How does a consultant salary compare to the national average?
If you are searching for a single figure for a consultant salary in Australia, you will not find one. The term 'consultant' covers a wide range of roles – from management consultants and IT consultants to strategy advisors and independent contractors. The ABS does not publish a specific average or median for 'consultant' as a standalone occupation. The closest occupation listed is Management Consultants (ANZSCO 224711), but Jobs and Skills Australia reports that median weekly earnings for that group are not available due to data limitations.
What we do have are the national benchmarks. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. That works out to about $108,352 per year before tax, assuming 52 weeks. On a 38-hour week, that is roughly $54.83 per hour. This is the figure we use as the line on this site – you can place a salary on the line to see where any pay rate sits.
For a broader view, the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025 (the most recent available) gives median weekly earnings: $1,436 for all employees, $1,674 for men and $1,250 for women. For full-time employees only, the median is about $1,740 per week, or $90,532 per year. These medians are lower than the averages because high earners pull the average up.
What the data says about professionals
Many consultants work in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry. In the May 2025 Employee Earnings and Hours survey, the average weekly total cash earnings for all employees in that industry was not given directly, but the average hourly total cash earnings for non-managerial employees was $54.50, with average weekly hours of 33.9. For the occupation group 'Professionals', average weekly total cash earnings were $2,049.60. That is about $106,579 per year – close to the national full-time average. However, this includes all professionals (lawyers, accountants, engineers, etc.), not just consultants.
Reading the same pay as a year, a week, and an hour
This site is built to help you see a salary in three ways: yearly, weekly, and hourly. The national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week becomes $108,352 per year and $54.83 per hour on a 38-hour week. If you have a consultant salary in mind, you can use the line tool to compare it to these benchmarks. For example, a consultant earning $120,000 per year would be about $2,308 per week and $60.74 per hour – above the national average. A consultant on $80,000 per year would be about $1,538 per week and $40.48 per hour – below the average but still above the national minimum wage.
Where to find more specific data
Because 'consultant' is broad, you may want to look at more specific occupations or industries. The Job medians page on this site draws on ABS data to show median earnings for many occupations. For management consultants specifically, the ABS does not publish a median due to sample size, but you can explore related roles. Alternatively, the Industry medians page shows earnings by industry – Professional Services is a good starting point.
The minimum wage and awards
From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, which is about $52,255 per year. Most consultants earn well above this, but if you are an employee consultant covered by an award, the minimum rates may be higher. The Fair Work Commission increased award minimums by 4.75% from that date. However, many consultants are employed under individual contracts or are self-employed, so the award may not apply.
State and territory differences
Where you work also matters. The full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings vary by state and territory, as published by the ABS. For example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at about $119,090 per year, while Tasmania is lowest at about $96,008. You can see all state figures on the States and territories page.
Putting it together
There is no single answer to 'what is a consultant salary?'. The national full-time average of $108,352 per year is a useful benchmark, but many consultants earn more or less depending on their specialisation, experience, and location. The median for all full-time employees is about $90,532, and the median for all employees (including part-time) is about $74,100. If you are a consultant, you can use these figures to see where your pay sits. For more detail on how the ABS collects these figures, see How the figures are set.
Remember that the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey is published twice a year, for May and November. The most recent data at the time of writing is May 2026. The Employee Earnings and Hours survey is less frequent – the latest is May 2025. Always check the reference period when comparing salaries.
If you want to see how a specific consultant salary compares, use the line tool on this site. It will show you the weekly and hourly equivalents and the distance from the national full-time average.