What is the average finance salary in Australia?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a single "finance salary" figure in the data provided for this page. The most relevant sources are the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026) and the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025). The latter shows that occupations with the highest hourly earnings are Managers ($69.20 per hour) and Professionals ($64.50 per hour) – categories that include many finance roles. On a standard 38-hour week, those hourly rates translate to roughly $136,760 and $127,530 per year respectively, but these are not official finance industry averages.
The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings stand at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the reference line used on this site. Finance salaries are generally above this average, but the exact figure depends on the role, experience, and location.
How does finance pay compare to the national average?
Using the national full-time average as a benchmark, finance professionals often earn more. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) reports a median weekly earnings of $1,436 for all employees ($74,672 per year) and $1,674 for full-time employees ($87,048 per year). The full-time median is about $90,532 per year. Finance roles, especially in banking, investment, and insurance, tend to fall in the upper half of the earnings distribution.
The gender pay gap in average weekly ordinary full-time earnings fell to 11.3% in May 2026, the lowest on record. Men's full-time average is about $113,412 per year; women's is about $100,594 per year. Finance is a male-dominated industry in many senior roles, which can affect averages.
For a resident earning the national average, take-home pay after tax and Medicare is roughly $81,718. A finance professional earning, say, $130,000 would face a higher marginal tax rate (30% on income between $45,001 and $135,000) and take home about $93,000 after tax. The 2026–27 tax rates are: nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above that. Medicare levy is 2%.
State variations for finance salaries
Finance jobs are concentrated in New South Wales and Victoria, where the state full-time averages are higher than the national figure. New South Wales full-time average is about $109,658; Victoria is about $106,137. Western Australia has the highest state average at $115,825, partly due to mining, but finance roles there may also command a premium. The Australian Capital Territory average is $119,090, driven by public sector and professional services. Tasmania has the lowest state average at $96,008.
If you work in finance in a higher-paying state, your salary is likely to exceed the national average. Use the states and territories page to see how your location compares.
Where to find more detailed finance salary data
For a more precise figure, the ABS publishes industry-level earnings in its Average Weekly Earnings release, but the data for Financial and Insurance Services is not included in the provided search results. The ATO also releases annual tax statistics by occupation, but those are not available here. You can explore job medians for related roles or place a salary on the line to see how your pay stacks up against the national average.
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75%. Finance professionals are typically covered by individual arrangements or enterprise agreements, and their pay is well above the minimum.
Summary
While the ABS does not provide a single "finance salary" figure, the available data shows that finance roles generally pay above the national full-time average of $108,352. Use the occupation and industry tools on this site to benchmark your own salary. For more on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.