The National Line and the Lebron Salary
When we talk about a 'lebron salary', we are referring to a level of pay that is far above what most Australians earn. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, stands at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. This is the line on this site. A lebron salary – think of a top-tier athlete or executive – would be many multiples of that. But for the typical worker, the question is not how to reach that height, but why their own pay sits above or below the national line. Two major factors are the state they live in and the award that covers their job.
State Averages: Where You Live Matters
The ABS publishes full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings for each state and territory. These figures show clear differences. For instance, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at about $119,090 per year, while Tasmania has the lowest at about $96,008. Other states sit in between: New South Wales at about $109,658, Victoria at $106,137, Queensland at $106,064, South Australia at $102,450, Western Australia at $115,825, and the Northern Territory at $103,173.
These variations are not random. They reflect the mix of industries in each state. Western Australia, for example, has a large mining sector that pushes up average earnings. The ACT has a high concentration of public sector and professional jobs. Tasmania and South Australia have more lower-paying industries such as hospitality and retail. So if your salary is compared to the national line, your state can explain part of the gap. A lebron salary would not be affected by state location – it would be high anywhere – but for most workers, state matters.
Awards and the Minimum Wage Floor
Modern awards set minimum pay rates for many employees. Fair Work publishes the Modern Awards Pay Database, which includes minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award rates rose by 4.75% in the 2026 Annual Wage Review. For workers on awards, their pay is often below the full-time average of $108,352. For example, a retail employee on a Level 1 award might earn around $45,000 to $50,000 per year, well below the line. In contrast, a professional on a higher award classification or an enterprise agreement might earn above the average.
The award system creates a floor, not a ceiling. Many workers earn above award rates, especially in tight labour markets. But the award minimums are important for understanding why some salaries are far from the national line. A lebron salary would be completely outside the award system – it would be set by individual contract or market forces. But for the majority of employees, awards and the minimum wage are the starting point.
Medians vs Averages
It is also helpful to look at medians. The ABS Employee Earnings survey for August 2025 gives median weekly earnings for all employees in their main job: $1,425 per week, or about $74,100 per year. For full-time employees, the median is $1,741 per week, or about $90,532 per year. These medians are lower than the averages because averages are pulled up by high earners. A lebron salary would be an extreme outlier, far above even the 90th percentile of $3,000 per week. So when we talk about the national line, we are using the average, which is higher than what the typical full-time worker earns.
Putting It Together
If you place a salary on the line, the site compares it to the national full-time average. But to understand why your salary is where it is, consider your state and your award. The states and territories page shows how averages differ across Australia. The job medians page breaks down earnings by occupation. And the guides explain how awards and enterprise agreements work.
A lebron salary is a useful thought experiment: it reminds us that the national line is an average, and that many factors push individual salaries away from it. Whether you are in Tasmania on an award rate or in the ACT on a professional contract, your pay reflects a combination of location, industry, and bargaining power. The national line is a benchmark, not a target for everyone.
How the Figures Are Set
The ABS collects data through surveys like Average Weekly Earnings and Employee Earnings. Fair Work sets minimum wages through the Annual Wage Review and modern awards. The ATO provides tax rates. This site uses these official sources to give you a clear picture of where your salary stands. For more detail, see How the figures are set and About this site.
In summary, a lebron salary is far above the national average, but the factors that move most salaries off the line – state and award – are well documented. Understanding these helps you see where your own pay fits in the broader Australian landscape.