Monash academic salary: how it measures up against the national average

Monash academic salary and the national average

When you look up "monash academic salary", you are likely comparing what the university pays its teaching and research staff against the broader Australian workforce. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week — about $108,352 a year. This is the line on this site. Most Monash academic salaries sit above that line, but not all.

The Monash salary structure

Monash University sets academic salaries through its enterprise agreement, approved by the Fair Work Commission. The current agreement, covering 2024 to 2026, lists salary rates for each academic level (A to E) with multiple steps. The rates shown in the table from Monash's enterprise agreement include increases up to April 2026. For example:

Level A (associate lecturer): step 1 is $116,981; step 8 is $86,195.
Level B (lecturer): step 1 is $146,228; step 6 is $123,138.
Level C (senior lecturer): step 1 is $173,931; step 6 is $150,841.
Level D (associate professor): step 1 is $200,092; step 4 is $181,629.
Level E (professor): $233,964.

These are full-time annual rates before tax. The lowest step for Level A is below the national average, but all other levels and steps are above it. Most academics at Monash are employed at Level B or above, meaning their pay exceeds the typical full-time earner.

What moves pay above or below the average

Several factors determine whether a Monash academic's salary lands above or below the national line:

Academic level and step: Entry-level positions (Level A, step 8) start below the average. As staff progress through steps and gain promotions, they move above it. A lecturer at Level B step 1 earns about $38,000 more than the average.
Employment fraction: Part-time academics earn proportionally less. A 0.5 fraction at Level C would be around $87,000, below the average. Casual teaching rates are set per hour and may not reach the full-time equivalent.
Annual increases: The enterprise agreement includes scheduled wage rises (e.g., 3.5% from April 2026). These keep Monash salaries growing, but if the national average rises faster (the ABS reported 3.7% annual growth in May 2026), the gap could shrink.
Location: The national average varies by state. For instance, the ACT average is $119,090, while Tasmania is $96,008. Monash is based in Victoria, where the full-time average is $106,137 — slightly below the national figure. A Monash academic on Level A step 1 would be above the Victorian average, but one on step 8 would be below it.

How the figures are set

The national average is calculated by the ABS from a survey of employers. It reflects ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults, excluding overtime. The Monash salary rates come from the enterprise agreement, which is a legally binding document negotiated between the university and the National Tertiary Education Union. These rates are public and can be found on the Fair Work Commission's agreement database.

For a more detailed breakdown of how salaries compare across different jobs, see Job medians or Industry medians. You can also Place a salary on the line to see where any figure sits against the national average.

The bigger picture

Monash academic salaries are generally strong relative to the national full-time average. However, the lowest-paid academics — those at Level A step 8 — earn about $22,000 less than the average. This highlights the wide range within the academic workforce. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. Even the lowest Monash academic step is well above that.

If you are considering a career at Monash, the level and step you enter will determine whether your salary sits above or below the line. Promotions and step increases will move you further above it over time. The enterprise agreement also provides for annual increases, so your pay should keep pace with inflation and wage growth.

For more context on how salaries vary by location, see States and territories. To understand how the national average is calculated, visit How the figures are set.

Questions

What is the national full-time average salary in Australia?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, which works out to about $108,352 per year (multiplying by 52). This figure comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. It is the benchmark used on this site to show how any salary compares to the typical full-time earner.

How do Monash academic salary levels compare to the national average?

Under the Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and Professional Staff) 2024, academic salaries are set in steps for each level from A to E. For example, a Level A (associate lecturer) at step 1 earns $116,981 per year as of April 2026, which is above the national average. However, the lowest step for Level A (step 8) is $86,195, well below the average. At the other end, a Level E (professor) earns $233,964, more than double the average. Most full-time academic staff at Monash are on levels B, C, or D, which all exceed the national average.

What factors could move a Monash academic's pay above or below the national average?

The main factor is the academic level and step. Promotions to a higher level or progression within a level (e.g., from step 8 to step 1) increase pay. Part-time or casual work would reduce annual earnings below the full-time average. Additionally, the enterprise agreement includes annual wage increases (e.g., 3.5% from April 2026), which keep salaries growing. If the national average rises faster, the gap could narrow, but historically academic salaries have stayed above the line for most full-time roles.