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| Specialty | College | Length | Typical entry | Competition | Annual intake | Women | Consultant $ (priv., indicative) | Outlook (short) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | ANZCA | 5 yrs | PGY4–6 | High | ≈ 350–420 new trainees/yr ANZ (indicative) | ≈ 45% of trainees | $400,000–700,000+ | Sound but tightening in metro consultant markets; regional and rural generalist-anaesthesia demand strong; private demand tracks surgical volumes |
| Basic Physician Training (Adult Medicine) | RACP | 6 yrs | PGY2–3 start | Moderate | ≈ 900–1,100 BPT1s per year nationally (indicative) | ≈ 55% of adult-medicine BPTs | $342,457 | Excellent overall, physician demand is broad; individual subspecialty markets vary (see each page) |
| Cardiology via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 after BPT + exams | Extreme | . | ≈ 30% of AT trainees | $500,000–1,000,000+ | Strong overall; metro interventional saturated in prestige catchments, imaging and heart-failure growing, regional demand high |
| Cardiothoracic Surgery | RACS (Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery) | 6 yrs | PGY5–8 | Extreme | ≈ 6–12 per year nationally | ≈ 20–30% of trainees (small cohorts) | $500,000–1,000,000+ | The tightest consultant market in surgery: units are few, TAVI has shifted volume to cardiology, and new fellows commonly need international fellowships and patience |
| Clinical Genetics via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Moderate | . | ≈ 70% of trainees | $280,000–420,000 | Genomic testing demand exploding; workforce tiny, but consultant posts depend on public funding cycles |
| Clinical Immunology & Allergy via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Moderate | . | ≈ 60% of trainees | $300,000–550,000 | Allergy demand far outstrips the tiny workforce (year-long waits standard); immunodeficiency/biologics work growing |
| Clinical Radiology | RANZCR | 5 yrs | PGY3–6 | High | ≈ 130–180 new trainees/yr | ≈ 35–40% of trainees | $500,000–800,000+ | Demand keeps outrunning supply (imaging volumes grow ~5%+/yr); teleradiology broadens geography; AI is augmenting rather than replacing, report-volume growth still wins |
| Dermatology | Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) | 4 yrs | PGY4–7 after research/registrar years | Extreme | ≈ 25–35 per year (114.5 accredited training positions total, 82% public, verified ACD data) | ≈ 65% of trainees | $500,000–1,000,000+ | Chronic undersupply, extreme in regional Australia, waitlists of months-to-years everywhere; cosmetic sector adds further private demand |
| Emergency Medicine | ACEM | 5 yrs | PGY3–5 | Moderate | ≈ 350–450 new trainees/yr (intake tightening under workforce planning) | ≈ 50% of trainees | $2,500–3,500 | EDs remain under-staffed for seniors on paper, but government modelling projected a FACEM oversupply (~1,000 by 2030) and new metro fellows already report tight substantive-job markets. Regional demand remains genuine |
| Endocrinology & Diabetes via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Moderate | . | ≈ 60% of trainees | $300,000–500,000 | Diabetes prevalence guarantees demand; GLP-1/obesity medicine expanding the field rapidly |
| Gastroenterology & Hepatology via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Extreme | . | ≈ 40% of AT trainees | $500,000–900,000+ | Strong, colonoscopy demand (screening program), IBD boom, fatty liver epidemic; metro private lists competitive to establish but demand deep |
| General & Acute Care Medicine via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Accessible | . | ≈ 55% of trainees | $300,000–450,000 | The single most in-demand physician specialty outside capitals; acute medical units expanding everywhere |
| General Practice | RACGP (AGPT Program) | 3 yrs | PGY2–4 | Accessible | 1,500 fully funded AGPT places/yr now, growing to 2,000+ from 2028 (verified. Strengthening Medicare) | ≈ 65% of registrars | $250,000–450,000+ | Structural shortage for a decade+, especially outer-metro/rural. The one specialty where demand for you is guaranteed everywhere |
| General Surgery | RACS | 5 yrs | PGY4–6 after 1–3 unaccredited years | High | ≈ 110–130 per year (largest SET intake) | ≈ 45% of recent intakes (43% of the whole 2023 SET intake were women) | $400,000–700,000+ | Regional/rural demand strong; metro public appointments competitive but achievable, most new fellows do a subspecialty fellowship first |
| Geriatric Medicine via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Accessible | . | ≈ 65% of trainees | $300,000–450,000 | Effectively unlimited, ageing demographics, ortho-geriatrics, aged-care reform; every hospital is recruiting |
| Haematology via BPT |
RACP | 7 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | High | . | ≈ 55% of trainees | $350,000–600,000 | Strong, myeloma/lymphoma therapeutics exploding, pathology-side shortage helps employability |
| Infectious Diseases via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Moderate | . | ≈ 55% of trainees | $300,000–450,000 | Public demand steady (AMR, immunosuppressed populations, outbreak readiness); consultant posts mostly public and metro-clustered, dual training improves geography |
| Intensive Care Medicine | CICM | 6 yrs | PGY3–5 | Moderate | Trainee registrations high, >1,400 trainees vs >1,600 fellows ANZ (CICM, verified), a ratio that tells the job-market story | ≈ 35–40% of trainees | $3,000 | Trainee demand is easy to meet; substantive metro consultant posts are scarce and slow to turn over. Dual fellowship (anaesthesia, ED or medicine) and regional flexibility are the standard hedges |
| Medical Administration | RACMA | 3 yrs | PGY6–15 (mid-career norm) | Accessible | ≈ 40–60 per year | ≈ 55% of trainees | varies | Every hospital needs medical leadership; demand steady and seniority-driven; FRACMA increasingly expected for DMS roles |
| Medical Oncology via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | High | . | ≈ 60% of trainees | $350,000–650,000 | Demand rises with survivorship and drug pipeline; some metro consultant markets tightening as expanded cohorts fellow out, regional demand strong |
| Nephrology via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Moderate | . | ≈ 50% of trainees | $300,000–500,000 | Strong and understated: CKD prevalence rising, transplant programs growing, genuine regional shortage |
| Neurology via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | High | . | ≈ 50% of trainees | $350,000–600,000 | Strong, stroke networks expanding, MS/epilepsy/movement clinics full everywhere, regional tele-neurology growing |
| Neurosurgery | RACS | 7 yrs | PGY5–8 after several unaccredited years | Extreme | ≈ 8–14 per year | ≈ 20–30% of trainees (small numbers make percentages volatile) | $600,000–1,000,000+ | Very small consultant market concentrated in major centres, subspecialty fellowship essentially mandatory; job timing can be the real bottleneck |
| Nuclear Medicine via BPT |
Joint RACP | 6 yrs | Post-BPT (PGY5+) or post-FRANZCR | Moderate | . | ≈ 40–50% of trainees | $400,000–650,000+ | Theranostics (Lu-PSMA and successors) is transforming the field from diagnostic-only to therapeutic, demand rising ahead of workforce |
| Obstetrics & Gynaecology | RANZCOG | 6 yrs | PGY3–5 | High | ≈ 100–120 new trainees/yr AU | ≈ 85% of trainees | $350,000–700,000+ | Regional/rural shortage severe (maternity unit closures are a national issue); metro gynae-subspecialty markets competitive |
| Occupational & Environmental Medicine | RACP. Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) | 4 yrs | PGY4–10 (classic mid-career pivot) | Accessible | ≈ 15–30 per year | ≈ 40% of trainees | $300,000–600,000+ | Steady structural demand: workers' compensation systems, mining/energy/defence, psychological-injury claims growth |
| Ophthalmology | RANZCO | 5 yrs | PGY4–7 | Extreme | ≈ 30–38 per year (AU + NZ networks) | ≈ 45% of trainees | $600,000–1,200,000+ | Metro private markets crowded but demand grows relentlessly (ageing, diabetes, injections); genuine regional shortage |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | RACS | 5 yrs | PGY5–7 after 2–4 unaccredited years | Extreme | ≈ 65–80 per year nationally | ≈ 20% of trainees; well under 10% of existing fellows | $600,000–1,200,000+ | Private demand robust (arthroplasty, sport, ageing population); metro public jobs fractional and contested; regional centres recruiting |
| Otolaryngology. Head & Neck Surgery (ENT) | RACS | 5 yrs | PGY4–6 | Extreme | ≈ 18–24 per year | ≈ 35–45% of recent intakes | $500,000–900,000+ | Strong: high private demand (paediatric ENT, rhinology, otology), regional shortage, manageable emergency load |
| Paediatric Surgery | RACS (Board of Paediatric Surgery | 6 yrs | PGY5–7 | Extreme | ≈ 4–8 per year nationally | ≈ 50% of recent intakes | $350,000–600,000 | Tiny consultant market tied to children's hospitals; general surgeons and urologists cover much regional paediatric surgery |
| Paediatrics & Child Health | RACP (Paediatrics & Child Health Division) | 6 yrs | PGY2–4 start | Moderate | ≈ 350–450 basic trainees start per year (indicative) | ≈ 75% of trainees | $250,000–500,000, | General paediatricians in demand regionally and in community/developmental practice (huge ADHD/autism assessment waitlists); some metro subspecialty consultant markets are tight |
| Pain Medicine | Faculty of Pain Medicine, ANZCA (FPM) | 2 yrs | Post-fellowship (PGY8+) | Moderate | ≈ 30–50 per year | ≈ 45% of trainees | $400,000–700,000+ | Chronic pain demand vast (1 in 5 Australians); public clinics have year-long waits; private interventional demand strong, with active scrutiny of procedure value |
| Palliative Medicine | RACP (Chapter of Palliative Medicine, AChPM) | 3 yrs | PGY5+ | Accessible | ≈ 40–70 new trainees/yr (indicative) | ≈ 70% of trainees | $250,000–400,000 | Strong and growing, ageing population, oncology demand, voluntary assisted dying frameworks increasing consultative need; chronic workforce shortage |
| Pathology | RCPA | 5 yrs | PGY3–5 (many career-changers welcome) | Accessible | ≈ 80–120 new trainees/yr across disciplines | ≈ 60% of trainees | $350,000–600,000+ | Chronic national shortage, especially anatomical pathology outside capitals and forensic pathology everywhere; genomics expanding the field |
| Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery | RACS | 5 yrs | PGY5–7 after 2–4 unaccredited years | Extreme | ≈ 15–25 per year nationally | ≈ 40–50% of recent intakes | $500,000–1,500,000+ | Public reconstructive posts limited and fractional; private demand (skin cancer, hand, cosmetic) strong, regulation of the cosmetic sector is tightening in plastics' favour |
| Psychiatry | RANZCP | 5 yrs | PGY3–5 | Accessible | ≈ 350–450 new trainees/yr | ≈ 60% of trainees | $300,000–600,000+ | Severe, worsening shortage: public vacancy rates are the worst of any specialty; effectively unlimited demand public and private |
| Public Health Medicine | RACP. Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) | 3 yrs | PGY4–8+ | Moderate | ≈ 20–40 per year | ≈ 65% of trainees | varies | Post-pandemic investment cooled but structural need persists: CDC-style agencies, Aboriginal health, climate-health and prevention agendas all need physicians |
| Radiation Oncology | RANZCR (Faculty of Radiation Oncology) | 5 yrs | PGY3–5 | Moderate | ≈ 20–30 per year | ≈ 50% of trainees | $450,000–700,000+ | Balanced-to-tight metro (department headcounts are small); regional centres and private networks expanding; check current workforce reports before committing geography |
| Rehabilitation Medicine | RACP. Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM) | 4 yrs | PGY3–5 | Accessible | ≈ 60–90 per year | ≈ 60% of trainees | $300,000–500,000+ | Strong: ageing, NDIS, stroke survivorship and private rehab-hospital growth all pull the same direction |
| Respiratory & Sleep Medicine via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Moderate | . | ≈ 45–50% of trainees | $350,000–600,000 | Good. COPD/ILD burden, lung-cancer screening rollout, sleep apnoea demand; regional shortage |
| Rheumatology via BPT |
RACP | 6 yrs | AT from PGY5–6 | Moderate | . | ≈ 60% of trainees | $300,000–550,000 | Strong private demand (waitlists long), inflammatory arthritis outcomes transformed by biologics; regional shortage |
| Rural Generalist Medicine | ACRRM (FACRRM) | 4 yrs | PGY2–4 | Accessible | Several hundred/yr across ACRRM + RACGP-RG streams | ≈ 55% of trainees | $400,000–600,000+ | The single strongest demand curve in Australian medicine, every state has an RG strategy and unfilled towns |
| Sport & Exercise Medicine | ACSEP | 4 yrs | PGY4–7 | High | ≈ 10–20 per year | ≈ 35% of trainees | $250,000–500,000+ | Growing recognition (MBS access improved) but a build-your-own-practice economy; team roles glamorous, oversubscribed and underpaid relative to clinic work |
| Urology | RACS | 5 yrs | PGY4–6 | High | ≈ 25–35 per year | ≈ 30–40% of recent intakes | $500,000–900,000+ | Strong, ageing population (prostate, stones, bladder cancer), robotic surgery expansion, regional shortage |
| Vascular Surgery | RACS | 5 yrs | PGY4–6 | High | ≈ 12–18 per year | ≈ 30–40% of recent intakes | $500,000–900,000+ | Strong, diabetes epidemic drives limb salvage; endovascular growth; genuine regional shortage |
Income column shows the indicative private/peak range from each page, heavily simplified; read the full pages before drawing conclusions. Competition: 1–2 accessible · 3 moderate · 4 high · 5 extreme.
