Journalist salary and the national line
If you are a journalist in Australia, your pay depends on a few things that can push it above or below the national full-time average. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. That is the line this site uses. But a journalist salary is not a single number. It is shaped by the award that covers the role, the classification you hold, and the state or territory where you work.
The award that sets the floor
Most journalists are covered by the Journalists Published Media Award [MA000067]. Fair Work publishes pay guides for this award that list minimum rates for full-time, part-time, and casual employees. The award includes classifications such as cadet journalist, junior journalist, and senior journalist, each with its own minimum hourly rate. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, but award rates are generally higher. The exact figures are in the pay guide, which is updated each year. If your employer has an enterprise agreement, the award may not apply, and your pay could be different.
Because the award sets a minimum, many journalists earn above it. The gap between the award rate and the national average can be significant. For example, a senior journalist in a metropolitan newsroom may earn well above the award minimum, while a cadet in a regional paper may be closer to the floor. That is why the keyword "journalist salary" does not point to one figure.
State differences move the line
The national average hides big differences between states. The on-site notes give state full-time averages from the ABS. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest average at about $119,090 a year, followed by Western Australia at about $115,825. Tasmania is the lowest at about $96,008. These averages include all full-time workers, not just journalists, but they show how location affects earnings.
A journalist in Canberra might work for a national news organisation or the public service, where pay is often higher. In Tasmania, the media industry is smaller, and opportunities for higher-paid roles may be fewer. The award rates are national, but the actual pay you receive can be influenced by the local labour market. Enterprise agreements in larger cities often include higher rates.
How the national average is calculated
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey measures the level of average earnings at a point in time. It is published twice a year, for May and November. The May 2026 figure of $2,083.70 for full-time adults is a seasonally adjusted estimate. It includes all industries and all states. The ABS notes that movements in earnings can be affected by changes in the composition of the labour force, such as the proportion of full-time, part-time, and casual employees. That is why the average can shift even if individual wages stay the same.
For journalists, the industry classification matters. The ABS publishes earnings by industry, but the data for "Information media and telecommunications" is not broken down further. The on-site notes do not include a specific journalist median, but the all-employees median is about $74,100 a year, and the full-time median is about $90,532. These medians give a sense of the middle of the distribution, which is often lower than the average because high earners pull the average up.
The gender pay gap and journalists
The ABS also reports the gender pay gap. In May 2026, the gap in average weekly ordinary full-time earnings fell to 11.3%, the lowest on record. Men's full-time average is about $113,412 a year, and women's is about $100,594. The gap is influenced by the types of jobs men and women hold, the industries they work in, and hours worked. In journalism, the gap may reflect differences in seniority and the types of media organisations where men and women are employed.
Using this site to see where you sit
You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares with the national full-time average. The tool shows your weekly and hourly figures on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the line. If you are a journalist, you can also check state and territory averages to see how your location compares. The job medians and industry medians give more context, though they are based on broader categories.
The minimum wage and award rises
From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week, about $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Award minimums rose by 4.75%. The Journalists Published Media Award rates increased by the same percentage. If you are on the award, your pay should have gone up from that date. The Guides section has more on how award rates are set.
Tax on a journalist salary
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. If your journalist salary is around the national average of $108,352, you are in the 30% bracket plus Medicare. The How the figures are set page explains the methodology.
Why the line is not the whole story
The national full-time average is a useful benchmark, but it does not tell you what a journalist earns. The award, your classification, your state, and whether you have an enterprise agreement all matter. The ABS data shows the big picture, but your individual salary depends on many factors. That is why this site lets you compare your own figure against the line.
Summary
A journalist salary in Australia is not a single published number. It is set by the Journalists Published Media Award, with minimum rates that vary by classification. Actual pay can be higher, especially in states with higher average earnings like the ACT and WA. The national full-time average of $108,352 is a reference point, but your own salary may be above or below depending on where and how you work. Use the tools on this site to see where you sit.