Average line

HomeGuidesAverage salary

Average salary in the UK: How Australian pay compares to the national line

The UK average salary is not published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics; for Australian benchmarks, see the national full-time average of $108,352 per year.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

How the average salary in the UK compares to Australian benchmarks

If you've searched for the average salary in the UK, you're likely comparing international pay. This site is built around Australian data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), so we don't hold UK figures. What we can do is show you how Australian full-time earnings stack up, and why state or award differences can move a salary off the national line.

What the ABS tells us about Australian full-time earnings

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). That's the line this site uses. For context:

  • The full-time median is about $90,532 per year.
  • The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100 per year.
  • Men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412; women's is about $100,594.

These figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings survey (August 2025) for medians and Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) for averages. They are distinct measures: the average can be pulled up by high earners, while the median better represents the typical worker.

Why the UK average salary isn't on this site

The UK's official earnings data is published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), not the ABS. This site relies on Australian sources: the ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO. Without a current public figure from those sources, we cannot provide a UK average. If you need UK salary benchmarks, the ONS is the appropriate reference.

How state differences move the figure off the national line

Australia's states and territories have different full-time averages, reflecting local economies and industry mixes. Using the on-site figures (from ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026):

  • Australian Capital Territory: $119,090 per year – highest, driven by public sector employment.
  • Western Australia: $115,825 – boosted by mining and resources.
  • New South Wales: $109,658 – close to the national line.
  • Victoria: $106,137 – slightly below.
  • Queensland: $106,064 – similar to Victoria.
  • South Australia: $102,450 – below the national average.
  • Northern Territory: $103,173 – moderate.
  • Tasmania: $96,008 – lowest, reflecting a smaller private sector and lower-wage industries.

These differences are not just about cost of living. They reflect compositional factors: the proportion of full-time versus part-time workers, the mix of industries (e.g., mining in WA, public administration in the ACT), and the balance between public and private sectors. For example, the public sector full-time average ($2,263.10 per week) is higher than the private sector ($2,034.10), so states with more public servants tend to have higher averages.

Place a salary on the line to see how your pay compares to the national full-time average, and explore States and territories for more detail.

How awards and the minimum wage affect the line

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week – about $52,255 per year. That's well below the full-time average of $108,352. Award minimums rose by 4.75% in the same adjustment, but many award-covered roles still sit under the national line.

Fair Work sets these minimums. If you're on an award or the minimum wage, your salary will be below the average. The line tool shows the distance: for example, a full-time minimum wage earner is about $56,000 below the national average. That gap reflects the difference between a legal floor and the average earnings of all full-time adults, which includes managers, professionals, and other higher-paid roles.

Using the line tool

The on-site tool accepts a yearly salary before tax. It then shows the weekly equivalent (divided by 52) and the hourly rate on a 38-hour week. It also calculates the distance from the national full-time average. No login, award search, or tax return is needed – just enter a figure and see where it lands.

For a deeper look at how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.

The bottom line

The average salary in the UK is not a figure we can provide from Australian sources. But if you're in Australia, the national full-time average of $108,352 is your benchmark. State and award variations can push your pay above or below that line – and the tool helps you see exactly where you stand.

Questions

What is the average salary in the UK?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish UK earnings data. For official UK figures, refer to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This site covers Australian averages only.

How does the Australian full-time average compare to the UK?

No direct comparison is available from the sources used on this site. The Australian full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) according to ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. UK data would need to be sourced separately.

Why do state averages differ from the national average?

State averages vary due to differences in industry mix, public versus private sector employment, and occupational distribution. For example, the ACT full-time average is $119,090, while Tasmania's is $96,008. These compositional factors can push a state's figure above or below the national line.

Related guides