Junior doctors in regional and rural Australia are happier with their overall work-life balance than their city-dwelling colleagues, according to new research.

They are 54% more likely to be satisfied by a range of aspects related to their day-to-day work, including variety, hours, remuneration, colleagues and professional responsibility.

They report having more downtime but receiving less pay, in the first national survey of junior doctor satisfaction.

The survey canvassed the views of 4581 doctors in their first four years after graduating from medical school.