General Manager Salary Overview
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a specific median salary for the occupation 'General Manager (ANZSCO 1112) due to a high standard error, as noted in the Jobs and Skills Australia profile. The Jobs and Skills Australia page notes that median weekly earnings for General Managers is 'N/A. However, the broader Managers occupation group provides useful benchmarks.
National Full-Time Average and Medians
According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, the national full-time adult ordinary time earnings average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. This is the line used on this site. The full-time median earnings for all employees is about $1,887 per week ($98,124 per year), and the all-employees median is $1,436 per week ($74,672 per year) from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025.
Managers Occupation Group Earnings
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025 shows that for the Managers occupation group (which includes general managers), the average weekly total cash earnings for all employees is $2,800.90. For full-time non-managerial adult employees paid at the adult rate, the average is $2,688.70 per week. The average hourly hourly earnings for non-managerial managers is $69.20 per hour, the highest of any occupation group. These figures are from the ABS.
State-by-State Averages
General manager pay varies by location. The full-time average weekly earnings by state (from on-site notes) are:
- New South Wales: $109,658 per year
- 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
These are full-time averages for all occupations, but they indicate regional differences that affect general manager salaries.
How Pay is Structured
General managers typically work full-time (91% according to Jobs and Skills Australia), with an average of 47 hours per week. Pay is often set by individual arrangement (38.5% of all employees) or collective agreement (34.6%). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date.
Tax Considerations
For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy of 2% applies before any reductions. A general manager earning above the national average would fall into the 30% or 37% bracket.
Where to Find More
For detailed occupation profiles, visit Job medians. To understand how the national average is calculated, see How the figures are set. You can also compare your salary on the line at Place a salary on the line.
Summary
While a precise general manager salary figure is not published by the ABS, the broader Managers group earns well above the national full-time average. Use the state averages and occupation benchmarks to gauge where a general manager role might sit.