Where Does Michael Dickson’s Salary Sit Against the National Average?
Michael Dickson is one of Australia’s most successful exports to the NFL, but his exact salary is not published in the Australian sources this site uses. The ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO do not report individual NFL contracts. So we cannot place a precise figure on the line. Instead, we can use the national benchmarks to understand what it would take for his pay—or any pay—to sit above or below the average.
The National Full-Time Average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 puts full-time adult ordinary-time earnings at $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that’s about $108,352 a year. This is the line this site uses. The full-time median is lower, at about $90,532 a year, because averages are pulled up by high earners. The all-employees median (including part-time workers) is about $74,100 a year.
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week—about $52,255 a year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time. So the gap between the minimum and the average is wide: the average full-time worker earns more than double the minimum.
How Professional Athletes Compare
Professional athletes in major leagues like the NFL typically earn far above the national average. Even a rookie contract in the NFL is often worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Michael Dickson, as a veteran punter, would likely be on a multi-year deal worth several million US dollars. But without a published figure from Australian sources, we can only say his pay is above the line.
What moves pay above the average? High demand for rare skills, international markets, and performance-based bonuses. The NFL’s revenue is enormous, and players share a portion. For Australian workers, the highest-paying occupations are managers and professionals, with median hourly earnings of $69.20 and $64.50 respectively (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). But even those are far below NFL salaries.
What Moves Pay Below the Average?
Conversely, many factors push pay below the national full-time average. Part-time work, casual loading, junior rates, and industries like retail and hospitality often pay less. The all-employees median of $74,100 reflects this. The minimum wage sets the floor. For a full-time worker on the minimum, their salary is about half the average.
State differences also matter. The highest full-time average is in the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090 a year, while Tasmania is lowest at about $96,008. Western Australia is high at $115,825 due to mining. So location can move pay relative to the national line.
Using the Site’s Tools
If you want to place a salary on the line, you can enter a yearly figure and see how it compares to the national average, median, and minimum. The site also breaks down states and territories and job medians and industry medians. For more on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.
The Bottom Line for Michael Dickson
Without a published salary in Australian public sources, we cannot give an exact number. But based on his profession, his pay is almost certainly above the national full-time average. The key takeaway: the average is a useful benchmark, but individual salaries vary widely based on industry, occupation, location, and bargaining power.
For most Australians, the national average provides a reference point. Whether you’re a professional athlete or a retail worker, understanding where your pay sits relative to the line helps you gauge your position in the labour market.