Where the accountant salary sits against the Australian full-time average
If you are an accountant in Australia, the best public benchmark for your pay is the median full-time earnings for the occupation. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median weekly earnings for accountants working full-time is $2,003. That works out to about $104,156 a year (multiplying by 52 weeks).
How does that compare to the national full-time average? The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 a week, or roughly $108,352 a year. The accountant median is therefore about $4,200 a year below the national average. However, it sits well above the national full-time median of about $90,532 a year (from the ABS Employee Earnings survey, August 2025) and far above the national minimum wage of $52,255 a year (from Fair Work, 1 July 2026).
Understanding the figures: average vs median
The national full-time average ($108,352) is pulled up by high earners, while the national full-time median ($90,532) represents the middle point. The accountant median of $104,156 falls between them, meaning half of full-time accountants earn more than that and half earn less. For context, the all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 a year.
State-by-state comparison
State full-time averages also help you see where your pay fits. The ABS state averages for May 2026 are:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
An accountant earning the national median of $104,156 would be above the state average in Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, but below the average in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT. In the ACT, the average is about $15,000 higher.
Gender and hours
Accountants are 54% female and have a median age of 42, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. The average full-time hours for accountants work 43 hours a week, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours. The median hourly earnings for accountants is $53, compared to $47 for all occupations.
How your pay compares to the line
Place a salary on the line to see where your salary sits against the national full-time average. You can also explore job medians for other professions, or check state and territory averages. For more detail on how these figures are set, see [how the data is compiled about this site.
Key takeaway
The accountant salary of $104,156 is a solid professional salary in Australia. It is above the national median but below the national average, reflecting the mix of experience levels and locations. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings remains the benchmark for the line, updated twice a year (May and November). The minimum wage and award rates are set annually by Fair Work, with the latest increase of 4.75% from 1 July 2026.
If you are an accountant, your pay is likely to be competitive, especially if you are in a major city or have several years of experience. The figures here are a guide; individual salaries vary by role, industry and negotiation.