Average salary in Australia: yearly, weekly and hourly
When you hear "average salary" in Australia, it usually refers to the national full-time adult ordinary-time average. The most recent figure from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) puts that at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year when multiplied by 52 weeks. This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses to show how your pay compares.
Reading the same pay as a year, a week and an hour
The tool on this site lets you enter a yearly salary before tax and instantly see what it means as a weekly and hourly amount, based on a standard 38-hour week. It also shows how far you are from the full-time average. For example, if you earn exactly the average, your hourly rate is $54.83 ($2,083.70 ÷ 38). That is well above the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour (from 1 July 2026) and above most award minimums, which rose 4.75% that year.
How the average compares with medians
The average is not the same as the median. The full-time median salary is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The median for all employees (including part-time) is about $74,100. The average is higher because a relatively small number of very high earners pull it up. If your salary is near the median, you are more typical than someone on the average.
State differences
Full-time averages vary across states and territories. The highest is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. New South Wales is $109,658, Victoria $106,137, Queensland $106,064, South Australia $102,450, the Northern Territory $103,173, and Tasmania $96,008. You can explore these in more detail on the States and territories page.
Tax on the average salary
For the 2026–27 income year, the 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
- 45% above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). On the average salary of $108,352, you would pay roughly $24,667 in tax plus $2,167 in Medicare levy, leaving about $81,518 after tax. That is a rough estimate; your actual tax depends on deductions and offsets.
Using the line tool
The Place a salary on the line tool is the easiest way to see where your pay sits. Enter your yearly salary, and it shows the weekly and hourly equivalents, plus the distance from the national full-time average. You can also compare with state averages, medians, and the minimum wage. All figures are sourced from the ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO.
What the average does not tell you
The average salary does not reflect part-time workers, overtime, or casual loading. It is a snapshot of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings only. For a fuller picture, look at the medians and the distribution of earnings. The How the figures are set page explains the methodology behind each number.
Key takeaways
- National full-time average: $108,352 a year, $2,083.70 a week, $54.83 an hour.
- Full-time median: about $90,532 a year.
- Minimum wage: $26.44 an hour, $52,255 a year on 38 hours.
- State averages range from $96,008 (Tasmania) to $119,090 (ACT).
Understanding your own salary in these three timeframes helps you budget, negotiate, and plan. The line tool makes it immediate.