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Change Manager Salary in Australia: How It Compares to the National Average

The ABS does not publish a specific salary for change managers, but based on the broader Manager category, average weekly earnings are $2,800.90 ($145,647 annually), well above the national full-time 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

Change Manager Salary in Australia

If you are researching a change manager salary in Australia, the first thing to know is that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a dedicated figure for this role. Change managers are typically grouped under the broader occupation categories of Managers or Professionals. To understand where this pay sits, we need to look at the national benchmarks and the available data for those categories.

The National Full-Time Average

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that is about $108,352 per year. This is the line used on this site to compare any salary. The full-time median, from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025), is about $90,532 per year. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 per year. These figures give you a sense of the middle of the market.

Where Change Managers Typically Sit

Change managers often fall under the Manager occupation. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025, the average weekly total cash earnings for all employees in the Manager category was $2,800.90. That works out to roughly $145,647 per year. However, this average includes both full-time and part-time managers. For full-time managers, the figure would be higher. The same survey shows that the average weekly total cash earnings for full-time males in all occupations was $2,241.10, and for full-time females $1,966.10. For Managers specifically, full-time earnings are likely above those all-occupation averages.

Alternatively, some change managers may be classified as Professionals. The average weekly total cash earnings for Professionals was $2,049.60, or about $106,579 per year. This is very close to the national full-time average. So a change manager's salary could range from around $100,000 to well over $140,000 depending on how the role is classified and the specific employer.

How Pay Moves Above or Below the Average

Several factors can push a change manager salary above or below the national full-time average:

  • Industry: Change managers in mining, finance, or professional services tend to earn more than those in retail or hospitality. The ABS data shows that the highest-paying industries for full-time adults are typically mining and information media.
  • State or Territory: Full-time average earnings vary significantly by state. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at about $119,090, while Tasmania is lowest at $96,008. A change manager in Canberra is likely to earn more than one in Hobart.
  • Public vs Private Sector: The public sector often pays higher average ordinary time earnings for full-time adults. For males, public sector average is $2,399.30 per week compared to $2,139.50 in the private sector. For females, it is $2,154.00 vs $1,840.80.
  • Experience and Seniority: Senior change managers or those leading large transformation programs will command higher pay than junior or project-level roles.

Using the Site’s Tools

You can place a salary on the line to see how a specific change manager salary compares to the national full-time average. The tool will show the weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the average. You can also explore job medians to see how other roles compare.

The Minimum Wage Context

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. A change manager salary is almost always well above the minimum wage, but it is useful to know the floor when negotiating.

Tax Considerations

For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy is 2% (with possible reductions for low incomes). A change manager earning $130,000 would fall into the 30% bracket plus Medicare, so the marginal rate is 32%.

Summary

While there is no single published figure for a change manager salary, the available data suggests that most change managers earn above the national full-time average of $108,352. The Manager category average of $145,647 is a useful benchmark, but actual pay can vary widely. Use the tools on this site to see where a specific salary sits, and remember that the ABS updates its earnings data twice a year (May and November).

For more detail on how earnings are measured, see how the figures are set. You can also read guides on salary negotiation and benchmarking.

Questions

What is the average salary for a change manager in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not report a specific figure for change managers. However, change managers are typically classified under the Manager occupation category, which had average weekly total cash earnings of $2,800.90 for all employees in May 2025. That equates to roughly $145,647 per year. Alternatively, some change managers may fall under Professionals, with average weekly earnings of $2,049.60. Actual pay depends on the specific role, industry, and experience.

How does a change manager salary compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 ($108,352 annually) as of May 2026. Change managers in the Manager category earn well above that average. However, if a change manager is classified as a Professional, their pay may be closer to the national average. It is important to note that the national average includes all full-time adults across all occupations, so many roles fall above or below it.

What factors influence a change manager's salary?

Several factors affect a change manager's pay: industry (e.g., mining, finance, or government), state or territory (for example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at $119,090, while Tasmania is lowest at $96,008), years of experience, and whether the role is in the public or private sector. Public sector full-time ordinary time earnings for males are $2,399.30 per week and for females $2,154.00, compared to private sector rates of $2,139.50 and $1,840.80 respectively.

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