Queensland › Consultants & Specialists
QLD Staff Specialist Pay 2025–26
Queensland Health calls consultant-level specialist doctors 'Staff Specialists' (occasionally 'Senior Staff Specialists' at the most senior levels). They are employed under the Medical Officers' (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement No.7 2025 (MOCA7) on an L-number pay scale. A dedicated VMO agreement (VMO1 2023) covers sessional visiting specialists.
Key takeaways
- QLD Staff Specialist base salaries run $223,142–$282,918 (L18–L27) under MOCA7 (3% from 1 July 2025); Senior Staff Specialist rates sit above $282,918.
- Professional Development Allowance of $22,145/year is one of the highest PDA rates of any eastern state for specialist-level doctors.
- Rural Attraction and Retention Allowance of up to 35% (rising to 40% from 1 July 2026 under MOCA7) applies for eligible rural and remote positions.
- QLD VMO1 2023 sets confirmed specialist sessional rates: $804–$956 per 4-hour session (1 July 2025, 48% loaded) — one of the few states with a formally published sessional rate schedule.
Which model applies?
Most Queensland specialists work as Staff Specialists, VMOs, or hold concurrent appointments across both models.
Staff Specialist
Salaried employee of Queensland Health. L18–L27 pay scale + Professional Development Allowance of $22,145/year. Annual leave loading, rural attraction allowances, and private practice access via hospital arrangement.
Jump to Staff Specialist ↓Visiting Medical Officer (VMO)
Sessional contractor paid per session. No leave, no employer super. Suits doctors working across multiple facilities.
Jump to VMO ↓Staff Specialist — salary
QLD Staff Specialists are paid on an L-number scale (L18–L27) with annual increments. The Professional Development Allowance ($22,145/year) is paid on top of base salary and is not included in the figures below. Superannuation is 12.75%.
| Grade | Base Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Specialist Level 18 | $223,142 | Entry level for Fellowship-qualified specialists under MOCA7. |
| Staff Specialist Level 21 | $243,177 | |
| Staff Specialist Level 24 | $263,082 | |
| Staff Specialist Level 27 | $282,918 | Top of the L18–L27 Staff Specialist scale. |
| Senior Staff Specialist | $304,000 | Estimated. Above L27; rate confirmed only from advertised positions. |
Figures reflect MOCA7 rates (3% from 1 July 2025 applied to MOCA6 confirmed rates). PDA of $22,145/year is additional and not included above. Superannuation: 12.75%. Senior Staff Specialist is estimated.
Private practice
On-call, callback & penalty rates
| Payment type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| On-call availability | Per MOCA7 schedule | On-call rates are set in the MOCA7 Agreement. Contact QLD Health HR for current hourly amounts. |
| Overtime (weekday) | 150% for first 2 hours, then 200% | Hours beyond ordinary rostered hours on weekdays. |
| Saturday | 150% of ordinary rate | |
| Sunday | 200% of ordinary rate | |
| Public holiday | 250% of ordinary rate | |
| Rural A&R Allowance | 35% of base (rising to 40% from 1 July 2026) | Applies to eligible rural and remote positions under MOCA7. |
VMO — sessional rates
Queensland's Visiting Medical Officers' Employees (QLD Health) CA (VMO1) 2023 (QIRC CB/2024/15) is one of the few states with a formally published sessional rate schedule. All VMO1 rates use a 48% loaded model — superannuation and on-costs are bundled into the hourly rate rather than paid separately. The agreement covers Visiting Specialists, Visiting Senior Specialists, and Visiting General Practitioners.
| Service type | Rate per session (4 h) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting Specialist — 1st Year | $804.16 | $201.04/hr × 4 hrs (48% loaded rate, effective 1 July 2025). |
| Visiting Specialist — 2nd Year | $831.60 | $207.90/hr × 4 hrs (48% loaded rate, effective 1 July 2025). |
| Visiting Specialist — 3rd Year | $858.12 | $214.53/hr × 4 hrs (48% loaded rate, effective 1 July 2025). |
| Visiting Specialist — 4th Year | $879.72 | $219.93/hr × 4 hrs (48% loaded rate, effective 1 July 2025). |
| Visiting Senior Specialist | $955.72 | $238.93/hr × 4 hrs (48% loaded rate, effective 1 July 2025). |
| Visiting GP (1st–3rd Year / with FRACGP 1st Year) | $698.32 | $174.58/hr × 4 hrs (48% loaded rate, effective 1 July 2025). |
| Visiting GP with FRACGP — 3rd Year+ | $751.24 | $187.81/hr × 4 hrs (48% loaded rate, effective 1 July 2025). |
- Rates confirmed from VMO1 wages schedule (QLD Health, effective 1 July 2025).
- The 48% loaded rate bundles superannuation and on-costs — do not compare directly to NSW or other states where superannuation is paid separately on top of the session rate.
- VMO1 does not provide for standard Award overtime or penalty rates — the sessional rate is the total payment for the session. On-call and callback obligations are set by individual contract.
- Hours beyond the session may be billed at the hourly rate under VMO1.
- Fee-for-service VMOs bill Medicare directly and operate outside VMO1 — their rates are determined by the MBS and private billing arrangements.
- Rural VMO placements may attract additional allowances under separate QLD Health policy.
Staff Specialist vs VMO
| Feature | Staff Specialist | VMO |
|---|---|---|
| Employment type | Salaried employee of Queensland Health | Independent contractor |
| Pay scale | L18–L27+ MOCA7 base salary | VMO1 2023 sessional rate (48% loaded; $804–$956/4hr session for specialists) |
| Annual leave | 5 weeks paid + 17.5% loading | No — self-funded |
| Sick leave | Paid | No |
| Superannuation | 12.75% employer contribution | Self-funded |
| PDA | Yes ($22,145/year) | No |
| Private practice | Available via hospital RPP arrangement | Independent billing |
| Rural allowance | 35–40% A&R allowance for eligible positions | Negotiated per contract |
| Insurance | WorkCover covered by employer | Self-funded medical indemnity + income protection |
| Career progression | L18 → L27 → Senior Staff Specialist | No set progression |
| Salary packaging | ~$9,010 FBT-free (EPHA — standard public hospital) | Not applicable |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the L-number scale mean and where would I start?
QLD Health uses a pay classification from L18 (entry-level Staff Specialist) through L27+ (Senior Staff Specialist). Fellowship-qualified specialists with limited post-Fellowship experience typically enter around L18–L20; those with several years' specialist experience negotiate higher entry. The specific starting level is agreed at appointment with QLD Health.
What is the PDA and can I use it on anything I want?
The Professional Development Allowance ($22,145/year under MOCA7) covers conferences, courses, journal subscriptions, and approved professional development activities. It is a defined entitlement paid to eligible Staff Specialists — not discretionary income — and has an approved-purposes policy. Contact your health service for what qualifies.
How does the Rural Attraction and Retention Allowance work?
Eligible rural and remote QLD Health positions attract an A&R Allowance of 35% of base salary, rising to 40% from 1 July 2026 under MOCA7. Not every regional position qualifies — the list of eligible locations is set by QLD Health. At Senior Staff Specialist level, the allowance can add over $100,000/year to base salary. Confirm eligibility with your prospective hospital or QLD Health Medical Workforce.
I'm a senior registrar finishing fellowship — how does the move to Staff Specialist pay work?
The transition happens at appointment, not at Fellowship completion. Once you hold your Fellowship and secure a Staff Specialist position, your pay moves immediately to the MOCA7 Staff Specialist scale from your first day in the role. There is no transitional grade between registrar and Staff Specialist.
QLD VMO1 rates look lower than NSW — why?
QLD's VMO1 uses a 48% loaded rate model where superannuation and on-costs are bundled into the hourly rate, rather than paid separately on top of the session rate as in NSW. When you adjust for this difference, QLD and NSW VMO rates are considerably more comparable than the headline per-session figures suggest.
Can a QLD Staff Specialist also work VMO sessions?
It is possible, but subject to QLD Health's conflict of interest and secondary employment policies. Staff Specialists wanting to do sessional VMO work — particularly at a different health service — typically need written approval from their principal employer. Approval is more straightforward when there is no conflict with rostered duties.