Western Australia › Consultants & Specialists
WA Senior Practitioner Pay 2025–26
Western Australia's specialist-level hospital doctors are called 'Senior Practitioners' under the WA Health System – Medical Practitioners – AMA Industrial Agreement 2024 (WAIRC WAH041). WA operates under a state industrial system (WAIRC, not Fair Work). The agreement uses an Arrangement A/B salary structure; an ordinary working week is 40 hours (vs 38 hours nationally). The PDA of $31,926/year is the highest confirmed specialist PDA in Australia.
Key takeaways
- WA Senior Practitioner base salary is estimated at ~$245,000–$320,000 following substantial increases: 4.75% in 2024, 3.75% in September 2025, and 3% in 2026 under the 2024 Agreement.
- Professional Development Allowance of $31,926/year is the highest confirmed specialist PDA of any Australian state — paid from the first pay period, pro-rated for part-time.
- WA uses a 40-hour ordinary working week (vs 38-hour nationally), affecting how hourly rates and overtime thresholds are calculated.
- WA operates under a state industrial system (WAIRC) rather than the federal Fair Work framework, giving the AMA (WA) direct negotiating leverage.
Which model applies?
Most Western Australia specialists work as Senior Practitioners, VMOs, or hold concurrent appointments across both models.
Senior Practitioner
Salaried employee under the WA AMA Industrial Agreement 2024. 40-hour ordinary working week. Arrangement A/B salary structure. PDA of $31,926/year — highest of any Australian state.
Jump to Senior Practitioner ↓Visiting Medical Officer (VMO)
Sessional contractor paid per session. No leave, no employer super. Suits doctors working across multiple facilities.
Jump to VMO ↓Senior Practitioner — salary
WA uses an Arrangement A/B salary structure. Arrangement B is the base Award rate; Arrangement A is an additional payment. Figures below represent estimated combined totals. The PDA of $31,926/year is paid separately and is not included in these figures.
| Grade | Base Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Practitioner Year 1 | $245,000 | Estimated. PDA of $31,926 additional. |
| Senior Practitioner Year 2 | $259,000 | Estimated. |
| Senior Practitioner Year 3 | $274,000 | Estimated. |
| Senior Practitioner Year 4 | $290,000 | Estimated. |
| Senior Practitioner Year 5 | $306,000 | Estimated. |
| Senior Practitioner Year 6+ | $322,000 | Estimated. Top of Senior Practitioner scale. |
All base salary figures are estimates — Schedule 1 of the 2024 WA AMA Agreement (WAH041) is not available as readable text online. PDA of $31,926/year is confirmed and additional. Superannuation: ~12%. Ordinary week = 40 hours.
Private practice
On-call, callback & penalty rates
| Payment type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime (weekday) | 150% for first 2 hours, then 200% | Ordinary hours threshold is 40h/week in WA (vs 38h in most other states). |
| Saturday | 150% of ordinary rate | |
| Sunday | 175% of ordinary rate | |
| Public holiday | 250% of ordinary rate | |
| On-call availability | Per 2024 Agreement schedule | Specific rate in Schedule 2 of the 2024 WA AMA Agreement (WAH041). |
| PDA | $31,926/year (confirmed) | Paid from first pay period, pro-rated for part-time. Highest specialist PDA nationally. |
VMO — sessional rates
WA does not have a single state-wide VMO sessional rate agreement equivalent to QLD's VMO1. Specialist on-call and sessional arrangements may be governed by subsidiary agreements (e.g., WA Emergency General Surgery 2024, Pathologists Agreement 2024) or negotiated individually through the health service.
| Service type | Rate per session (4 h) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General / non-procedural | Negotiated per health service | No single published state rate. |
| Procedural / specialist | Negotiated per health service | Specialty subsidiary agreements may apply (e.g., Orthopaedic Trauma 2024). |
- WA does not have a state-wide VMO sessional rate bulletin — rates are set at health service level.
- Specialty-specific on-call and sessional arrangements may be governed by subsidiary agreements (e.g., WA Emergency General Surgery Agreement 2024, Pathologists Agreement 2024).
- Standard Award penalty rates (overtime, callbacks) do not apply to VMO sessions — any such entitlements must be specified in the individual VMO contract.
- Fee-for-service VMOs billing Medicare directly are not covered by any health service sessional arrangement and set their rates under MBS or private schedules.
- Contact AMA (WA) or the relevant health service for current VMO sessional rates.
- Leave, superannuation, and insurance are the VMO's responsibility.
Senior Practitioner vs VMO
| Feature | Senior Practitioner | VMO |
|---|---|---|
| Employment type | Salaried employee (state industrial system) | Independent contractor |
| Pay structure | Arrangement A + B base salary; 40h ordinary week | Per-session rate (negotiated) |
| Annual leave | Paid | No — self-funded |
| Sick leave | Paid | No |
| Superannuation | ~12% employer contribution | Self-funded |
| PDA | Yes ($31,926/year) — highest nationally | No |
| Private practice | Via health service arrangement | Independent billing |
| Insurance | WorkCover covered by employer | Self-funded medical indemnity + income protection |
| Industrial system | WAIRC (state) — not federal Fair Work | N/A |
| Salary packaging | ~$9,010 FBT-free (EPHA — verify with WA Health) | Not applicable |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the ordinary working week 40 hours in WA when it's 38 hours in other states?
WA operates under its own industrial system (WAIRC) rather than the national Fair Work framework. The 40-hour ordinary week has been a feature of WA's medical agreements for decades. Practically, overtime thresholds apply above 40 hours rather than 38, which affects how overtime and on-call calculations work compared to other states.
What are Arrangement A and B?
The 2024 WA AMA Agreement uses two salary arrangements. Arrangement B is the base Award rate. Arrangement A is a higher rate reflecting additional on-call obligations or special responsibilities, and applies to most specialist positions. The specific arrangement applicable to your position is confirmed at appointment by WA Health.
The base salary figures are listed as estimates — how do I find the actual numbers?
The Schedule 1 salary tables in the 2024 WA AMA Agreement (WAH041) are not available as readable text on the WAIRC public website. To confirm current rates, contact AMA (WA) directly, request the wage schedule from WA Health Medical Workforce, or look for a WA Health salary circular. The PDA of $31,926 is confirmed from WA Country Health publications.
The PDA is $31,926 — is that on top of salary or included in it?
The PDA is paid in addition to base salary and is pro-rated for part-time. At $31,926/year it is the highest specialist professional development allowance in Australia — significantly above QLD ($22,145), NSW TESL ($40,000–$55,000 but subject to approved use), and most other states ($5,000–$10,000).
I'm an NSW or QLD specialist considering WA — how does total compensation compare?
WA's headline advantages are the $31,926 PDA, the Arrangement A additional payment, and strong overtime provisions relative to the 40-hour ordinary week. Base salary is estimated as broadly comparable to NSW's effective base once PDA is added. Regional WA positions can attract significant salary supplements — contact AMA (WA) for current rural and remote loading details.