Low $1,200.00Typical $1,870.00High $3,500.00
Rate benchmarks | Australia | 2026
Australian locum rates by profession in 2026.
10rate guides
Compare indicative low, typical, and high figures in the billing unit each profession commonly uses, then open a guide for the context behind the range.
Ledger | Indicative market range
Find your profession and compare the range.
Every amount is in AUD. A benchmark is context for a conversation, not a guaranteed offer or a recommended fee.
| ProfessionOpen the detailed guide | LowIndicative | TypicalIndicative | HighIndicative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Australian locum rate benchmarks | |||
| Locum GPper day | $1,200.00 | $1,870.00 | $3,500.00 |
| Locum specialistper day | $1,500.00 | $2,800.00 | $4,000.00 |
| Locum pharmacistper hour | $70.00 | $85.00 | $130.00 |
| Agency nurse or NPper hour | $50.00 | $75.00 | $160.00 |
| Locum physiotherapistper hour | $55.00 | $80.00 | $183.99 |
| Locum psychologistper hour | $100.00 | $180.00 | $318.00 |
| Locum occupational therapistper hour | $55.00 | $95.00 | $193.99 |
| Locum dentistper day | $900.00 | $1,500.00 | $4,500.00 |
| Locum paramedicper hour | $45.00 | $65.00 | $120.00 |
| Other AHPRA health professionalper hour | $40.00 | $60.00 | $120.00 |
2026 Australian locum rate benchmarks
Low $1,500.00Typical $2,800.00High $4,000.00
Low $70.00Typical $85.00High $130.00
Low $50.00Typical $75.00High $160.00
Low $55.00Typical $80.00High $183.99
Low $100.00Typical $180.00High $318.00
Locum occupational therapistper hour
Low $55.00Typical $95.00High $193.99
Low $900.00Typical $1,500.00High $4,500.00
Low $45.00Typical $65.00High $120.00
Other AHPRA health professionalper hour
Low $40.00Typical $60.00High $120.00
Rates vary with geography, urgency, scope, experience, shift timing, employment model, inclusions, and the route through which the work is booked. Read the profession page before comparing your own shift with a headline number. Check whether a figure is hourly, daily, per shift, or a percentage of billings, and whether travel or accommodation sits outside it.
Context before negotiation
Read the number in the right unit.
Two offers can look similar while producing very different effective pay once hours, billing structure, travel, and agency arrangements are considered.
- 01Locum GP: per dayDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 02Locum specialist: per dayDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 03Locum pharmacist: per hourDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 04Agency nurse or NP: per hourDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 05Locum physiotherapist: per hourDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 06Locum psychologist: per hourDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 07Locum occupational therapist: per hourDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 08Locum dentist: per dayDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 09Locum paramedic: per hourDetailed ratesCareer guide
- 10Other AHPRA health professional: per hourDetailed ratesCareer guide
Use your own records as the final comparison. Track the agreed rate, hours worked, billing revenue where relevant, workplace, location, and any amount paid short. A consistent record shows whether an attractive headline rate actually survives the full shift and its admin.
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Your rates, across every workplace
Turn market context into your own record.
Log shifts across direct, agency, and PAYG work, then compare what was agreed with what arrived. Sessional keeps the rate, hours, invoice, and payment record together.