National full-time average as the line
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, for May and November. The latest release for May 2026 shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. Over 52 weeks, that is about $108,352 per year. This figure is the line on this site – the benchmark against which all salaries are measured.
It is important to remember that this is an average, not a median. The full-time median from the ABS Employee Earnings survey (August 2025) is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Each measure tells a different story about earnings in Australia.
State differences can move pay off the national line
Where you work matters. The ABS provides state-level averages for full-time adults. For May 2026, the original estimates (not seasonally adjusted) are:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week (about $109,658 per year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 ($106,137)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 ($106,064)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 ($102,450)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 ($115,825)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 ($96,008)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 ($103,173)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 ($119,090)
If Karina Carvalho works in the ACT, her salary is likely to be above the national line. If she works in Tasmania, it may be below. These differences are driven by industry composition – for example, the ACT has a high proportion of public sector and professional services jobs, which tend to pay more. Western Australia’s mining sector also lifts the average.
Awards set minimums, but enterprise agreements can override
Fair Work publishes pay guides for each award. The Health Services Award and the SCHADS Award are two examples that may apply to professionals like Karina Carvalho. From 1 October 2026, eligible health professionals under the Health Services Award received updated minimum rates. From 1 December 2026, home care disability employees under the SCHADS Award will receive an initial increase of up to 15% to their minimum award rates.
These award rates are minimums. Many employers offer above-award rates through enterprise agreements or individual contracts. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but award rates are often higher. For example, a social worker under the SCHADS Award might have a minimum rate above $30 per hour depending on classification.
How to place a salary on the line
If you know your annual salary before tax, you can place it on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average. The tool also shows weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the average. For state comparisons, visit the states and territories page.
What about Karina Carvalho’s salary?
Karina Carvalho’s exact salary is not publicly available from the sources used on this site – the ABS, Fair Work, or the ATO. Without a specific figure, we cannot place it on the line. However, we can consider the factors that would determine her pay: her occupation, her award or enterprise agreement, her state or territory, and her years of experience.
If she is a health professional covered by the Health Services Award, her minimum rate would be set by that award. If she works in the community sector, the SCHADS Award may apply. Many professionals in these fields are employed by state governments or non-profit organisations, which often have enterprise agreements that pay above the award.
Tax and take-home pay
For the 2026–27 financial year, the ATO’s 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. These rates affect how much of a salary is actually received after tax.
Summary
The national full-time average is a useful benchmark, but it is not the whole story. State averages, award coverage, and enterprise agreements all influence where a salary sits relative to the line. For Karina Carvalho, without a published figure, we can only discuss the framework that would determine her pay. To see how your own salary compares, use the Place a salary on the line tool.