How Australia's average salary compares to the minimum wage in Japan
When you Place a salary on the line at Average line, the reference point is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey. That figure, as of May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the benchmark we use to show where your pay sits. But what about the minimum wage – both here and overseas? Readers often ask how Australia's average earnings compare to the minimum wage in Japan. While we cannot provide a precise Japanese figure from our Australian sources, we can sketch the Australian picture and explain the limitations.
The Australian full-time average in detail
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, gives a seasonally adjusted full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week. For men, it is $2,181.00 per week (about $113,412 a year); for women, $1,934.50 per week (about $100,594 a year). The full-time median, from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025), is about $90,532 per year. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100. These medians give a more typical picture than the average, which can be pulled up by high earners.
State by state, the averages vary. New South Wales sits at about $109,658 per year, Victoria at $106,137, Queensland at $106,064, South Australia at $102,450, Western Australia at $115,825, Tasmania at $96,008, the Northern Territory at $103,173, and the Australian Capital Territory at $119,090. You can explore these in our States and territories section.
Australia's minimum wage
Fair Work sets the National Minimum Wage. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, which works out to about $52,255 per year. Award minimum wages rose by 4.75% in the same annual wage review. Many employees are covered by awards or enterprise agreements that pay above the national minimum. The gap between the average full-time earner ($108,352) and the minimum wage ($52,255) is substantial – roughly a factor of two.
A resident take-home sketch
Using the 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, 45% above) plus the 2% Medicare levy, we can estimate take-home pay. For the average full-time earner on $108,352, tax and Medicare would be approximately $24,500, leaving about $83,850. For someone on the minimum wage ($52,255), tax and Medicare would be around $7,600, leaving about $44,655. These are rough estimates; individual circumstances vary. The point is that the average earner takes home nearly twice as much as the minimum wage worker.
The minimum wage in Japan: what we know
Our sources are Australian – the ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO. We do not have a current, precise figure for the minimum wage in Japan. Japan's minimum wage is set by prefecture, with rates ranging from around ¥800 to ¥1,200 per hour depending on the region. The national weighted average is updated each fiscal year by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Because we cannot verify a specific number from our data, we cannot provide a direct comparison. For accurate and up-to-date information, please consult official Japanese government sources.
Why the comparison matters
Understanding how Australia's average salary relates to minimum wages elsewhere helps put local earnings in perspective. Australia's minimum wage is relatively high by international standards, but so is its cost of living. The average full-time salary is well above the minimum, reflecting a labour market where many workers are in skilled or professional roles. If you are curious about how your own salary compares, use our Job medians or Industry medians tools. For more on how we calculate these figures, see How the figures are set.
Conclusion
While we cannot give a specific figure for the minimum wage in Japan, the Australian context is clear: the national full-time average is significantly higher than the national minimum wage, and the take-home difference is substantial. For Japanese rates, please refer to official Japanese sources. Here at Average line, we focus on Australian data to help you see where your pay sits on the line.
For further reading, check our Guides on salary comparisons and tax.