Where the national line sits
The national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. This is the line that every salary on this site is measured against. It represents the typical weekly earnings of a full‑time adult employee before tax, excluding overtime and bonuses. The figure is updated twice a year – in May and November – so the line moves as the economy changes.
How to calculate salary against the line
To see where your pay sits, enter your yearly salary before tax into the tool. The site converts it to a weekly amount based on a 38‑hour week (the standard full‑time week used by the ABS and Fair Work). It then calculates the distance from the national average – above, below, or exactly on the line. This gives you a quick benchmark, but remember that the national average is a broad measure. Your own pay may differ for good reasons, such as your industry, occupation, or location.
Place a salary on the line to see your personal comparison.
Why a state can move you off the line
Average earnings vary significantly across Australia. The ABS publishes state‑by‑state figures for full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings. Here are the annual equivalents based on the May 2026 data:
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- Tasmania: about $96,008
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
If you live in the ACT or Western Australia, your salary is likely to be above the national line. If you are in Tasmania or South Australia, it may be below. These differences reflect the mix of industries, occupations, and public‑sector employment in each state. For example, the ACT has a high proportion of public‑sector workers, whose average weekly earnings are $2,263.10 (public) compared with $2,034.10 in the private sector nationally. The public sector also saw stronger annual growth of 4.4% versus 3.5% in the private sector.
States and territories provides a full breakdown of averages and medians for each region.
How awards and individual arrangements affect your pay
The method used to set your pay can also push you off the national line. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025), 38.5% of employees have their pay set by individual arrangement, 34.6% by collective agreement, and 22.7% by award only. Those on individual arrangements earn the highest average weekly total cash earnings ($1,931.80 in NSW, for example), while award‑only employees earn the lowest ($1,038.90 in NSW).
Awards are industry‑ or occupation‑based minimum standards set by the Fair Work Commission. They include penalty rates and allowances, but the base rates are often lower than what you might negotiate individually. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) applies only to employees not covered by an award or agreement. Most award minimums are higher than that, but still well below the national full‑time average. The 2026 annual wage review increased award rates by 4.75%, but the average earnings growth was 3.7%, meaning the gap between award‑only workers and the national line has widened slightly.
If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, your pay may be closer to the national average, especially in industries like mining or public administration where collective agreements are common.
Medians tell a different story
The national average is pulled up by high earners. The median full‑time adult weekly earnings – the middle point where half earn more and half earn less – is about $1,739 per week, or $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). For all employees (including part‑time), the median is about $1,436 per week ($74,672 per year). So while the average line sits at $108,352, more than half of full‑time workers earn less than that. The median is a better guide to what a typical worker actually takes home.
Men’s full‑time average ordinary‑time earnings are about $113,412 per year; women’s are about $100,594. The gender pay gap persists partly because of differences in occupation, industry, and hours, but also because women are more likely to work in award‑covered roles and part‑time positions.
How the figures are set explains the methodology behind the averages and medians.
Using the tool to understand your position
The simplest way to see where you stand is to enter your salary. The tool does the maths for you: it converts your yearly figure to a weekly amount, compares it to the national line, and shows the difference. You can also explore how your pay compares to state averages, industry medians, or occupation benchmarks using the links on this site.
Remember that the national line is a snapshot. It changes every six months, and your own salary may change with promotions, job moves, or award updates. Check back after each ABS release (May and November) to see if you have moved relative to the line.
Guides offer more detail on how to interpret your results and what to do if your pay is below the average for your industry or location.