What is the average salary in Australia?
The national full-time average salary in Australia is $108,352 per year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. This figure is the mean of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings across all industries and occupations. It is the benchmark used by this site to show where your pay sits on the line.
Breaking it down: year, week, and hour
The same pay can be read in three ways:
- Yearly: $108,352 before tax.
- Weekly: $2,083.70 (the ABS figure published directly).
- Hourly: $54.83, based on a standard 38-hour week ($2,083.70 ÷ 38).
This hourly rate is above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) and well above most award minimums. It is also higher than the full-time median of about $90,532 per year, which shows that the average is pulled up by higher earners.
How the average compares to other benchmarks
The average is a mean, so it can be influenced by a small number of very high salaries. For a more typical figure, look at the median:
- Full-time median: about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
- All-employees median (including part-time and casual): about $74,100 per year.
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on 38 hours, which works out to about $52,255 per year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time.
Gender differences
The ABS also breaks down the average by gender. Men’s full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412 per year; women’s is about $100,594. This gap reflects differences in industries, occupations, and hours worked.
State and territory averages
Where you live makes a difference. The full-time average for each state and territory (from the same ABS release) is:
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Tasmania: about $96,008
These are averages for full-time adult employees. They do not include part-time or casual workers. For a more detailed look at how your state compares, see the States and territories page.
What this means for your pay
If you earn the national average, you are above the median and well above the minimum wage. But the average is just one point of reference. Your industry, occupation, and experience all affect where you sit. You can Place a salary on the line to see how your own pay compares to the national average, the median, and the minimum.
Tax on the average salary
For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (before any reductions). On the average salary of $108,352, the tax would be roughly $25,000–$26,000 depending on offsets and the Medicare levy. This is a rough guide; the ATO provides exact calculations.
How the figures are set
The ABS collects data from employers twice a year (May and November) for its Average Weekly Earnings series. The May 2026 release is the most recent. The median figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, which is published less frequently (most recently August 2025). Fair Work sets the national minimum wage and award rates each year. For more on methodology, see How the figures are set.
Using this site
This site shows your salary as a year, week, and hour on a 38-hour week. It then draws a line showing how far you are from the national full-time average. You can also explore Job medians and Industry medians to see typical pay in your field. The Guides section explains how to interpret the data and what it means for your career decisions.
Summary
The average salary in Australia is $108,352 per year, $2,083.70 per week, or $54.83 per hour. It is a useful benchmark, but remember it is a mean and can be skewed. For a more typical figure, look at the median. For the legal minimum, check the national minimum wage or your award. Use the tools on this site to see where your pay sits on the line.