WA Junior Doctor Salary & Take-Home Pay | 2025–26

What determines your pay in WA?

• Base rate: classification (intern, RMO, registrar) and year level.
• Penalties: evenings, nights, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Overtime: mainly after 10 hours in one shift, and also in heavier fortnights (>80 / >120 paid hours in a 2-week cycle).
• On-call vs recall: being available is paid differently from actually being called back in.
• Allowances: Professional Development Allowance, meal allowance, travel reimbursement, higher duties.
• Tax + HECS/HELP: affects take-home pay.
• Salary packaging: can improve take-home pay where available.

Levels and base rates (WA)

WA EBA high-yield summary

This section mirrors the WA agreement summary and focuses on clauses doctors in training commonly use for roster and payroll questions.

Instrument referenced: WA Health System - Medical Practitioners - AMA Industrial Agreement 2024.

Who this applies to

• Applies to WA Health employers across the State. It excludes clinical academics and Health Executive Service / Senior Executive Service employees. (Clause 3)
• "Doctor in Training" includes Intern, Resident Medical Officer, Registrar and Senior Registrar. (Clause 8)
• Part-time work is normally available from RMO and above. Interns are ordinarily full-time, but part-time can be approved on request. (Clause 10(2))
• Interns cannot be casual, and RMOs are not normally casual. (Clause 11(2))

Ordinary hours and roster protections

• Ordinary hours are an average 40 hours/week. (Clause 15(1))
• Rosters run on a 14-day or 28-day cycle. (Clause 16(2))
• Minimum rostered duty period is 3 hours. (Clause 15(6)(a))
• Overtime / extended shift rates start once you work more than 10 hours in one shift. (Clause 17(2))
• Rosters must be available at least 14 days before they start; where possible the aim is 21 days. (Clause 16(5))
• No split shifts. Rosters should not be changed mid-cycle except in an emergency or by agreement. (Clause 16(3), Clause 16(6)-(7))

Penalty rates and overtime

On-call and key allowances

On-call pays for being available. Recall pays for actually being called back. No double-dipping for the same period. (Clause 33)

Leave and study entitlements used most by trainees

Annual and personal leave

• Annual leave: 160 hours/year for full-time doctors, accruing pro rata weekly. (Clause 34(1))
• Extra annual leave can accrue:
  • +8 hours per 120 hours on call
  • +8 hours per 7 ordinary Sunday/public holiday shifts
  capped at 40 extra hours/year. (Clause 34(3)-(4))
• Annual leave loading is already annualised into base salary. (Clause 34(17))
• Personal leave: 80 hours/year for full-time doctors, accruing pro rata weekly. (Clause 36(4))
• More than 2 consecutive working days requires a medical certificate or other reasonable evidence. (Clause 36(14)-(15))
• Bereavement leave: up to 3 days, and the days do not need to be consecutive. (Clause 37(1)-(2))

Study, parental, long service

• Exam leave: 4 paid days to sit approved exams, plus 3 clear days off immediately before the exam. (Clause 18(2))
• Professional development leave: 3 weeks paid per calendar year. (Clause 18(3))
• PD leave carryover: up to 9 weeks. (Clause 18(6))
• Paid parental leave: 14 weeks paid for a primary caregiver with 12 months continuous service, as part of 52 weeks parental leave. (Clause 43(18)(a))
• Paid parental leave can be taken at half pay for double the period. (Clause 43(18)(c))
• Long service leave: 13 weeks after 10 years, then 13 weeks after each further 7 years. (Clause 38(1))
• Special leave can be granted with or without pay for conferences, training, further professional skills and study leave. (Clause 48(1))

Safe rostering and fatigue rules

• In each 28-day cycle, you must get 8 days free from ordinary duty, and where practicable at least 4 days free from all duty including on-call. (Clause 15(3)(a))
• You must get at least 2 consecutive days off all duty in each 28-day cycle, and 48 consecutive hours off after no more than 12 days' work. (Clause 15(3)(b)-(c))
• There must be at least a 10-hour break between duty periods. If breached, subsequent hours attract a 50% loading until you get 10 consecutive hours free. (Clause 15(4))
• Maximum rostered hours are 75 hours in 7 days and 140 hours in 14 days. (Clause 15(6)(b))
• Maximum shift length is 14 hours, or 12 hours if the shift starts after noon, or 13 hours after noon only by written agreement with the Association. (Clause 15(6)(c)-(e))
• You should not normally be rostered more than 4 consecutive nights; 5 is only allowed if total rostered hours do not exceed 50. (Clause 15(6)(f))
• After nights, you must get 24 hours off after 1-3 consecutive nights, and 48 hours off after 4-5 consecutive nights, unless you agree to less. (Clause 15(6)(g))
• Paid breaks: 30 minutes each duty period, plus a second paid 30-minute break if the duty period is over 10 hours. (Clause 15(7))
• Rosters must be published 14 days ahead where possible, there are no split shifts, and mid-cycle changes need an emergency or agreement. (Clause 16)
• Fatigue supports: where practicable, overnight staff should have access to sleeping and shower facilities; if too tired to drive home safely because of work, the employer reimburses reasonable travel home and return travel to collect your car. (Clause 16(10), Clause 15(10))

Worked examples (WA)

* After tax and HECs repayments have been deducted

FAQ

Sources and disclaimer

• WA AMA Agreement 2024
• ATO study and training support loans rates and thresholds

Estimates only; confirm with the state/territory award/EBA and your employer’s HR/payroll.