Where does a criminologist salary sit against the national average?
If you are looking at a criminologist salary in Australia, the first thing to know is that the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate figure for this occupation. Criminologists are typically grouped under the broad occupation category of Professionals in ABS surveys. That means we have to use the Professional average as a starting point, then adjust for the kind of employer and location.
The national benchmark
The site’s reference line is the national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings: $2,083.70 a week, or $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, multiplied by 52). This is the average for all full-time adults before tax. It is not a median and it is not a minimum. It is the figure the salary index uses to show how far above or below a particular salary sits.
For comparison, the full-time median weekly earnings are about $1,740 a week ($90,532 a year) and the all-employees median is about $1,436 a week ($74,100 a year), from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for August 2025. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week.
What the data says about Professionals
The most recent ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025) shows that Professionals – the category that includes criminologists – had average weekly total cash earnings of $2,049.60. That is about $106,579 a year. The average hourly total cash earnings for Professionals was $64.50, with average weekly hours paid of 32.1. Note that this average includes part-time workers, so full-time Professionals would typically earn more.
If we look at the Average Weekly Earnings release for May 2026, the full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings for the Public administration and safety industry – where many criminologists work – was $2,179.80 a week ($113,350 a year). The Education and training industry average was $2,197.90 a week ($114,291 a year). Both are above the national average.
State-by-state differences
Where you work matters. The state full-time averages from the ABS (May 2026) are:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Criminologists employed by the Australian Federal Police or in ACT government agencies may see salaries closer to the ACT average. Those in Tasmania or South Australia may be below the national line. You can explore state differences on our States and territories page.
Award coverage and minimum rates
Many criminologists are covered by either the Professional Employees Award or the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for these awards. From 1 July 2026, award minimum rates increased by 4.75%. The national minimum wage itself rose to $26.44 an hour. If you are employed under an enterprise agreement, the award may not apply, but the base rate cannot be less than the award minimum.
For a typical criminologist role in the community sector, the award classification might be at a level that pays above the national minimum but below the Professional average. Without a specific classification, it is not possible to give an exact figure. You can use the Guides to learn how to find your correct award rate.
A resident take-home sketch
Let’s assume a criminologist earns exactly the Professional average of $106,579 a year (the average for all Professionals). On a 38-hour week, that is $2,049.60 a week. For the 2026–27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions).
On $106,579 a year, the tax would be roughly:
- $0 on first $18,200
- 15% on $26,800 ($4,020)
- 30% on $61,579 ($18,473.70)
- Total tax: $22,493.70
- Medicare levy: $2,131.58
- Total deductions: $24,625.28
- Take-home: about $81,954 a year, or $1,576 a week.
That is above the all-employees median of $74,100 but below the full-time median of $90,532. If the criminologist earns at the public-sector average of $117,681, the take-home would be higher: roughly $87,500 after tax and Medicare.
Where to find more
If you want to see how your own salary compares, you can Place a salary on the line. For industry-specific medians, see our Industry medians page. The figures in this article are drawn from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, and the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025. The minimum wage and award rates come from Fair Work.
A note on data limitations
The ABS does not produce a separate earnings estimate for criminologists. The Professional category includes many occupations – lawyers, accountants, engineers, scientists, social workers – so the average may not reflect the typical criminologist. If you work in a university, a government agency, or a private consultancy, your pay may differ. The best approach is to check your specific award or enterprise agreement, or use the Job medians page for broader occupation groups.