Hays Salary Guide 2026 PDF: What It Tells You About Pay
The Hays Salary Guide 2026 PDF is one of the most widely used salary references in Australia. Based on a survey of over 12,000 respondents, it lists typical salary ranges for hundreds of roles across industries, states, and territories. The guide is a helpful starting point when negotiating a raise, hiring staff, or planning a career move. But it has limits: it gives ranges, not a single national average, and it excludes superannuation. That is why this site uses the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings as the benchmark line.
How the Site Reads Your Pay
The on-site tool accepts a yearly salary before tax. It then shows that same pay as a week and an hour, assuming a 38-hour week (the standard for full-time work in Australia). It also calculates the distance from the national full-time adult average ordinary time earnings – the line. That line is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings release for May 2026. The tool does not use the Hays guide for the line; it uses the ABS because the ABS publishes a single, official national figure.
The National Full-Time Average in Context
The ABS figure of $108,352 a year is a mean. That means high salaries can pull it up. For a more typical full-time salary, look at the median. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025) found the median weekly earnings for all employees were $1,436 a week, or about $74,672 a year. For full-time employees specifically, the median is higher – roughly $90,532 a year. The Hays guide often sits closer to these medians for many roles, especially in professional services.
Men’s full-time average ordinary time earnings are about $113,412 a year; women’s are about $100,594. The gender pay gap persists across most industries, and the Hays guide reflects that in its ranges by role and level.
State and Territory Differences
Where you work matters. The ABS publishes full-time adult average ordinary time earnings for each state and territory. The site uses these to show how your pay compares locally. As of May 2026:
- New South Wales: $109,658 a year
- Victoria: $106,137 a year
- Queensland: $106,064 a year
- South Australia: $102,450 a year
- Western Australia: $115,825 a year
- Tasmania: $96,008 a year
- Northern Territory: $103,173 a year
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090 a year
If you are looking at a Hays salary range for a role in Perth, for example, you can enter the mid-point into the tool and see how it compares to the WA average of $115,825. The tool also lets you compare by state.
Minimum Wage and Awards
The Hays guide is about market rates, not legal minimums. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. If a Hays range falls below the relevant award rate, the award rate prevails. Always check Fair Work for your industry.
Tax on Your Salary
Once you know your yearly salary, you can estimate tax. For 2026–27, the 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
- 45% above $190,000
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (with possible reductions for low incomes). The site does not calculate tax, but you can use the ATO’s tax estimator. The Hays guide typically shows salaries before tax and super.
Using the Hays Guide with This Site
To get the most out of the Hays Salary Guide 2026 PDF, find the typical salary for your role and location. Enter that yearly figure into the tool on this site. The tool will show you the weekly and hourly equivalent, and how far you are from the national full-time average. You can also see how you compare to job medians and industry medians from the ABS.
Why the ABS Average Is the Line
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey is the official measure of average earnings in Australia. It is published twice a year (May and November) and covers all industries and sectors. The Hays guide is a useful supplement, but it is a private survey with a different methodology. The site’s line is the ABS figure because it is consistent, transparent, and publicly funded. For more on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.
Final Thoughts
The Hays Salary Guide 2026 PDF is a valuable resource for understanding salary ranges in your field. But to see where your pay sits against the national average, use the ABS-based tool on this site. Enter your yearly salary, and you will instantly see it as a week, an hour, and the distance from the line. Whether you are above or below, the tool gives you context – and a starting point for your next pay conversation. For more reading, visit the Guides section or About this site.