How the national average is set
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes the Average Weekly Earnings survey twice a year, for May and November. The May 2026 release sets the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week. That works out to about $108,352 per year when multiplied by 52 weeks. This is the figure this site uses as the line – the benchmark for comparing your own salary.
The ABS calculates this as a mean of all full-time adult employees’ ordinary-time earnings (excluding overtime). It covers both the public and private sectors. The average is higher than the median because a relatively small number of very high salaries pull the mean upward. For context, the full-time median from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (May 2025) is about $1,887 per week ($98,124 per year), and the all-employees median (including part-time) is $1,436 per week ($74,672 per year).
What moves pay above the line
Several factors can push your salary above the national full-time average of $108,352:
- Industry: Some industries consistently pay above average. For example, mining, information media, and financial services typically have higher weekly earnings. The ABS Employee Earnings survey shows that managers and professionals have the highest hourly earnings ($69.20 and $64.50 respectively).
- Occupation: Professionals and managers often earn above the line. If you are in a senior role or a specialised field, your pay is likely to exceed the average.
- Location: The Australian Capital Territory has the highest state full-time average at about $119,090, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. If you work in the ACT or WA, you are more likely to be above the national line.
- Public sector: The public sector full-time average is $2,263.10 per week ($117,681 per year), notably higher than the private sector average of $2,034.10 ($105,773 per year). Government jobs often have higher base pay and better conditions.
- Collective agreements and individual arrangements: According to the ABS, 34.6% of employees are paid under a collective agreement and 38.5% under an individual arrangement. Those on collective agreements in high-paying industries may earn above the average.
What moves pay below the line
Conversely, many workers earn below the national full-time average:
- Part-time and casual work: Part-time employees earn a median of $769 per week ($39,988 per year). Casual employees (19% of all employees) often have lower weekly earnings due to fewer hours, even with casual loading.
- Industry and occupation: Retail, accommodation, and food services tend to have lower average earnings. The ABS data shows that the lowest-paid occupations include sales workers and labourers.
- Location: Tasmania has the lowest state full-time average at about $96,008, well below the national line. South Australia ($102,450) and the Northern Territory ($103,173) are also below the national average.
- Gender pay gap: Women’s full-time ordinary-time average is about $100,594 per year, while men’s is about $113,412. This gap persists across industries and occupations, partly due to differences in roles, hours, and experience.
- Award-only employees: Only 8.7% of male employees and a higher proportion of female employees are paid exactly the award rate. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 per year on 38 hours). Award minimums rose by 4.75% in the latest review, but many award rates still sit well below the full-time average.
State and territory differences
The ABS provides full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings for each state and territory (original, May 2026). Here they are converted to yearly figures (×52):
- New South Wales: $2,108.80/week → $109,658
- Victoria: $2,041.10/week → $106,137
- Queensland: $2,039.70/week → $106,064
- South Australia: $1,970.20/week → $102,450
- Western Australia: $2,227.40/week → $115,825
- Tasmania: $1,846.30/week → $96,008
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10/week → $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20/week → $119,090
These figures show that where you live has a significant impact on whether your salary is above or below the national line. The ACT and WA are above the national average; Tasmania, SA, and the NT are below.
Using the salary cal
Our salary cal lets you enter your yearly salary before tax. It then shows your weekly and hourly equivalent based on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the national full-time average. You can also explore state and territory averages to see how your location compares, or check job medians and industry medians for a more detailed picture.
The calculator uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 as the line. Remember that this is a mean – your own pay may be above or below for many reasons. The data page explains how the figures are set, and the guides offer more context on interpreting your results.
Key takeaways
- The national full-time average is $108,352 per year (ABS, May 2026).
- Factors that push pay above: high-paying industries (mining, finance), professional/managerial roles, public sector, and living in ACT or WA.
- Factors that push pay below: part-time or casual work, low-paying industries (retail, hospitality), living in Tasmania or SA, and the gender pay gap.
- The median full-time salary is lower at about $98,124, so most full-time workers earn less than the average.
- The minimum wage ($52,255) is about half the average, highlighting the wide dispersion of earnings in Australia.
Use the salary cal to see where you stand, and remember that the line is just one benchmark – your personal circumstances matter more.