GP Salary in Australia 2026: What the Bulk Billing Incentive Means One Year On

The share of GPs bulk billing every patient has more than doubled in a year, from 12% to 26%, according to the RACGP. GP pay in 2026 looks different from a year ago, and searches for "GP salary Australia" only tell part of the story. The Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program turns one in November. Here is what the official pay figures show and why they differ, what the incentive actually pays, how GP earnings are calculated, and what to ask before you take on flexible telehealth sessions.

Why the numbers differ: GP salary at a glance

• Tax data is after deductions. It reflects what GPs declare, after the practice service fee and work-related costs, and it includes part-time GPs. The median sits below the average because a smaller group of high-billing GPs lifts the average.

• Job ad figures are advertised, not earned. Some include super and some don't, and many GP ads quote a percentage of billings rather than a salary.

• Tax data lags. The latest ATO figures are for 2023–24, before the November 2025 expansion of bulk billing incentives.

What the incentive pays and who qualifies

Since 1 November 2025, the Australian Government's bulk billing investment in general practice has had two parts, according to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing:

1. Expanded MBS bulk billing incentives (BBIs). BBIs, the extra MBS payments made when a GP bulk bills an eligible service, now apply to all Medicare-eligible patients, not just concession card holders and children. Their value depends on the service and the practice's Modified Monash Model location.

2. The Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP). Participating practices receive an additional quarterly payment of 12.5% of MBS benefits paid on eligible services, split evenly between the GP and the practice. It is paid on top of Medicare benefits and BBIs.

To take part, a practice must bulk bill every eligible service for every Medicare-eligible patient, be registered in MyMedicare (patients don't need to be), list as fully bulk billing in healthdirect's National Health Services Directory, meet the signage and program guideline requirements, and register through Services Australia.

In plain terms: in a participating practice, a GP's share works out to an extra 6.25 cents for every dollar of eligible MBS benefit, paid quarterly.

What RACGP's 2026 data shows

The RACGP's Health of the Nation 2026 report, released on 28 October 2026 and based on a survey of 2,766 practising GPs, found:

• the share of GPs who bulk bill all their patients rose from 12% in 2025 to 26% in 2026

• 63% of Australians were bulk billed for all their GP care, up from 56% in both 2024 and 2025, but still below the pre-COVID level of 70% in 2019

• the share of Australians delaying GP care because of cost fell from 8.8% to 7.7% between 2023-24 and 2024-25, a figure the report draws from the ABS Patient Experiences survey

RACGP President Dr Michael Wright has welcomed the results, while warning that "we can't measure success solely by bulk billing rates", and that longer, complex consults still need better Medicare support.

How GP earnings are calculated (service fee split)

There is no single "GP salary" in Australia, because most GPs are not salaried. Most work as independent contractors and earn from their own billings. The usual model looks like this:

1. Gross billings: Medicare benefits, any BBIs, and private fees where they are charged.

2. Service fee: the GP pays the practice an agreed percentage of billings for rooms, staff, systems and support. The percentage varies widely between practices and contracts.

3. Incentives: in a BBPIP practice, the GP's 6.25% share is added, and some other incentive programs may also apply.

That means two GPs on the same "split" can earn very different amounts, depending on consult length, item mix, patient volume, location, no-show rates and how much admin they carry themselves. When you compare offers, compare the whole picture, not only the headline percentage.

Patients per hour vs income: a worked example (illustrative only)

The numbers below are made-up round figures to show how the levers interact. They are not MBS fees, and they are not a bulkbill.doctor rate or offer.

GP B sees fewer patients, with longer consults that bill more per visit, and ends up in the same place. Change any one lever, such as consult mix, no-shows, incentives or the fee percentage, and the result moves. That is why consult length and item support matter as much as the headline split.

Longer consults and the Medicare gap

The RACGP's 2026 report notes that consults are getting longer while Medicare rebates for longer, complex consultations have not kept pace. Under a fully bulk-billed model, the time you spend per patient directly affects billings. It is worth asking any practice which consult lengths it supports, so you are not pushed into short consults to make the numbers work.

Flexible telehealth sessions: what to ask a practice

Telehealth GP jobs can offer real flexibility, but the details matter. Before you sign, ask:

1. Is the practice participating in BBPIP, and how is the GP share of the incentive paid?

2. What is the service fee, and what exactly does it cover (admin, claiming, pathology and imaging integration, IT, indemnity support)?

3. How are no-shows and late cancellations handled?

4. Which consult lengths and item types are supported?

5. How are patient eligibility and Medicare telehealth rules checked before booking?

6. How are notes and results shared with the patient's usual GP?

7. How much control do you have over your roster and leave?

Working with bulkbill.doctor

At bulkbill.doctor, Australian-registered GPs deliver bulk-billed telehealth care for eligible patients, with private appointments where that better suits the clinical or patient situation. We support standard, long and extended consultations, our pre-booking flow checks Medicare eligibility, and seek patient consent to share notes and results with the usual GP. Administration, invoicing and Medicare claims are handled for you, with electronic pathology and imaging integration, and you set your own sessions. You keep control of the clinical decision.

We are looking for highly qualified Australian GPs who share our commitment to accessible, high-quality care. Details are on our careers page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average GP salary in Australia in 2026? The latest ATO Taxation statistics (2023–24, published June 2026) show an average taxable income of $196,060 for general practice, with a median of $156,733. SEEK's October 2026 salary insights show an average advertised GP salary of $206,958 in Healthcare & Medical job ads. The figures measure different things, so they differ.

How are GPs paid in Australia? Most GPs are independent contractors paid a percentage of their billings, after a service fee to the practice for rooms, staff and systems. GP registrars and some salaried roles are paid differently. Earnings depend on hours, billing model and the service fee split.

Does bulk billing reduce GP income? It depends on the patient mix, consult length and the incentives that apply. Since 1 November 2025, eligible practices that bulk bill all eligible patients receive an extra quarterly payment of 12.5% of MBS benefits on eligible services, split equally between the GP and the practice, on top of existing bulk billing incentives.

Can GPs work flexibly in telehealth? Yes. Many practices offer telehealth sessions that GPs can fit around other work. Ask about session minimums, the service fee split, admin and clinical support, and how the practice handles follow-up and referrals before you start.

CTA Want flexible GP work around the rest of your life? Send an expression of interest for evening or weekend telehealth sessions at bulkbill.doctor, and we'll be in touch for a discussion with the founders.

Anyone can book. Medicare bulk billed if eligible.