Contracts Administrator Salary: What the Data Shows
If you are looking for a single, official figure for a contracts administrator salary in Australia, the short answer is that the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish one. The occupation ‘Contract Administrators’ (ANZSCO 511111) is a 6‑digit classification, and the ABS suppresses median weekly earnings estimates for such detailed groups because the sample size is too small to be reliable. Jobs and Skills Australia also notes that median weekly earnings are ‘N/A’ for this occupation.
That does not mean the data is useless. By looking at broader occupation groups, national averages, and medians, you can get a clear picture of where contracts administrator pay sits in the Australian labour market.
What the data says about contracts administrator pay
Contract administrators prepare, interpret, maintain, review and negotiate variations to contracts. They work across industries such as construction, mining, professional services and government. According to the 2021 Census, 87% of contracts administrators work full‑time, well above the all‑occupations average of 64%. The median age is 41, and the workforce is almost evenly split between men and women (49% female).
Because the ABS does not release a specific earnings figure for this occupation, the closest official benchmark is the ‘Clerical and Administrative Workers’ major group. In the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025, clerical and administrative workers had:
- Average weekly total cash earnings for all employees: $1,370.60
- Average weekly total hours paid for non‑managerial employees: 31.5 hours
- Average hourly total cash earnings for non‑managerial employees: $42.90
These figures include both full‑time and part‑time workers. For full‑time clerical and administrative workers, the average weekly total cash earnings would be higher, but the ABS does not break that out at the major group level in the published tables.
How to read the same pay as a year, a week, and an hour
On this site, every salary is shown as a yearly figure before tax, a weekly figure (based on a 38‑hour week), and an hourly rate. This helps you compare roles that might be advertised in different formats. For example, if you know the weekly pay, multiply by 52 to get the annual figure. If you know the hourly rate, multiply by 38 to get the weekly figure (for a full‑time worker).
The national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026) is $2,083.70 per week, which works out to $108,352 per year and $54.83 per hour on a 38‑hour week. This is the ‘line’ on the site – the benchmark against which all salaries are measured.
For comparison, the full‑time median across all occupations is about $1,741 per week ($90,532 per year), and the all‑employees median (including part‑time) is about $1,425 per week ($74,100 per year). These medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025.
Comparing to national benchmarks
Even without a precise contracts administrator figure, you can use the national benchmarks to gauge where a specific salary offer sits. If you are offered $80,000 per year, that is below the full‑time average but close to the all‑employees median. If you are offered $100,000, it is above the full‑time median but still below the full‑time average.
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year. Most contracts administrators would earn well above this, especially if covered by an award. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database shows minimum rates for classifications under awards like the Clerks – Private Sector Award 2020, which typically start higher than the national minimum.
State comparisons
Salaries vary by state and territory. The full‑time average weekly ordinary‑time earnings (May 2026) for each state are:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week ($109,658 per year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 per week ($106,137 per year)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 per week ($106,064 per year)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 per week ($102,450 per year)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 per week ($115,825 per year)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 per week ($96,008 per year)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 per week ($103,173 per year)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 per week ($119,090 per year)
If you are a contracts administrator in Western Australia or the ACT, you might expect pay to be higher than in Tasmania or South Australia, reflecting the broader state averages.
How this site uses the data
Place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full‑time average. You can also explore States and territories to see how averages differ around the country. The site draws a chart automatically, so you can see at a glance where your pay sits.
Remember that the figures here are before tax. For the 2026–27 financial 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 of 2% applies before any reductions.
Summary
While the ABS does not publish a specific contracts administrator salary, the occupation falls within the Clerical and Administrative Workers group, which had average weekly earnings of $1,370.60 in May 2025. For a more tailored estimate, check award classifications or look at advertised roles. The national benchmarks on this site give you a reliable way to assess any salary offer.