We present an experimental and theoretical study of 3d photoionization and subsequent Auger decay of atomic gallium. The synchrotron radiation-induced electron spectra have been compared and analysed using multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock calculations. It has been shown that the theoretically predicted photoelectron spectrum is in rather good agreement with the experiment allowing us to identify the main spectral features. However, prediction of the Auger decay intensities fails due to calculational difficulties for the continuum wavefunctions of very low kinetic energy Auger electrons.