What is the average salary for a chartered accountant in Australia?

The ABS does not publish a separate figure for chartered accountants. However, the Jobs and Skills Australia profile for accountants (ANZSCO 2211) reports a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,003 for non-managerial adult employees. That works out to about $104,156 a year before tax. This is a median, not an average, and covers all accountants, including those with chartered status.

How is a chartered accountant salary taxed in Australia?

For the 2026–27 income year, 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. A 2% Medicare levy applies to most taxpayers (reductions may apply for low incomes). On a $104,156 salary, the tax would be roughly $24,667 plus Medicare levy of $2,083, leaving about $77,406 after tax, or about $1,489 per week.

How does the chartered accountant salary compare to other professions?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 a year). The accountant median of $2,003 per week is about 4% below that average. It is well above the all-employees median of $1,436 per week ($74,672 a year) and the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 a year). Among professionals, accountants earn less than managers (median hourly $69.20) but more than many other occupations.

Chartered accountant salary in Australia: how it compares to the national average

Chartered accountant salary in Australia

Chartered accountants are a specialised subset of the accounting profession, typically holding postgraduate qualifications and membership with bodies such as CA ANZ. The most current official earnings data for accountants comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, published in January 2026 for May 2025, and the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile. While the ABS does not break out 'chartered accountant' separately, the accountant occupation (ANZSCO 2211) provides the best available benchmark.

Median earnings for accountants

According to, the median full-time weekly earnings for accountants (non-managerial adult rate) is $2,003. That translates to roughly $104,156 a year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is a median, meaning half of full-time accountants earn more and half earn less. It does not include managers, part-time workers, or employees paid below the adult rate.

How does it compare to the national average?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week or $108,352 a year. This is the line that Average line uses as its reference. The accountant median sits about $80 per week below that average. For context, the all-employees median (including part-time) is $1,436 per week ($74,672 a year), and the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 a year on 38 hours).

Take-home pay after tax

A resident chartered accountant earning the median $104,156 in 2026–27 would face the following tax:

Tax-free threshold: first $18,200 taxed at 0%
15% bracket: $18,201 to $45,000 → tax $4,020
30% bracket: $45,001 to $135,000 → on $104,156, that portion is $59,156 taxed at 30% = $17,746.80
Total income tax: $21,766.80
Medicare levy: 2% of $104,156 = $2,083.12
Total tax and levy: $23,849.92
Net annual income: about $80,306
Weekly take-home: roughly $1,544

This is a simplified sketch. Actual tax may vary with deductions, offsets, or family circumstances.

State comparisons

The national full-time average varies by state and territory. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, gives these full-time adult ordinary-time averages (annualised):

New South Wales: $2,108.80/week ($109,658/year)
Victoria: $2,041.10/week ($106,137/year)
Queensland: $2,039.70/week ($106,064/year)
South Australia: $1,970.20/week ($102,450/year)
Western Australia: $2,227.40/week ($115,825/year)
Tasmania: $1,846.30/week ($96,008/year)
Northern Territory: $1,984.10/week ($103,173/year)
Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20/week ($119,090/year)

A chartered accountant earning the national median of $104,156 would be above the state average in Tasmania and South Australia, close to the average in Victoria and Queensland, and below the average in NSW, WA, and the ACT. See States and territories for more detail.

How the figures are set

The national average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, conducted twice a year (May and November). The accountant median is from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, conducted every two years (most recently May 2025). The minimum wage is set by Fair Work each financial year. For more on methodology, visit How the figures are set.

Other salary benchmarks

Full-time median (all occupations): about $90,532 per year
All-employees median: about $74,100 per year
Men's full-time ordinary-time average: $113,412 per year
Women's full-time ordinary-time average: $100,594 per year

The accountant median of $104,156 sits between the male and female full-time averages, reflecting the occupation's relatively balanced gender split (54% female according to Jobs and Skills Australia).

For a broader view of how different occupations compare, see Job medians.

Caveats

The accountant median is for all accountants, not exclusively chartered accountants. Chartered accountants may earn more or less depending on experience, firm size, and location.
The median is for full-time non-managerial adult employees. Senior partners or directors are excluded.
The national average is a mean, which can be pulled up by high earners. The accountant median is a better measure of typical pay.

Summary

A chartered accountant in Australia can expect a median full-time salary of around $104,156 per year before tax. This is slightly below the national full-time average of $108,352 but well above the all-employees median and minimum wage. After tax, a typical take-home is about $1,544 per week. Use the Place a salary on the line tool to see where your pay sits against the national average.