Why a state or an award can move your pay off the national line
If you are searching for the average UK salary, you have come to a site that focuses on Australian earnings. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, and the national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week (about $108,352 per year) as of May 2026. This is the line that Average line uses as its benchmark.
The UK average is not in our data
The ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO do not publish UK salary figures. The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) releases its own average earnings data, but that is outside the scope of this site. If you need a UK figure, you would need to consult the ONS directly.
How Australian states and territories shift the average
Even within Australia, the national average hides big differences. The full-time average in the Australian Capital Territory is about $119,090, while in Tasmania it is about $96,008. Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658) also sit above the national line, while South Australia ($102,450) and Queensland ($106,064) are closer to it. These differences reflect the mix of industries, public-sector employment, and the cost of living in each state. You can see the full breakdown on our States and territories page.
Awards and enterprise agreements
Your pay may also differ because of the award or agreement that covers your job. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, about $52,255 per year on 38 hours). But many awards set higher minimums – the Fair Work Commission increased award rates by 4.75% from that date. If you work in retail, hospitality, or health care, your award rate could be well above the minimum but still below the full-time average. Enterprise agreements can push pay even higher, especially in mining or construction.
Medians tell a different story
The full-time median is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). These medians are lower than the averages because high earners pull the average up. If you are comparing your salary to the UK, remember that medians are often a better measure of typical pay than averages.
Tax and take-home pay
Australian residents pay tax on a sliding scale for 2026–27: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy adds 2%. So even if your salary matches the national average, your take-home pay depends on your tax bracket. The UK has its own tax system with different thresholds and rates.
How the figures are set
The national full-time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which measures ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults. It is published twice a year (May and November). The site uses the May 2026 release. For more on methodology, see How the figures are set.
What if you are looking for UK data?
This site is designed for Australian workers. If you are comparing a UK salary to Australian earnings, you would need to convert currencies and adjust for different living costs. The ABS does not provide that comparison. You might find the UK’s ONS release on average weekly earnings useful, but we cannot link to it here.
Summary
The average UK salary is not a figure we can quote from our sources. What we can tell you is that Australian full-time average earnings vary by state, industry, and award coverage. The national line of $108,352 per year is a starting point, but your actual pay may be higher or lower depending on where you live and what you do.