Ecologist salary vs the national average
If you are an ecologist or considering a career in ecology, you probably want to know how your pay compares with the Australian full-time average. The most current data comes from the ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia, but there is no single published figure for "ecologist" alone. Instead, ecologists are grouped under the occupation Environmental Scientists (ANZSCO 2343). That category includes environmental consultants, conservation officers, and other related roles.
Where the data comes from
The ABS publishes the Average Weekly Earnings survey twice a year (May and November). The latest release, for May 2026, puts the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings at $2,083.70. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that is about $108,352 a year. This is the figure this site uses as the line.
For occupation-specific pay, the ABS also runs the Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours. Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) uses that survey to produce median earnings for occupations. The most recent JSA profile for Environmental Scientists (based on May 2025 data) shows:
- Median full-time weekly earnings: $1,953
- Median hourly earnings: $54
- Share of workers who work full-time: 85%
- Average full-time hours per week: 42 hours
Note that these are medians, not averages. Medians represent the middle point – half of full-time environmental scientists earn more, half earn less. The median is often a better guide for a typical worker because it is not skewed by very high or very low salaries.
How the ecologist median compares to the national average
The national full-time average ($2,083.70 per week) is higher than the environmental scientist median ($1,953 per week). That means the typical ecologist earns about $130 less per week than the average across all full-time adult workers. On a yearly basis, that is roughly $6,760 less.
However, the national full-time median (all occupations) is about $1,741 per week ($90,532 a year). The environmental scientist median of $1,953 is well above that – about $212 more per week. So ecologists tend to earn more than the typical full-time worker, but less than the average (which is pulled up by very high earners in fields like mining, finance, and IT).
How it stacks up against the minimum wage
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week (about $52,255 a year). The median hourly rate for environmental scientists ($54) is more than double that. Even entry-level ecologists covered by awards would receive at least the relevant award rate, which rose by 4.75% in the latest adjustment.
State and territory differences
Where you work as an ecologist matters. The ABS state full-time averages (May 2026) range from about $96,008 a year in Tasmania to $119,090 in the ACT. Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658) are also above the national average. If you are an ecologist in a state with a higher average, your pay may be pushed up by local demand and cost of living. Conversely, in Tasmania or South Australia, the averages are lower. See the state breakdown.
Tax on an ecologist salary
At the median of $101,556 a year, an ecologist falls into the 30% marginal tax bracket (2026–27 rates). The tax-free threshold is $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. You also pay the Medicare levy of 2% (with possible reductions for low-income earners). So on $101,556, your marginal rate is 30% plus 2% Medicare, but your effective rate is lower because of the tax-free threshold and lower brackets.
Where to find more occupation-specific data
If you want to compare your salary to other jobs, the Job medians page lists median weekly earnings for hundreds of occupations from the ABS survey. For industry comparisons, see Industry medians. And if you want to see how your pay measures up against the national line, you can place your salary on the line.
A note on data sources
This article uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 for the national full-time average. The median figures for environmental scientists come from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. The national minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026. All figures are before tax. For more detail on how these figures are set, see How the figures are set.
Summary
Ecologists (as part of the environmental scientists group) earn a median of $1,953 per week – below the national full-time average of $2,083.70 but above the national full-time median of about $1,741. The hourly median of $54 is well above the minimum wage. State averages vary significantly, and the tax system means you keep roughly 68 cents of each additional dollar earned in the 30% bracket. For the most precise picture, check the latest ABS releases and your specific award or enterprise agreement.