Average line

HomeGuidesAverage salary

Average Salary Sydney: How It Compares to the National Average

The average full-time salary in Sydney is not published separately, but the New South Wales average of about $109,658 a year is slightly above the national average of $108,352.

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

Average Salary Sydney: Where Does Your Pay Sit?

If you are looking for the average salary in Sydney, the most reliable benchmark is the New South Wales full-time adult ordinary-time average published by the ABS. As of May 2026, that figure is about $109,658 a year, or $2,108.8 a week. That is slightly above the national full-time average of $108,352 a year ($2,083.7 a week). The ABS does not release a separate Sydney figure, so the state average is the best available proxy.

How the National Average Is Set

The national full-time average is based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings series for May 2026. It covers adult employees in full-time ordinary-time earnings, excluding overtime. The figure of $108,352 a year is the line on this site. It is an average, not a median. The full-time median is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). That means half of full-time workers earn less than $90,532, even though the average is higher.

What Would Move a Sydney Salary Above the Average?

Sydney is home to many high-paying industries. If you work in financial and insurance services, information media, or professional, scientific and technical services, your salary is likely to be above the state average. These sectors often pay well above the national average because of the concentration of headquarters and specialised roles. For example, a senior software engineer or a financial analyst in Sydney could earn $130,000 or more, well above the $109,658 mark.

Enterprise agreements and individual contracts can also push pay higher. Some large employers in Sydney offer above-award rates, bonuses, or allowances that lift total earnings. The ABS average includes ordinary-time earnings only, so overtime and bonuses are not counted. If your base salary is above the average, you are in the top half of earners.

What Would Move a Sydney Salary Below the Average?

Many workers in Sydney earn below the state average. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. That is less than half the state average. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date, so some award-covered roles in retail, hospitality, and administration may pay between $55,000 and $70,000. These are below the $109,658 average.

Part-time or casual work also pulls down the average. The state average is for full-time workers only. If you work part-time, your annual salary will naturally be lower. The all-employees median of $74,100 includes part-time and casual workers, giving a better sense of what a typical worker earns.

Comparing Sydney to Other States

Sydney is in New South Wales, which has a full-time average of about $109,658. That is higher than Victoria ($106,137), Queensland ($106,064), South Australia ($102,450), and Tasmania ($96,008). It is lower than Western Australia ($115,825) and the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090). The Northern Territory is about $103,173. So Sydney sits in the middle of the pack among the larger states.

Using the Site's Tools

You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average. The tool shows the weekly and hourly equivalent on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the line. You can also explore job medians or industry medians to see typical pay in your field. For a broader view, see the states and territories page.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

If your salary is around the Sydney average of $109,658, your income tax for 2026–27 would be calculated as: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, 30% on the next $90,000, and 37% on the amount above $135,000 up to $190,000. Plus the Medicare levy of 2%. For $109,658, the tax would be roughly $25,000 plus Medicare, leaving about $82,000 after tax. This is an estimate; your actual tax depends on deductions and offsets.

Final Thoughts

The average salary in Sydney is best approximated by the New South Wales full-time average of about $109,658. Whether your pay is above or below that depends on your industry, role, and hours. Use the site's tools to see where you stand. Remember that averages can be skewed by high earners; the median is often a better measure of what most people earn.

How the figures are set explains the sources and methodology behind the numbers. About this site provides more detail on the ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO.

Questions

What is the average salary in Sydney?

The ABS does not publish a city-level average salary for Sydney. The closest official figure is the New South Wales full-time adult ordinary-time average of about $109,658 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, × 52). This is slightly above the national full-time average of $108,352.

How does Sydney's average compare to the national average?

Using the New South Wales average as a proxy, Sydney's full-time average of about $109,658 is about $1,306 a year above the national average of $108,352. However, Sydney's cost of living is higher, so the real purchasing power may differ. The national full-time median is about $90,532, so many workers earn less than the average.

What factors can push a Sydney salary above or below the average?

Industry plays a big role. High-paying sectors like professional services, finance, and IT are concentrated in Sydney, which can push salaries above the state average. Conversely, retail, hospitality, and care work often pay below the average. Individual factors include experience, qualifications, and whether the role is covered by an award or enterprise agreement. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week.

Related guides