What Is OTE Salary?
OTE stands for on-target earnings. It is a common term in sales and commission-based roles, representing the total pay an employee can earn if they achieve all set performance targets. OTE typically includes a base salary plus variable components such as commissions, bonuses, or incentives. Unlike base salary, OTE is not guaranteed — it depends on the employee meeting or exceeding targets.
Because OTE is not a standardised measure collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there is no official national average for OTE. However, you can compare typical OTE ranges to the ABS’s published earnings figures to get a sense of where they sit.
The National Full-Time Average: Your Benchmark
The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, for May and November. The most recent release (May 2026) shows that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that gives an annual figure of about $108,352. This is the line used on this site to compare any salary against the national full-time average.
On-target earnings in many sales roles are set above this average, especially in industries like technology, finance, and business services. For example, a typical OTE for a business development manager might range from $120,000 to $150,000, while senior account executives can see OTE packages of $200,000 or more. However, these are general observations, not official statistics.
Medians and Minimums: Other Reference Points
The ABS also provides median earnings. The full-time median is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee earnings, August 2025). These medians give a sense of what a typical worker earns, including part-time and casual employees. OTE packages are often structured to attract high performers, so they tend to sit above the median.
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, equating to about $52,255 a year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. OTE salaries are almost always well above the minimum wage, but the base component of an OTE package must still meet award or minimum wage requirements.
Men’s and Women’s Averages
The ABS data shows a gender pay gap in full-time ordinary-time earnings. Men’s average is about $113,412 a year, while women’s average is about $100,594. When comparing OTE, it is important to note that women are underrepresented in high-commission sales roles, which can contribute to the overall gap. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency provides further data on this.
State-by-State Full-Time Averages
OTE packages can also vary by location. The ABS publishes state full-time averages (original estimates, May 2026):
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
If you are comparing an OTE offer, consider where the role is based. A $120,000 OTE in Tasmania is well above the state average, while the same figure in the ACT is closer to the average.
How to Use This Site
This site lets you place any salary on the line against the national full-time average. Simply enter your yearly salary before tax, and the tool shows the weekly and hourly equivalent on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the $108,352 average. For OTE, enter the total on-target figure — the tool will treat it as a salary and compare it directly.
You can also explore how salaries differ by states and territories, job medians, and industry medians. Our guides explain how earnings data is collected, and the about this site page gives more context on the methodology.
Important Distinctions
- Average vs median: The average ($108,352) is pulled up by high earners. The median ($90,532) is the middle point — half earn more, half less. OTE figures are often quoted as averages within a company, but actual earnings can vary widely.
- Full-time vs all employees: The full-time average only includes adults working 35+ hours. The all-employees median includes part-time and casual workers, which is lower.
- OTE is not guaranteed: Unlike a fixed salary, OTE depends on performance. The base salary component is the only guaranteed part. Always check the split between base and variable when evaluating an offer.
Where to Find More Data
For official earnings data, refer to the ABS (Average Weekly Earnings and Employee Earnings and Hours). For award rates and the minimum wage, see Fair Work. For tax rates, the ATO publishes the 2026–27 thresholds: nil up to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above that, plus the 2% Medicare levy (subject to reductions).
Final Thoughts
OTE salary is a useful concept for sales roles, but it is not a standard ABS statistic. The best benchmark is the national full-time average of $108,352. If your OTE is above that, you are earning more than the typical full-time worker. Use this site to see exactly where your total target pay sits on the line.
Place a salary on the line to compare your OTE to the national average.
How the figures are set explains the sources and methodology behind the numbers.