The national average as a benchmark
Australia's full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings sit at $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year when multiplied by 52 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the line we use on this site to compare any salary against the typical full-time worker. For a resident, the take-home amount after income tax and the Medicare levy gives a clearer picture of spending power.
Tax on the average salary
Under the 2026–27 resident tax rates, the first $18,200 is tax-free. The next bracket (up to $45,000) is taxed at 15%, then 30% up to $135,000. On $108,352, the income tax works out to roughly $24,000, plus a 2% Medicare levy of about $2,167. That leaves around $82,185 after tax. This is before any tax offsets, deductions, or the low-income super tax offset. The figure is a useful starting point for understanding how far the average goes.
State-by-state differences
The national average masks variation across states and territories. The highest full-time average is in the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090, while Tasmania sits lower at about $96,008. Western Australia also exceeds the national figure at about $115,825, driven by mining and resources. New South Wales is close to the national average at about $109,658, while Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Northern Territory all fall within a range of about $102,000 to $106,000. Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares to these state averages.
Where does the Optus CEO salary fit?
Unlike the national average, the salary of the Optus CEO is not a single published figure. Optus, a subsidiary of Singapore's Singtel, files annual accounts with Australian regulators. The most recent available accounts (for the year to March 2025) show total compensation for key management personnel (KMP) of $18.9 million, up 23% from $15.3 million the previous year. That KMP pool covers the CEO, other executives, and directors. The CEO's individual package – including base salary, bonuses, and long-term incentives – is not broken out in the public filings cited in the search results.
How does $18.9 million compare?
Even if the entire KMP pool were paid to one person (which it is not), it would be about 174 times the national full-time average of $108,352. More realistically, the CEO's share is likely a significant portion, but without a precise figure we cannot place it on the line. The national average remains the best reference point for typical earnings. For context, the full-time median (the middle of all full-time salaries) is about $90,532, and the all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week.
Take-home pay at different levels
To illustrate the effect of tax, consider a few hypothetical salaries around the average. At $90,532 (the full-time median), income tax is roughly $18,600 plus Medicare levy of $1,811, leaving about $70,121 after tax. At $108,352 (the average), after-tax is about $82,185. At $150,000, tax jumps to about $37,600 plus $3,000 Medicare levy, leaving about $109,400. The progressive tax system means higher earners pay a larger share, but the top marginal rate of 45% (plus 2% Medicare levy) only applies above $190,000.
Award and minimum wage context
Award minimums rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026, but the national minimum wage itself is a floor. Many workers on awards earn above that but still below the full-time average. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey captures all full-time adults, including those on awards, enterprise agreements, and individual contracts. The average is pulled up by higher earners, so it sits above the median.
Why the Optus CEO figure matters
Executive pay is often discussed in the context of income inequality and corporate governance. The Optus KMP disclosure shows a 23% increase in total compensation despite the company posting a net loss, as reported by the Australian Financial Review. This raises questions about how pay is linked to performance. However, without a specific CEO salary, we cannot directly compare it to the national average. The site's line is designed for known salaries, and we rely on published data.
Using this site
If you have a salary figure – whether it's your own, a job offer, or a public disclosure – you can Place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, state averages, and medians. You can also explore States and territories for local benchmarks. The data comes from the ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO, and is updated when new releases are available.
Summary
The Optus CEO salary is not publicly available as a single number. The total KMP compensation of $18.9 million gives a sense of scale, but the CEO's individual pay is not disclosed in the sources we have. The national full-time average of $108,352 remains the key reference for typical earnings. Understanding where your salary sits relative to that average – and what you take home after tax – is the purpose of this site.