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Medical Physicist Salary in Australia

The Definitive Guide to Hospital, Cancer Centre and Private Oncology Medical Physicist Salaries, ACPSEM Pathways, and Career Progression.

Trainee / Registrar

$72,000 – $92,000

Accredited Medical Physicist

$110,000 – $145,000

Senior Medical Physicist

$145,000 – $175,000

Salary Packaging

Available

Career Outlook

Strong Demand

Compare Medical Physicist Salaries

Interactive Take-Home & Super Calculator

Gross Base Salary

$92,743

Excludes superannuation and allowances

Employer Super (Available)

$14,282

Paid directly into your super fund

Estimated Income Tax + Medicare

$21,270

Standard residency rates

Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay

After income tax, levies, and HECS

$71,473

Monthly Net

$5,956

Fortnightly Net

$2,749

Weekly Net

$1,374

What Does a Medical Physicist Do?

A medical physicist applies physics and engineering to healthcare, ensuring radiation-based treatments and diagnostic imaging are safe, accurate, and effective. In Australia, medical physicists work in public hospitals, cancer centres, nuclear medicine departments, and private oncology networks.

Typical duties include:

  • Treatment Planning: Calculating radiation doses and verifying treatment plans for cancer patients.
  • Equipment Commissioning: Accepting, testing, and calibrating linacs, CT scanners, MRI systems, and nuclear medicine equipment.
  • Quality Assurance: Running daily, monthly, and annual QA programs to maintain clinical standards.
  • Dosimetry: Measuring radiation output and ensuring patient and staff doses meet regulatory limits.
  • Radiation Safety: Designing shielding, managing radiation protection programs, and advising on safe practice.
  • Clinical Support: Troubleshooting imaging artefacts, optimising protocols, and supporting brachytherapy procedures.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Meeting ARPANSA, state health, and accreditation requirements.
  • Research & Innovation: Developing new imaging techniques, AI tools, and precision medicine applications.
  • Training & Education: Supervising registrars, mentoring trainees, and contributing to ACPSEM TEAP programs.
  • Department Leadership: Managing medical physics teams, budgets, and clinical service delivery.

Medical Physicist Salary in Australia

Medical physicist salary Australia ranges reflect accreditation level, specialisation, and employer type. Public hospital bands are set by state health awards, while private oncology providers often offer competitive packages for accredited specialists.

  • Trainee / Registrar: Earns $72,000 to $92,000 while completing supervised clinical training.
  • Accredited Medical Physicist: Earns $110,000 to $145,000 base salary in public hospitals.
  • Senior Medical Physicist: Commands $145,000 to $175,000.
  • Principal / Chief Medical Physicist: Commands $175,000 to $210,000.
  • Director of Medical Physics: Earns $200,000 to $260,000+.

Sector Comparison:Private oncology networks and major cancer centres often pay at the upper end for experienced radiation oncology physicists. Public hospitals offer structured health awards, salary packaging, and strong job security. University research roles sit lower on base pay but provide research flexibility.

Australian Public Hospital Medical Physicist Salary

Public hospital medical physicist salaries are set under state health awards and enterprise agreements. Major employers include NSW Health, Queensland Health, Victorian public health services, and dedicated cancer centres such as Peter MacCallum:

  • Trainee / Registrar: Base salary approximately $72,000 – $92,000 during supervised clinical training.
  • Accredited Medical Physicist: Base salary approximately $110,000 – $145,000 depending on state and specialisation.
  • Senior Medical Physicist: Base salary approximately $145,000 – $175,000.
  • Principal / Chief Medical Physicist: Base salary approximately $175,000 – $210,000+.

These figures reflect public health award bands. Private oncology providers such as Icon and GenesisCare use market-based packages that may exceed public hospital base pay for accredited specialists.

Employers Hiring Medical Physicists

Australia’s medical physicist employers span major cancer centres, state health departments, private oncology providers, and federal radiation protection agencies:

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Salary Range: $95,000 – $210,000

Key Roles: Radiation Oncology Physicist, Diagnostic Imaging Physicist, Research Physicist

Agreement: Victorian Public Health Sector (Multi-Employer) Agreement 2024–2028

Salary Band Source

NSW Health (Public Hospitals)

Salary Range: $85,000 – $185,000

Key Roles: Medical Physics Registrar, Radiation Oncology Physicist, Nuclear Medicine Physicist

Agreement: NSW Health Professionals and Medical Officers Award

Salary Band Source

Queensland Health

Salary Range: $82,000 – $180,000

Key Roles: Medical Physicist, Senior Medical Physicist, MRI Physicist

Agreement: Queensland Health Employees Award

Salary Band Source

Victorian Public Health Services

Salary Range: $88,000 – $190,000

Key Roles: Medical Physics Registrar, Radiation Oncology Physicist, Imaging Physicist

Agreement: Victorian Public Health Sector (Multi-Employer) Agreement 2024–2028

Salary Band Source

Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

Salary Range: $90,000 – $195,000

Key Roles: Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist, Treatment Planning Physicist

Agreement: NSW Health Professionals and Medical Officers Award

Salary Band Source

Icon Cancer Centre

Salary Range: $100,000 – $200,000

Key Roles: Radiation Oncology Physicist, Linac Commissioning Physicist

Agreement: Market salary estimate (private oncology provider)

Salary Band Source

GenesisCare

Salary Range: $100,000 – $205,000

Key Roles: Medical Physicist, Senior Medical Physicist, Radiation Safety Officer

Agreement: Market salary estimate (private oncology and imaging provider)

Salary Band Source

WA Health

Salary Range: $85,000 – $175,000

Key Roles: Medical Physicist, Nuclear Medicine Physicist, Radiation Safety Physicist

Agreement: Health Practitioners (Medical Officers) AMA Industrial Agreement

Salary Band Source

SA Health

Salary Range: $82,000 – $170,000

Key Roles: Medical Physicist, Diagnostic Imaging Physicist, Radiation Oncology Physicist

Agreement: SA Health Salaried Medical Officers Enterprise Agreement

Salary Band Source

ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection Agency)

Salary Range: $77,865 – $145,000

Key Roles: Radiation Protection Scientist, Medical Physics Advisor, Regulatory Physicist

Agreement: Health Portfolio Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027

Salary Band Source

Public Hospital Salary Bands for Medical Physicists

Public hospital medical physics roles are classified under state health professional awards. The table below maps typical career stages to indicative salary ranges:

Career StageTypical RoleSalary Range (Base)
TraineeMedical Physics Registrar$72,000 – $92,000
AccreditedMedical Physicist$110,000 – $145,000
SeniorSenior Medical Physicist$145,000 – $175,000
PrincipalPrincipal Medical Physicist$175,000 – $210,000
ChiefChief Medical Physicist$190,000 – $230,000
DirectorDirector of Medical Physics$200,000 – $260,000

Medical Physics Specialisations

This page covers the major Australian pathways in radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, MRI physics, radiation safety, and medical imaging research:

Radiation Oncology

Designs and verifies external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and proton therapy treatment plans. Ensures linac commissioning, QA, and patient-specific dosimetry meet clinical standards.

Salary Potential: $115,000 – $210,000
Key Employers: Peter Mac, Lifehouse, Icon, public hospitals

Diagnostic Imaging

Supports CT, mammography, fluoroscopy, and interventional imaging through acceptance testing, image quality audits, and dose optimisation.

Salary Potential: $105,000 – $185,000
Key Employers: Public hospitals, private imaging networks

Nuclear Medicine

Oversees PET, SPECT, and theranostic radiopharmaceutical workflows, shielding design, and regulatory compliance for nuclear medicine departments.

Salary Potential: $110,000 – $190,000
Key Employers: Major teaching hospitals, nuclear medicine centres

MRI Physics

Commissioning, safety zoning, artefact troubleshooting, and protocol optimisation for magnetic resonance imaging systems.

Salary Potential: $110,000 – $195,000
Key Employers: Hospital MRI suites, research institutes

Radiation Safety

Manages radiation protection programs, shielding calculations, regulatory reporting, and staff training across clinical and research settings.

Salary Potential: $100,000 – $175,000
Key Employers: Hospitals, ARPANSA, universities

Medical Imaging Research

Develops novel imaging techniques, AI-assisted diagnostics, and translational physics research in collaboration with clinicians and universities.

Salary Potential: $90,000 – $170,000
Key Employers: Universities, CSIRO, cancer research centres

Qualifications & Pathways

The Australian medical physics pathway requires formal physics training, a Masters in Medical Physics, supervised clinical experience, and ACPSEM accreditation.

  • Bachelor of Physics / Engineering Physics: The foundation degree for entry into medical physics postgraduate programs.
  • Masters in Medical Physics: Required for clinical training entry at accredited Australian universities.
  • ACPSEM TEAP: The Training, Education and Assessment Program — Australia’s structured pathway to accreditation in radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, or nuclear medicine physics.
  • Clinical Residency: Supervised on-the-job training in a hospital or cancer centre, typically 2–3 years.
  • Continuing Professional Development: Ongoing CPD required to maintain ACPSEM accreditation and employer credentialing.

Career Progression

The typical career timeline spans from graduate training to senior executive management:

Graduate / Medical Physics Trainee
↓
Medical Physics Registrar
↓
Accredited Medical Physicist
↓
Senior Medical Physicist
↓
Principal Medical Physicist
↓
Chief Medical Physicist
↓
Director of Medical Physics

Salary by Experience

Earning potential increases as medical physicists complete ACPSEM accreditation, build clinical specialisation, and take on department leadership:

Graduate / Medical Physics Trainee

$72,000 – $92,000

Experience: 0–2 years | Classification: Registrar / Trainee band

Accredited Medical Physicist

$110,000 – $145,000

Experience: 2–5 years | Classification: HP 4 / HP 5 equivalent

Senior Medical Physicist

$145,000 – $175,000

Experience: 5–10 years | Classification: HP 6 / Senior Scientist

Principal / Chief Medical Physicist

$175,000 – $210,000

Experience: 10–15 years | Classification: Lead / Principal Scientist

Director of Medical Physics

$200,000 – $260,000

Experience: 15+ years | Classification: Executive clinical leadership

Highest Paying Employers

Premium medical physicist packages are concentrated in radiation oncology and private cancer networks:

  • Major Cancer Centres (Peter Mac, Lifehouse): Structured public health pay with strong research opportunities and career progression.
  • Private Oncology (Icon, GenesisCare): Competitive market packages for accredited radiation oncology physicists.
  • State Health Departments: Large hospital networks with salary packaging, job security, and diverse modality exposure.
  • Diagnostic Imaging Networks: Strong demand for MRI and CT physicists in metropolitan and regional hospitals.
  • University Research Institutes: Lower base pay but excellent research funding and HDR supervision pathways.

Benefits of Medical Physics Careers

Employment packages in public hospitals and cancer centres feature structured healthcare benefits:

  • Salary Packaging: Many state health employees can package novated leases, additional super, and other benefits to improve total remuneration.
  • Flexible & Hybrid Work: Planning, analysis, and reporting tasks often support hybrid arrangements.
  • Generous Leave: Standard annual leave, flex-time credits, and paid parental leave under health awards.
  • On-Call Allowances: Clinical medical physics roles may include on-call and after-hours loadings.
  • Professional Development: Employer funding for ACPSEM CPD, modality training, and clinical upskilling.
  • Conference Support: Financial support for attending ACPSEM, ASMIRT, and international medical physics conferences.
  • Study Assistance: Subsidies and paid study leave for postgraduate research and specialist qualifications.

Job Outlook

Demand for medical physicists remains resilient, supported by:

  • Cancer Treatment Demand: Growing radiotherapy capacity and new cancer centre developments across Australia.
  • Radiation Oncology Expansion: New linac installations, stereotactic programs, and proton therapy planning.
  • AI in Medical Imaging: Machine learning for diagnostics, dose prediction, and workflow automation.
  • Nuclear Medicine & Theranostics: PET, SPECT, and targeted radionuclide therapy driving specialist physics demand.
  • Public Hospital Investment: State health infrastructure upgrades creating new medical physics positions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a medical physicist earn in Australia?
Medical physicist salaries in Australia typically range from about $72,000 for trainees and registrars to over $260,000 for directors of medical physics. Accredited mid-career medical physicists commonly earn $110,000 to $145,000 base salary, with senior oncology roles higher.
What is the average medical physicist salary Australia?
The average base salary for an accredited mid-career medical physicist in Australia is approximately $130,000 per year. Radiation oncology and private provider packages can exceed this once allowances and on-call loadings are included.
What is graduate medical physicist salary Australia?
Graduate medical physics trainees and registrars typically earn $72,000 to $92,000 while completing supervised clinical training and ACPSEM TEAP requirements.
What is radiation oncology physicist salary Australia?
Radiation oncology medical physicists commonly earn $115,000 to $210,000 depending on accreditation, employer, and seniority. Major cancer centres and private oncology networks often pay at the upper end for experienced specialists.
What is senior medical physicist salary Australia?
Senior medical physicists typically earn $145,000 to $175,000 base salary, with principal and chief roles reaching $175,000 to $220,000+ in large hospital networks or private oncology groups.
What is the difference between a medical physicist and a physicist?
Medical physicists are healthcare specialists accredited through ACPSEM for radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, and nuclear medicine. General physicists work in research, defence, and industry — see our Physicist Salary guide for that career path.
What is the difference between a medical physicist and a radiographer?
Radiographers operate imaging equipment and deliver radiotherapy under clinical protocols. Medical physicists design, test, and optimise those systems, calculate doses, and ensure regulatory compliance.
What qualifications do medical physicists need in Australia?
A physics or engineering degree, a Masters in Medical Physics (or equivalent), supervised clinical training, and ACPSEM TEAP accreditation are the standard Australian pathway.
What is ACPSEM TEAP?
The ACPSEM Training, Education and Assessment Program is Australia's structured pathway to accreditation as a medical physicist in radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, or nuclear medicine.
Do public hospital medical physicists get salary packaging?
Yes. Many state health employees can salary package items such as novated leases and additional super contributions, improving total remuneration beyond base pay.
What is diagnostic imaging physicist salary Australia?
Diagnostic imaging physicists typically earn $105,000 to $185,000 depending on hospital size, modality mix, and whether the role covers MRI, CT, mammography, or interventional imaging.
What is nuclear medicine physicist salary Australia?
Nuclear medicine physicists commonly earn $110,000 to $190,000 in major teaching hospitals, with higher packages in departments running PET, SPECT, and theranostic programs.
Is medical physics a good career in Australia?
Yes. Demand is supported by cancer treatment expansion, medical imaging growth, nuclear medicine advances, and AI-assisted diagnostics across public and private healthcare.
Where do medical physicists work in Australia?
Major employers include Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, state health departments, public teaching hospitals, Icon Cancer Centre, GenesisCare, and university research institutes.
Do medical physicists need AHPRA registration?
Medical physicists are not registered as medical practitioners, but they work within regulated healthcare environments and must meet ACPSEM accreditation and employer credentialing requirements.