What Does OTE Salary Mean?
OTE stands for ordinary time earnings – the base pay you receive for your standard working hours, before overtime, bonuses, or commissions are added. In Australia, the ABS uses ordinary time earnings as the benchmark for comparing full-time adult salaries. This is the figure that sits at the centre of the salary line on this site: the national full-time adult ordinary-time average.
According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, the seasonally adjusted average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults was $2,083.70. That works out to about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This is the line against which your own salary is measured.
How OTE Differs from Other Pay Measures
It's important to distinguish OTE from total earnings. Total earnings include overtime, bonuses, and other additional payments. The ABS reports that full-time adult average weekly total earnings were $2,160.00 in May 2026 – about $76 more per week than ordinary time earnings. For most employees, OTE is the more stable, predictable component of pay.
There are also medians to consider. The median full-time weekly earnings (all employees) was $1,887 in May 2025, according to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey. That's about $98,124 per year – lower than the average because high earners pull the average up. The all-employees median (including part-time) was $1,436 per week, or about $74,672 per year.
And at the bottom end, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week – about $52,255 per year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date.
What Moves Your Pay Above or Below the OTE Average?
The national OTE average is a single number, but real salaries vary widely. Here are the key factors that push pay above or below the $108,352 line.
Industry and Occupation
Some industries and occupations consistently pay above the OTE average. The ABS data shows that Managers had average hourly earnings of $69.20 in May 2025, and Professionals earned $64.50 per hour. At the other end, Sales workers averaged $33.40 per hour and Labourers $35.40. If you work in a high-paying occupation, your OTE is likely well above the national average.
Industry matters too. The public sector average ordinary time earnings was $2,263.10 per week (about $117,681 per year), while the private sector average was $2,034.10 ($105,773 per year). Within the private sector, industries like mining and financial services tend to pay more than retail or hospitality.
Gender
The gender pay gap remains significant. For full-time adults, men's average ordinary time earnings were $2,181.50 per week ($113,438 per year) and women's were $1,934.50 ($100,594 per year) – a gap of about $247 per week. This gap is reflected across all sectors: in the public sector, men earned $2,399.30 and women $2,154.00; in the private sector, men earned $2,139.50 and women $1,840.80.
State and Territory
Where you live also affects your OTE. The highest full-time average is in the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090 per year, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. Tasmania has the lowest at $96,008. These differences reflect the mix of industries and cost of living in each state. See the States and territories page for a full breakdown.
Full-Time vs Part-Time
OTE is typically discussed for full-time workers, but part-time employees earn less per week. The median part-time weekly earnings were $769 in May 2025, compared to $1,887 for full-time. However, part-time hourly rates can be similar or higher depending on the role.
How to Use the OTE Average on This Site
When you Place a salary on the line, the tool compares your yearly salary (before tax) to the national full-time OTE average of $108,352. It shows your weekly and hourly equivalent on a 38-hour week, and tells you how far above or below the average you sit. This gives you a clear picture of where your pay stands relative to the typical full-time Australian worker.
Tax and Take-Home Pay
Your OTE is before tax. 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. Plus a 2% Medicare levy (reductions may apply). So if your OTE is $108,352, your marginal rate is 30% plus Medicare, but your effective rate is lower.
What If Your Pay Is Below the Average?
Many factors can explain a below-average OTE: working part-time, being in a lower-paying industry, or being early in your career. The minimum wage provides a floor, but award rates vary by industry. If you're covered by an award, your minimum OTE is set by that award, which may be higher than the national minimum.
Conversely, if your OTE is above average, you might be in a high-paying profession, have significant experience, or work in a sector like mining or IT. The ABS data shows that the top quartile of full-time employees earn more than $2,560 per week ($133,120 per year).
Why OTE Matters for Salary Comparisons
Using ordinary time earnings as the benchmark avoids distortions from overtime and bonuses, which can vary widely. It gives a fairer comparison of base pay. The ABS publishes OTE data twice a year (May and November), so the line moves as the economy changes. The latest release shows annual growth of 3.7% in OTE – a solid increase, though still below recent inflation peaks.
For more detail on how the figures are calculated, see How the figures are set. And if you want to see how your occupation or industry compares, check the Job medians and Industry medians pages.
Summary
OTE salary meaning is straightforward: it's your ordinary time earnings, the base pay for standard hours. The national full-time OTE average of $108,352 per year is the line on this site. Whether your pay sits above or below depends on your industry, occupation, location, gender, and whether you work full-time. Use the tool to see where you stand, and remember that averages hide a lot of variation – your individual circumstances matter.