 1 | $102,781 | $75,343 | Open calculator |
| Resident - Year 2 | $109,661 | $78,989 | Open calculator |
| Resident - Year 3 | $116,306 | $82,511 | Open calculator |
| Resident - Year 4 | $122,264 | $85,669 | Open calculator |
This page covers intern, resident, RMO and house officer pay in Northern Territory.
Rates effective 1 January 2025 (verified current as at July 2026: the 2022–2025 EA remains in operation; a proposed 2026–2029 EA was voted down in February 2026 and an improved offer is under negotiation) · Medical Officers (NTPS) 2022–2025 Enterprise Agreement – OCPE published rates of pay · source.
What changes intern & resident take-home pay in NT?
- Classification and year level set the base row before roster effects.
- Evening, night, Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and overtime inputs can move pay beyond ordinary salary.
- Restrictive duty, clinical advice by telephone, recall/call-back and meal payments are practical checks when they apply.
- Higher Education Contribution Scheme/Higher Education Loan Program (HECS/HELP) withholding and salary packaging settings still decide what lands in your bank account.
Early-career penalty-rate table
Use these NT rates to model the roster you actually work. Loadings are additive to the ordinary rate, so +100% Sunday is ×2 all-in.
| Roster item | NT rate/loading | Why it matters | Where to model/check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 38 hours per week | Sets the base frame before shiftwork and overtime additions. | Open intern calculator |
| Evening / night shiftwork | +15% evening; +22.5% night | After-hours ordinary duty can move take-home above base salary. | Open intern calculator |
| Saturday / Sunday ordinary duty | +50% Saturday; +100% Sunday | Weekend work is a major early-career roster variable. | Open resident calculator |
| Public holiday ordinary duty | +150% | Public holiday work can materially change the value of a term. | Model public holidays |
| Overtime | ×1.5 weekdays; ×2 weekends; ×2.5 public holidays | Extra hours should be modelled separately from ordinary penalties. | Model overtime |
| Separate overtime attendance | 4-hour minimum; 3-hour minimum in restrictive duty | Minimum payments can matter when recalled outside ordinary duty. | Check NT agreement notes |
| On-call (restrictive duty) | $5.02 per hour | NT Determination 1 of 2026: $5.02/hr flat rate while on restrictive duty; add to worked-example income when modelling on-call rosters. | Model NT on-call |
Leave and professional development for interns and residents
These items affect practical job value alongside base salary.
| Item | Entitlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation leave | 4 weeks plus 2 weeks if stationed in NT | Seven-day shiftworker settings can lift it to 7 weeks. |
| Personal leave | 3 weeks per year | |
| Protected teaching time | At least 2 hours per week | For Doctors in Training where teaching time is allocated. |
| Professional development | Leave and allowance items | Listed in the NT agreement summary. |
Allowances and entitlement checks for early-career doctors
These are practical payslip checks when the relevant roster or duty condition applies.
- Overtime through recognised meal periods on weekends or public holidays can trigger meal provision or a meal payment with approval.
- Restrictive duty includes first roster on-call and clinical advice by telephone; these should be separated from recall/call-back work.
- The 9-hour break rule can affect recovery time and pay if you are directed back without enough time off.
Worked examples (NT)
* Estimated after tax and HECS/HELP. Your actual payslip will depend on roster mix, allowances, and deductions.
Frequently asked questions
Which NT grades are included on this page?
Why can two NT residents take home different amounts?
Where should I check the full NT pay guide?
What NT leave item matters early?
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