Finance Manager Salary Sydney: What the Data Shows
If you are looking for a precise finance manager salary Sydney figure published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, you will not find one. The ABS does not break down earnings by occupation and location at that level. The most specific publicly available data is the national average for all managers and the state-level full-time averages. This article uses those figures to give you a sense of where a finance manager salary in Sydney might sit relative to the national full-time average.
The National Full-Time Average as a Benchmark
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week nationally. That works out to about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is the reference line used on this site. Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares.
For men, the full-time ordinary-time average is $2,181.00 per week ($113,412 a year); for women, it is $1,934.50 per week ($100,594 a year). These are averages across all industries and occupations.
The National Manager Average
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025 (the most recent available) gives average weekly total cash earnings for managers as $2,800.90 per week. That is about $145,647 a year. This covers all managers nationally, including finance managers, HR managers, and others. It is a broad category, but it is the closest published figure for a finance manager role.
Note that this is an average of total cash earnings, which includes overtime and bonuses, while the full-time ordinary-time average excludes overtime. The manager average is also from May 2025, while the national full-time average is from May 2026. Earnings have grown about 3.7% annually, so a finance manager salary in Sydney today might be slightly higher.
Sydney and NSW Context
The ABS provides state-level full-time ordinary-time averages. For New South Wales, the May 2026 figure is $2,108.80 per week (about $109,658 a year). That is slightly above the national average. Sydney, as the largest city, likely has higher earnings than the state average, especially for professional roles like finance managers.
States and territories page has more detail on how each region compares.
How a Finance Manager Salary Might Stack Up
If a finance manager in Sydney earns around the national manager average of $145,647, that is about $37,295 above the national full-time average. After tax, the difference narrows. Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; plus 2% Medicare levy), the estimated take-home pay on $145,647 is roughly $103,000–$104,000 a year. That is about $8,000–$9,000 more per year than the take-home on the national full-time average of $108,352 (which would be about $85,000–$86,000 after tax).
Of course, actual salaries vary. A finance manager in a large bank or multinational in Sydney could earn well above the manager average, while a role in a smaller firm might be closer to the NSW full-time average. The ABS does not publish a median for managers specifically, but the overall full-time median is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. Job medians gives more detail on occupation groups.
Minimum Wage and Award Context
For comparison, 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. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. A finance manager would typically be covered by an award or an enterprise agreement, but the role is usually above the minimum wage threshold. The Fair Work Commission sets these rates.
Resident Take-Home Sketch
To help you visualise, here is a quick take-home sketch for a finance manager earning the national manager average of $145,647 in Sydney:
- Gross annual salary: $145,647
- Estimated tax (2026–27 rates): about $38,000–$39,000
- Medicare levy (2%): about $2,913
- Estimated net annual income: about $103,700–$104,700
- Weekly net: about $1,994–$2,013
- Hourly net (38-hour week): about $52.50–$53.00
This is a rough estimate. Actual tax depends on deductions, HELP repayments, and other factors. The Guides section has more on tax and salary packaging.
Where to Find More Specific Data
If you need a more precise figure for a finance manager salary in Sydney, consider:
- Industry awards or enterprise agreements (check Fair Work)
- Job advertisements (which often list salary ranges)
- Professional bodies like CPA Australia or the Governance Institute
The ABS does not publish occupation-by-location earnings. The most detailed public data is the national manager average and the state full-time averages. How the figures are set explains the methodology behind the ABS surveys.
Summary
While there is no official finance manager salary Sydney figure, the national manager average of $145,647 a year and the NSW full-time average of $109,658 provide useful benchmarks. A finance manager in Sydney is likely to earn above the national full-time average, and the take-home pay after tax would be around $104,000 a year on the manager average. For a personalised comparison, use the line tool to enter your salary and see where it sits against the national average.