Office manager salary vs the national average
If you are an office manager in Australia, your pay probably sits below the national full-time average. The latest data from the ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia gives a clear picture: the median full-time office manager earns $1,730 a week, while the national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70. That difference of about $354 a week is not unusual for an occupation that spans many industries and is often covered by awards.
What the data shows
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time weekly earnings for office managers is $1,730, based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours from May 2025. The median hourly earnings are $47. About 66% of office managers work full-time, slightly below the all-occupations average of 69%. The national full-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (May 2026) is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 a year.
These figures show that office managers typically earn less than the average full-time worker. But averages can be misleading. The national average is pulled up by high earners in management and professional roles. The median for office managers is a better benchmark for a typical worker in this occupation.
Why state matters
Where you work can shift your pay significantly. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey gives state full-time averages. For example:
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- Tasmania: about $96,008
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
Office managers in Western Australia or the ACT may earn more than those in Tasmania or South Australia, reflecting local labour markets and industry mix. The national average masks these differences. Use our States and territories page to see how your state compares.
How awards affect pay
Many office managers are covered by the Clerks Award or a similar award. From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%. The national minimum wage is now $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week. Award rates for office managers are typically higher than the minimum, but still below the median. For example, a Level 4 clerk under the Clerks Award might earn around $1,100 per week, depending on classification.
However, only about 23% of all employees are paid by award only. The majority are on collective agreements (35%) or individual arrangements (39%). Office managers on individual arrangements may negotiate above-award pay, especially if they have experience or work in a high-paying industry like mining or professional services.
Using the tool
Our tool lets you Place a salary on the line and see how it compares to the national full-time average, the median, and the minimum wage. You can also check how your state average differs. Remember that the national average is updated twice a year (May and November) by the ABS. The median comes from the annual Employee Earnings and Hours survey. Award rates change each July.
If you are an office manager, your pay may be above or below the median depending on your state, award coverage, and experience. The tool gives you a clear picture of where you sit.
Tax and take-home pay
For the 2026–27 financial year, 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 adds 2%. On the median office manager salary of about $89,960, you would pay roughly $20,842 in tax plus $1,799 Medicare levy, leaving about $67,319 take-home. That is before any deductions or offsets.
For more detail on how figures are set, see our How the figures are set page.