Architect salary Sydney: Where does it sit against the national line?
If you are an architect in Sydney or considering a move there, one of the first questions is how your pay compares to the national full-time average. The national line – the figure this site uses as a benchmark – is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year, based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. That is the average ordinary-time earnings for a full-time adult employee across all industries and occupations.
But architect salaries are not a single number. They depend on experience, registration, sector (private or public), and location. For Sydney, the picture is shaped by two main official sources: the Architects Award 2020 and the state average for New South Wales.
The Architects Award 2020: minimum rates
The Architects Award 2020, set by Fair Work, provides the legal minimum wages for architects and graduates of architecture. From 1 July 2026, these rates increased by 4.75%. The key classifications are:
- Level 1 – Graduate of Architecture: Entry $68,191 per year ($34.40 per hour); 1st pay point $71,798 ($36.22/hr); 2nd pay point $75,401 ($38.04/hr).
- Level 2(a) – Experienced Graduate of Architecture: $78,838 per year ($39.77/hr).
- Level 2(b) – Registered Architect: Entry $78,838; 1st pay point $81,276 ($41.00/hr); 2nd pay point $83,716 ($42.23/hr).
These are minimums. Many architects in Sydney earn above award, especially those with several years of experience or working for larger firms. The award also includes a casual loading of 25% (so casual rates are 1.25 times the base hourly rate).
New South Wales state average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, gives the full-time adult average ordinary time earnings for New South Wales as $2,108.80 per week. That works out to about $109,658 per year – slightly above the national average of $108,352. Because Sydney is the state’s economic centre, salaries there tend to be higher than the NSW average, though the ABS does not publish a separate figure for Sydney itself.
How the national line works
This site uses the national full-time adult ordinary-time average as the line. You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares. For example, if you earn $85,000 as a registered architect, you are about 22% below the national average. If you earn $120,000, you are about 11% above.
But remember: the national average includes all full-time adults – from CEOs to retail workers. Your occupation and location matter. The states and territories page shows how each state’s average differs. New South Wales is above the national line, while Tasmania ($96,008) is below.
Why state and award can move the figure
An architect in Sydney might earn $90,000 – above the award minimum but below the NSW average. Another in a regional NSW town might earn closer to the award rate. The award sets a floor, but market forces, firm size, and specialisation push actual salaries higher in Sydney. The national line is a useful reference, but your personal line depends on your circumstances.
Other benchmarks
For comparison, the full-time median earnings across all occupations are about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award rates, including the Architects Award, rose by 4.75% this year.
Tax considerations
For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy of 2% applies to most taxpayers, with reductions for low incomes. An architect earning $90,000 would pay about $22,267 in tax plus Medicare, leaving a take-home of about $67,733.
Where to find more
If you want to see how your own salary compares, use the line tool to plot your weekly or yearly pay against the national average. For a deeper look at how different states and territories stack up, visit the states and territories page. You can also explore industry medians or job medians for broader context.
The bottom line
Architect salaries in Sydney are not published as a single official figure. The best available guides are the Architects Award minimums and the NSW state average. Most experienced architects in Sydney will earn above the award but may still be below or above the national line depending on their role. Use the national average as a starting point, then adjust for your experience, location, and sector.