VIC Medical Specialist Pay 2025–26
Victorian public hospital medical specialists are employed under the AMA Victoria – Victorian Public Health Sector – Medical Specialists (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2022–2026. VIC uses a total remuneration package model — base salary is not separately itemised in official publications. Sessional VMO arrangements are managed at individual health service level with no state-wide rate bulletin.
Last updated: 2026-07-04
By Jacob Stretton — RN & final-year medical student · figures sourced from the public EBAs & the ATO · About & methodology →
Key takeaways
- VIC Medical Specialist total remuneration packages range ~$375,000–$490,000+, bundling base salary, superannuation, CME allowance, private practice, and on-call into a single figure.
- Regional specialists attract up to a 25% Designated Location Attraction and Retention Allowance on top of metropolitan rates, plus federal rural incentive grants of ~$13,000/year.
- CME allowance of $5,000/year is included in the package; a 25% Friday evening loading (6 pm–midnight) applies from March 2023 under the 2022–2026 EA.
- VMO sessional rates are set at individual health service level — there is no state-wide VIC VMO rate bulletin equivalent to NSW's IB2024_001.
Which model applies?
Most Victoria specialists work as Medical Specialists, VMOs, or hold concurrent appointments across both models. For a national overview of how the two employment models differ on pay, leave, super and private practice, see staff specialist vs VMO explained.
Medical Specialist
Salaried employee of the health service. Total remuneration package includes base salary, superannuation, CME allowance, and private practice component.
Jump to Medical Specialist ↓Visiting Medical Officer (VMO)
Sessional contractor paid per session. No leave, no employer super. Suits doctors working across multiple facilities.
Jump to VMO ↓Medical Specialist — remuneration
The 2022–2026 EA uses experience-based tiers rather than numbered levels. Approximate total remuneration packages are listed; base salary is not separately published in official sources.
| Experience tier | Approx. total package | CME (~) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Specialist (Metropolitan, <5 years post-Fellowship) | ~$375,000 | $5,000 | Entry metropolitan tier. |
| Medical Specialist (Metropolitan, 5–9 years) | ~$397,000 | $5,000 | Mid-career metropolitan tier. |
| Medical Specialist (Metropolitan, 9+ years) | ~$420,000 | $5,000 | Senior metropolitan tier. |
| Medical Specialist (Regional, 5–9 years) | ~$435,000 | $5,000 | Regional premium (25% loading). Federal rural grant ~$13k additional. |
| Medical Specialist (Regional, 9+ years) | ~$490,000 | $5,000 | Senior regional tier. Federal rural grant ~$13k additional. |
Package includes base salary, 11–12% superannuation, private practice component, CME allowance, and on-call allowances. Regional tiers include a 25% Designated Location Attraction and Retention Allowance.
Private practice
On-call, callback & penalty rates
| Payment type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| On-call availability | Included in total package | On-call component is bundled into the total remuneration package. |
| Friday evening (6 pm–midnight) | +25% loading | Additional loading for rostered work 6 pm–midnight Fridays (from March 2023 EA amendment). |
| Overtime / callback | Per EA schedule | Set in the Enterprise Agreement. Contact AMA Victoria or VHIA Circular 820/821 for specific rates. |
VMO — sessional rates
VIC does not have a state-wide VMO sessional rate bulletin. Sessional arrangements are governed at individual health service level. Rates vary by specialty, health service, and contract type. Contact the relevant health service VMO coordinator for current rates.
| Service type | Rate per session (4 h) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General / non-procedural | Health service–negotiated | No published state-wide rate. |
| Procedural / specialist | Health service–negotiated | Typically higher than non-procedural; varies significantly by specialty and service. |
- One session is typically 4 hours; definition may vary by health service.
- There is no VIC equivalent of NSW's IB2024_001 — rates are negotiated per health service.
- Standard Award overtime and penalty rates do not apply to VMO sessions. The sessional rate is the agreed payment for the session; any on-call or callback obligations are set by individual contract.
- Fee-for-service VMOs bill Medicare directly and are not covered by any health service sessional arrangement — their rates follow the MBS or private billing schedules.
- Leave, superannuation, and insurance are the VMO's responsibility.
- Private practice billing is separate from any sessional fee.
Medical Specialist vs VMO
| Feature | Medical Specialist | VMO |
|---|---|---|
| Employment type | Salaried employee | Independent contractor |
| Pay model | Total remuneration package (base + super + PP + CME) | Per-session rate (negotiated per health service) |
| Annual leave | Paid (included in package) | No — self-funded |
| Sick leave | Paid | No |
| Superannuation | 11–12% in package | Self-funded |
| CME allowance | Yes ($5,000/year) | No |
| Private practice | Bundled in package arrangement | Independent billing |
| Regional loading | Yes — up to 25% Designated Location Allowance | N/A — negotiated |
| Insurance | WorkCover covered by employer | Self-funded medical indemnity + income protection |
| Career progression | Experience tiers (<5yr, 5–9yr, 9+yr); Metro and Regional | No set progression |
| Salary packaging | ~$9,010 FBT-free (EPHA — standard public hospital) | Not applicable |