Does Gross Salary Include Super? The Short Answer
No, gross salary does not include superannuation. When the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) calculates the national average weekly earnings, it deliberately leaves out employer super contributions and salary-sacrificed amounts. The figure you see on this site – $2,083.70 a week for full-time adults, or about $108,352 a year – is the cash pay before tax and before any super guarantee top-up.
This matters because the total cost to your employer is higher. The super guarantee adds 12.0% on top of your gross salary. But for comparing your pay against the national line, we use the cash figure that matches what most job advertisements and employment contracts quote.
How the ABS Defines Gross Earnings
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) survey measures the level of average gross weekly earnings for employee jobs. The reference period is the last pay period ending on or before the third Friday of May or November. The survey collects data on ordinary time earnings – that is, pay for standard or agreed hours, including base rates, penalty payments, shift allowances, commissions, and bonuses paid each period.
Crucially, the ABS excludes:
- Employer superannuation contributions (the 12.0% guarantee)
- Salary-sacrificed amounts (e.g., novated leases, extra super)
- Overtime payments
- Irregular bonuses (e.g., annual performance bonuses)
- Non-cash benefits
So when you see a figure like $2,083.70 a week, it is the cash component only. The ATO also treats super as separate from gross income for tax purposes – you pay tax on your gross salary, not on your employer’s super contributions.
Why Your State Can Move You Off the National Line
The national average is an aggregate. Your actual pay can be higher or lower depending on where you live. The ABS publishes state-by-state averages for full-time adult ordinary time earnings. Here are the annualised figures (×52) from May 2026:
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
- Western Australia: $115,825
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- South Australia: $102,450
- Tasmania: $96,008
If you work in the ACT or WA, you are likely above the national line. If you work in Tasmania or SA, you are likely below it. These differences reflect industry mix, cost of living, and local labour demand.
See how your state compares on the map
Award and Minimum Wage Effects
Your award or enterprise agreement can also push your pay off the national line. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week on 38 hours ($52,255 a year). But most employees are covered by awards, which rose by 4.75% in the same adjustment. Many awards set rates above the minimum, especially for skilled trades, hospitality, and retail.
For example, a full-time adult under the Hospitality Award might earn around $25–$28 an hour depending on classification, while a professional under a modern award could earn $35–$50 an hour. The national average of $2,083.70 a week ($54.83 an hour) reflects a mix of all occupations, including managers ($69.20 median hourly) and professionals ($64.50 median hourly) according to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey from August 2025.
Explore median earnings by occupation
Medians vs Averages
The national line uses the average (mean). But the median gives a different picture. The full-time median weekly earnings are about $1,674 ($90,532 a year), and the all-employees median is about $1,436 ($74,100 a year). The average is pulled up by high earners, so more than half of full-time workers earn less than the national average line. If your salary is around $90,000, you are close to the typical full-time worker, even though you are below the average.
Putting Your Salary on the Line
When you enter your gross annual salary (before tax, before super) into the tool, it calculates your weekly pay on a 38-hour week and shows the distance from the national full-time average. This is the same method the ABS uses for its state and territory comparisons. Remember that the figure does not include super – your total remuneration package is higher, but the cash comparison is the standard benchmark.
How the Figures Are Set
The ABS collects data twice a year (May and November) from a sample of businesses. The estimates are seasonally adjusted and trend series are also published. The figures are used in commercial contracts, government payments, and wage negotiations. Fair Work uses similar data when setting minimum wages and award rates.
Learn more about how the data is compiled
Key Takeaways
- Gross salary as used on this site does not include superannuation.
- The national full-time average is $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) – cash only.
- State averages vary widely, from $96,008 in Tasmania to $119,090 in the ACT.
- Award and minimum wage changes can lift your pay above or keep it below the national line.
- The median full-time salary is lower than the average, at about $90,532 a year.
If you have more questions about how your pay compares, check the guides section for detailed explanations of award rates, salary packaging, and tax.