Where does an operations manager salary sit against the Australian full-time average?
If you are researching an operations manager salary in Australia, the most authoritative source is the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). However, the ABS does not publish a specific figure for this role. The closest official data is the broad Managers occupation group, which includes operations managers, production managers, and similar roles.
According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025, the average weekly total cash earnings for all employees in the Managers occupation was $2,800.90. That works out to about $145,647 a year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This figure includes both full-time and part-time managers, so full-time operations managers likely earn more.
How does that compare to the national full-time average?
The national benchmark is the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026. For full-time adults, average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70, or about $108,352 a year. The Managers average is about 34% higher. Even after accounting for the fact that the national figure is for full-time ordinary time (excluding overtime) and the Managers figure is total cash earnings (including overtime and part-time), an operations manager salary typically sits well above the national line.
Median earnings and the minimum wage
For context, the ABS also reports median weekly earnings. As of August 2025, the median for all employees was $1,425 per week (about $74,100 a year), and the median for full-time employees was about $90,532 a year. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026, set by Fair Work, is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week (about $52,255 a year). An operations manager salary is far above these levels.
State and territory differences
Where you work also matters. The on-site state full-time averages (based on ABS data) show variation:
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- New South Wales: about $109,438
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Tasmania: about $96,008
Operations managers in the ACT or WA may earn more than those in Tasmania, reflecting broader state pay patterns.
How pay is set
The ABS notes that 38.5% of employees have pay set by individual arrangement, 34.6% by collective agreement, and 22.7% by award only. Managers are more likely to be on individual arrangements, which can push salaries higher. Award minimums rose 4.75% from 1 July 2026, but most operations managers are above award rates.
What this means for you
If you are an operations manager, your salary is likely above the national full-time average. To see exactly where you sit, you can place your salary on the line and compare it to the ABS average. For more detail on how earnings vary by industry or occupation, see our pages on job medians and industry medians. You can also learn how the figures are set or read our guides on salary negotiation.
Limitations of the data
The ABS Managers category is broad. It includes everyone from chief executives to retail managers. An operations manager in a large mining company will earn more than one in a small logistics firm. For a precise figure, you would need to consult industry-specific surveys or job advertisements. The ABS does not publish a specific operations manager salary. The figure used here is the average for the group.
Summary
In summary, an operations manager salary is well above the national full-time average. The data shows a strong position. For a personal comparison, use the line.