How the salary checker works
Our salary checker lets you enter your yearly salary before tax and instantly see where it sits against the national full-time average. The tool shows your weekly and hourly equivalents based on a standard 38-hour week, plus the distance from the line. That line is drawn from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which measures the average ordinary-time earnings of full-time adults across Australia.
The national full-time average
The most recent ABS Average Weekly Earnings data, for May 2026, puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week. Over 52 weeks, that works out to about $108,352 per year. This figure is the benchmark for our salary checker. It represents the mean earnings of all full-time adults, including both men and women, across all industries and states. The ABS publishes this survey twice a year, in May and November, so the figure is updated regularly.
It is important to understand that this is an average, not a median. Averages can be pulled higher by very high earners. The median full-time weekly earnings from the ABS Employee Earnings survey for August 2025 was $1,741 per week, or about $90,532 per year. That means half of all full-time employees earn less than that amount. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual workers) was $1,425 per week, or about $74,100 per year. These medians give a different perspective on typical pay.
State differences
Where you work in Australia can significantly affect your salary relative to the national average. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey provides state-level figures. Using the on-site calculations from the May 2026 data, the full-time average annual salaries by state are:
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- Tasmania: about $96,008
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
These differences reflect the mix of industries, occupations, and public versus private sector employment in each state. For example, the ACT has a high concentration of public sector jobs, which tend to pay above the national average. Western Australia’s mining and resources sector pushes its average higher. Tasmania and South Australia have a larger share of lower-paying industries, pulling their averages down. If you Place a salary on the line, you can see how your state’s average compares to the national figure.
The role of awards and the minimum wage
Another reason your salary might sit off the national line is the type of award or agreement that covers your job. The national minimum wage, set by Fair Work from 1 July 2026, is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. On a 38-hour week, that is about $52,255 per year. However, most employees are covered by an industry or occupation award that sets higher minimum rates. In the 2026 annual wage review, award minimums rose by 4.75%, meaning many award rates are now above the national minimum wage.
Awards vary widely. For example, a retail employee might have a different minimum hourly rate than a hospitality worker or a nurse. Some awards include penalty rates for weekends, evenings, or public holidays, which can push actual earnings above the base rate. Enterprise agreements can also set higher rates. If you are covered by an award, your minimum pay is likely higher than the national minimum wage, but it may still be below the national full-time average. The salary checker uses the national average as a reference point, not your award rate.
Why your salary might sit off the line
Several factors can cause your salary to differ from the national full-time average. State of residence is one, as shown above. Industry is another. The ABS Employee Earnings survey shows that median earnings vary significantly by industry. For example, mining and information media have higher medians, while retail and accommodation have lower medians. Occupation also matters: managers and professionals typically earn more than labourers and sales workers. Our Job medians and Industry medians pages provide more detail.
Part-time or casual work will also affect the comparison. The national full-time average is based on full-time adults only. If you work part-time, your weekly earnings will naturally be lower, but your hourly rate might be comparable. The salary checker adjusts for a 38-hour week to give an hourly equivalent, so you can compare on an hourly basis.
Finally, the public sector tends to pay higher average earnings than the private sector. According to the ABS, the public sector full-time adult ordinary-time average in May 2026 was $2,263.10 per week, compared to $2,034.10 in the private sector. That difference of about $229 per week adds up to nearly $12,000 per year. If you work in government or a public institution, your salary is more likely to be above the national line.
Using the salary checker
To get the most out of the salary checker, enter your annual salary before tax. The tool will calculate your weekly and hourly equivalents and show how far above or below the national full-time average you sit. You can also see where you stand relative to the median and the minimum wage. Remember that the national average is a single point of reference; your actual circumstances may mean that being below the line is perfectly normal. For more detailed comparisons, explore our States and territories page or the Guides section for tips on negotiating pay.
The salary checker is updated whenever the ABS releases new Average Weekly Earnings data. The current figures are from May 2026. The next release, for November 2026, will be incorporated as soon as it is available. In the meantime, use the tool to get a clear picture of where your pay sits in the broader Australian labour market.