What is the average US salary?
If you arrived here searching for the average US salary, you won’t find a precise figure on this site. The data we use comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Fair Work, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) – all of which report on Australian earnings. The average US salary is not published by these organisations, and we do not invent numbers. For US data, you would need to consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics or similar sources.
This page instead explains how Australian salaries are measured and why they can vary by state, award, or industry. If you are comparing Australian pay to US pay, keep in mind that currency exchange rates, cost of living, and different tax systems make direct comparisons complex.
The national full-time average in Australia
The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, for May and November. The most recent release (May 2026) gives the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings as $2,083.70. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that is about $108,352 per year before tax. This is the figure used as the line on this site.
- Men’s full-time average: about $113,412 per year
- Women’s full-time average: about $100,594 per year
These are averages, not medians. The median full-time salary is lower – about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The median across all employees (including part-time) is about $74,100.
Why your pay might sit off the national line
Even if you work full-time, your salary may differ from the national average for several reasons:
State and territory differences
Average full-time earnings vary significantly across Australia. The highest is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090 per year, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. Tasmania is the lowest at about $96,008. States and territories shows the full list.
Award and minimum wage effects
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. Many workers are covered by awards that set higher minimum rates. Award minimums rose by 4.75% in the latest review. If you are paid under an award, your salary may be closer to the award rate than to the national average.
Industry and occupation
Some industries pay well above the average (mining, professional services) while others (retail, hospitality) pay below. Industry medians and Job medians give more detail.
Full-time vs part-time
The national line is for full-time adult employees. Part-time and casual workers earn less on a weekly basis, which pulls down the all-employees average.
How the figures are set
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey measures the level of average gross weekly earnings at a point in time. It is not designed to measure wage growth – that is the role of the Wage Price Index. Changes in the average can be affected by shifts in the mix of workers (more part-time, more women, different industries) rather than just pay rises. How the figures are set explains the methodology.
Tax on the average salary
For the 2026–27 financial year, the tax brackets are:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (before any reductions). On the full-time average of $108,352, the tax would be roughly $24,000–$26,000 depending on offsets and deductions.
Summary
While this site cannot give you the average US salary, it provides a clear picture of Australian earnings. Use the Place a salary on the line tool to see where your pay sits against the national full-time average, and explore state and industry breakdowns to understand the differences.