Business Management Salary in Australia
Understanding where a business management salary sits against the national average helps both employers and employees benchmark compensation. In Australia, the term "business management" covers a range of roles from office managers to senior executives, but the most relevant occupational grouping in official statistics is Managers.
The National Full-Time Average
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes the Average Weekly Earnings series twice a year. As of May 2026, the seasonally adjusted average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults was $2,083.70. Multiplied by 52 weeks, this gives a yearly figure of about $108,352. This is the line that this site uses as the benchmark.
For context, the median weekly earnings for all employees (full-time and part-time) was $1,436 in August 2025, according to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours release. That annualises to roughly $74,672. The full-time median was about $90,532 per year. These medians are lower than the average because high earners pull the average up.
Business Management Earnings from the ABS
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025 provides detailed earnings by occupation. For the Managers occupation group (which includes business administration managers, corporate managers, and general managers), the average weekly total cash earnings for all employees was $2,800.90. This annualises to approximately $145,647.
When looking only at full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate (a more homogeneous group), the average weekly total cash earnings for Managers was $2,688.70, or about $139,812 per year. This is well above the national full-time average of $108,352.
It is important to note that these are averages. The ABS also provides quartile data: for all full-time persons (all occupations), the median weekly earnings were $1,887, with the first quartile at $1,424 and the third quartile at $2,560. For Managers specifically, the median would be higher, but the ABS does not publish a separate median for each occupation in that release.
How Business Management Pay Compares
A business management salary typically sits in the top quartile of all Australian earnings. The national full-time average of $108,352 is roughly equivalent to the third quartile of full-time earnings ($2,560 per week = $133,120 per year) for all occupations. Managers' average of $139,812 is above that, indicating that business management roles are among the higher-paid occupations.
For a clearer picture, consider the job medians page on this site, which breaks down earnings by occupation. The Managers category consistently shows higher weekly earnings than professionals, technicians, and clerical workers.
State and Territory Variations
Where you work also matters. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings release provides state-level full-time averages. The states and territories page on this site lists these:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Business management salaries tend to follow these patterns, with higher pay in the ACT, Western Australia, and New South Wales, and lower pay in Tasmania and South Australia.
Minimum Wage Context
For comparison, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, equating to about $52,255 per year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time. A business management salary is typically several times the minimum wage, reflecting the higher skill and responsibility required.
Tax Considerations
Income tax for 2026–27 is progressive: 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 of 2% applies to most taxpayers. A business manager earning $139,812 would fall into the 30% marginal tax bracket (plus Medicare), meaning a significant portion goes to tax. After-tax income would be around $100,000 depending on deductions.
Summary
Business management salaries in Australia are significantly above the national full-time average. Using ABS data for the Managers occupation, the average weekly earnings are about $2,800, or roughly $145,000 per year. This places business managers in the top earning brackets, though actual salaries vary by industry, location, and experience. For a personalised comparison, use the Place a salary on the line tool to see how any figure stacks up against the national average.
Data Sources
- National full-time average: ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026
- Occupation earnings: ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025
- Minimum wage: Fair Work Ombudsman, from 1 July 2026
- Tax rates: Australian Taxation Office, 2026–27