SA Intern & Resident Pay 2026–27
This page is for SA interns, residents and early-career medical practitioners who want the practical pay picture without registrar rows. It focuses on base salary, estimated take-home, the intern-to-resident jump, weekend penalties, overtime and leave items that 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 $99,707: a $7,950 base increase before roster effects.
- Weekend rostered duty is +50%, rising to +75% for Sunday hours past the eighth.
- Annual leave is 28 calendar days, or 35 days for eligible seven-day roster patterns.
SA Intern & Resident Pay Levels (Base Salary and Estimated Take-Home)
Filtered to the early-career SA rows so you can compare intern and resident pay without registrar lines getting in the way.
| Level | Base salary | Estimated take-home | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intern | $91,757 | $68,540 | Open calculator |
| Resident - Year 1 | $99,707 | $72,754 | Open calculator |
This page covers intern, resident, RMO and house officer pay in South Australia.
Rates effective first full pay period on or after 14 April 2026 · SA Health Salaried Medical Officers Enterprise Agreement 2025 (Schedule 1) · source.
What changes intern & resident take-home pay in SA?
- Classification and year level set the base row before roster effects.
- Ordinary hours average 38 per week, and rostered duty excludes remote call, proximate call and recall duty.
- Weekend work, Sunday hours past the eighth, public holidays and overtime can move pay beyond ordinary salary.
- Remote call, recall, meal-break penalties and regional incentives are practical checks when they apply.
- Professional development reimbursement depends on whether you are in accredited training.
- 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 SA rates to model the roster you actually work; the base salary row does not include roster-driven additions.
| Roster item | SA rate/loading | Why it matters | Where to model/check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday rostered duty | +50% loading (150% of base) | All rostered Saturday hours carry the weekend loading. | Model SA Saturday |
| Sunday rostered duty | +50% (150% of base); +75% (175%) past 8 hours | Sunday hours carry the same +50% weekend loading as Saturday, and each hour past the eighth on a Sunday is paid at +75% instead. | Model SA Sunday |
| Afternoon/evening duty | +15% | Eligible evening-finishing shifts add a separate loading. | Check roster inputs |
| Night duty | +25% | Night-heavy rotations can change take-home quickly. | Model night work |
| Public holiday work | +150% for time worked | Public holiday work can materially change the value of a term. | Model public holidays |
| Overtime above 76 hours per fortnight | +50% | Extra fortnightly hours can matter even before registrar-level pay. | Model overtime |
Leave and professional development for interns and residents
These items affect job value alongside base salary. Exam leave for approved postgraduate exams sits in the South Australian Medical Officers Award (cl 6.5).
| Entitlement | Amount | Who it applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual leave | 28 calendar days | Default entitlement per service year | SA agreement |
| Annual leave | 35 calendar days | Regularly rostered or required across seven days, including Sundays and public holidays | SA agreement |
| Professional development leave | 5 days per year | Accredited trainees | SA agreement |
| Professional development reimbursement | Up to $10,000 per year | Accredited trainees | SA agreement |
| Professional development leave | 1 week per year | Doctors not in accredited training | SA agreement |
| Professional development reimbursement | Up to $4,500 per year | Doctors not in accredited training | SA agreement |
| Paid maternity, adoption or surrogacy leave | 16 weeks | After 12 months continuous service | SA agreement |
| Paid maternity, adoption or surrogacy leave | 20 weeks | After 5 years SA public sector service | SA agreement |
Allowances and entitlement checks for early-career doctors
These are practical payslip checks when the relevant appointment, roster or location condition applies.
- Remote call pays an availability allowance for night, part-day and full-day periods.
- Recall has a 3-hour minimum and includes travel time from home and back.
- Worked-through meal breaks can attract an additional 50% until the break is taken or completed.
- Regional incentives apply in Modified Monash Model 4-7 locations and are not base salary.
- Fatigue facilities or a taxi home can apply where it is unsafe to drive due to fatigue.
Worked examples (SA)
* Estimated after tax and HECS/HELP. Your actual payslip will depend on roster mix, allowances, and deductions.
Frequently asked questions
Which SA grades are included on this page?
Why can two SA residents take home different amounts?
Where should I check the full SA pay guide?
Which SA professional development item matters early?
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