How the average salary in the Philippines compares to Australia's national full-time average
This site tracks Australian salaries against the national full-time average, drawn from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey. Readers often ask how the average salary in the Philippines stacks up, but the ABS does not publish a figure for the Philippines. Instead, this article explains the factors that move Australian salaries off the national line—state differences and award classifications—so you can understand the local context before making international comparisons.
The national full-time average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, multiplied by 52). This is the line on the site. The full-time median is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week (Fair Work). Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date.
Why a state can move the figure
State full-time averages vary considerably. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest at about $119,090, while Tasmania has the lowest at about $96,008. Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658) are above the national line, while Victoria ($106,137) and Queensland ($106,064) are close to it. South Australia ($102,450) and the Northern Territory ($103,173) sit below. These differences reflect industry composition, cost of living, and local labour markets. For a full breakdown, see States and territories.
Why an award can move the figure
Awards set minimum pay rates for specific occupations and industries. Even within the same state, an employee on a modern award may earn more than the national minimum wage but less than the full-time average. For example, the national minimum wage is $52,255 per year, but many awards have rates above that. The 4.75% increase from 1 July 2026 lifted award minimums, but they still vary by classification. This means two full-time workers in the same state can have very different salaries depending on their award. Explore Job medians and Industry medians to see how specific roles compare.
How the Philippines compares
Because the ABS does not track the average salary in the Philippines, this site cannot place it on the line. International comparisons require data from a source like the Philippine Statistics Authority, which uses different methodologies. What we can say is that Australia’s national full-time average of $108,352 is high by global standards, but within Australia, state and award factors create a wide range. For example, a worker on the national minimum wage earns about half the full-time average, while a worker in the ACT earns about 10% more than the national line.
Conclusion
The average salary in the Philippines is not a figure this site can provide, but understanding why Australian salaries move off the national line—through state differences and award classifications—helps put any international comparison in perspective. For more on how the line is set, see How the figures are set and About this site.