Josh Giddey salary: where does it sit against the national full-time average?
Josh Giddey is an Australian professional basketball player who entered the NBA in 2021. His exact salary is not published in Australian Bureau of Statistics data, so we cannot place a precise figure on the national full-time average line. However, we can use the national benchmarks to understand how a hypothetical NBA salary would compare, and why state and award factors can move the figure off the line.
The national full-time average line
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports full-time adult ordinary time earnings at $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that is about $108,352 per year. This is the site's line. The median full-time weekly earnings are lower, at about $1,887 per week ($98,124 per year) according to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for August 2025. The all-employees median is $1,436 per week ($74,672 per year). These figures show that the average is pulled up by high earners, while the median better represents a typical worker.
State averages vary significantly. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at $2,290.20 per week ($119,090 per year), while Tasmania has the lowest at $1,846.30 per week ($96,008 per year). States and territories provides a full breakdown. The public sector average ($2,263.10 per week) is higher than the private sector ($2,034.10 per week), reflecting different occupational mixes.
Where Josh Giddey's salary would sit
If Josh Giddey's salary were known, it would almost certainly sit far above the national full-time average. NBA player salaries are typically in the millions of US dollars per year. For context, the top 10% of full-time earners in Australia earn above the third quartile of $2,560 per week (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), which is about $133,120 per year. An NBA rookie contract often starts above US$5 million, which is many times that. Without a confirmed figure from official Australian sources, we cannot place it on the line. The ABS does not collect data on overseas earnings of Australian residents working abroad, so NBA salaries are not captured in the Average Weekly Earnings or Employee Earnings surveys.
How awards and states move the figure
The national average is an aggregate that masks differences by industry, occupation, and state. For example, the mining industry has the highest average weekly earnings, while accommodation and food services has the lowest. Award-only employees earn a median of $922.20 per week (ABS Employee Earnings), far below the national average. Professional athletes are typically covered by individual arrangements or collective agreements specific to their sport, not by modern awards. In Australia, the Fair Work Commission sets minimum wages for award-covered employees, but professional sports have their own enterprise agreements. The Fair Work national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on 38 hours ($52,255 per year). This is irrelevant to an NBA player's earnings.
State differences also matter. If Josh Giddey were employed in Australia under a typical contract, his salary would be compared to the state average where he works. For instance, if he played for a team based in New South Wales, the state full-time average is $2,108.80 per week ($109,658 per year). But an NBA player's salary is set by US market rates, not Australian state benchmarks. How the figures are set explains the methodology behind the averages and why they may not reflect individual high earners.
Tax implications for a high earner
If Josh Giddey earned an NBA salary and remained an Australian resident for tax purposes, his income would be subject to Australian tax on his worldwide income, with a credit for US tax paid. The 2026–27 resident tax rates are: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus a 2% Medicare levy. A multi-million dollar salary would fall into the top bracket, meaning a marginal rate of 47% (including Medicare). However, the US-Australia tax treaty may reduce double taxation. The ATO provides guidance on foreign employment income.
Conclusion
Josh Giddey's salary is not published in Australian Bureau of Statistics data, so we cannot say exactly where it sits on the national full-time average line. However, the national average of $108,352 per year provides a benchmark for typical Australian workers. For a high-profile athlete, state and award factors are irrelevant because their earnings are determined by global sports markets. To see how other occupations compare, visit Job medians or Industry medians. For more on how the figures are compiled, see Guides.