Introduction
When Australians ask about the "average salary by age," they are usually looking for a single number that sums up what people earn at different stages of life. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish one tidy figure. Instead, it releases earnings data in several surveys, each with its own definitions. The most commonly cited benchmark is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average, which the ABS reports twice a year in its Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) release. As of May 2026, that figure is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This site uses that number as the line against which you can place your own salary.
The National Full-Time Average Benchmark
The national full-time average is a useful starting point, but it does not tell you what a typical 25-year-old or a 55-year-old earns. The AWE release covers all full-time adult employees, regardless of age, and it is an average—meaning it can be pulled up by high earners. For a more typical figure, the ABS also publishes medians. The full-time median from the August 2025 Employee Earnings and Hours survey is $90,532 per year. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual workers) is $74,100. These medians give a better sense of the middle of the pack, but they still do not break down by age.
How Earnings Change with Age
Although the ABS does not provide a single "average salary by age" number, its detailed tables show clear patterns. Earnings tend to rise steadily from the early 20s through to the 35–44 and 45–54 age brackets, then plateau or decline after 55. This reflects career progression, accumulation of skills, and the fact that older workers may reduce hours or move into less demanding roles. The national full-time average of $108,352 sits somewhere in the middle of these age-based ranges. Younger workers typically earn below that line, while mid-career professionals often exceed it. Without a precise age-specific average from the ABS, the best approach is to compare your own salary to the national line and then consider your age group as context.
Medians and Minimum Wage
To understand where you stand, it helps to know the other key benchmarks. The full-time median of $90,532 is lower than the average, reflecting the skew from very high salaries. The all-employees median of $74,100 includes part-time and casual workers, so it is more relevant if you work less than full-time hours. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, which works out to about $52,255 per year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time. These figures give a floor for legal pay, but most full-time workers earn above the minimum.
State Variations
Where you live also affects your earnings. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings data (May 2026) provides full-time averages for each state and territory. The highest is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090 per year, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. New South Wales is around $109,658, Victoria $106,137, Queensland $106,064, South Australia $102,450, the Northern Territory $103,173, and Tasmania $96,008. These differences reflect industry mix, cost of living, and local economic conditions. If you are comparing your salary by age, your state average may be a more relevant benchmark than the national figure.
Tax Considerations
Your take-home pay depends on tax. 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 $45,001 to $135,000, 37% on $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy adds 2% (with possible reductions for low-income earners). So if you earn the national full-time average of $108,352, your marginal rate is 30% plus the Medicare levy, giving a combined marginal rate of 32%. Your effective tax rate will be lower because of the tax-free threshold and progressive brackets.
Using the Site's Tool
This site lets you place your salary on the line against the national full-time average. You enter your yearly pre-tax salary, and the tool shows your weekly and hourly equivalents (based on a 38-hour week) and how far above or below the $108,352 line you sit. It does not ask for your age, but you can use the age-related context from this article to interpret your result. For more detail, explore the states and territories page to see how your location compares, or check job medians and industry medians for your occupation. The guides section has deeper dives into how earnings vary across the workforce. If you want to understand how the figures are set, see how the figures are set. And for the philosophy behind the site, visit about this site.
Conclusion
While there is no single "average salary Australia by age" figure from the ABS, the national full-time average of $108,352 provides a solid benchmark. Earnings typically rise with age, peak in mid-career, and then decline. By combining this benchmark with state averages, medians, and your own circumstances, you can get a clear picture of where your pay sits. Use the site's tool to place a salary on the line and see how you compare.