Why your salary expectations may differ from the national line
When you think about salary expectations in Australia, the first figure that often comes to mind is the national full-time average. According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, that average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. This is the line that Average line uses as its benchmark. But your own salary expectations should rarely stop there. Two major factors – your state or territory and the award or agreement that covers your job – can move your expected pay well above or below that national figure.
State and territory averages
The ABS publishes full-time adult ordinary-time earnings for each state and territory. These are averages, not medians, and they reflect the mix of industries and occupations in each jurisdiction. For example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest average at $119,090, driven by a large public sector and professional services. Western Australia follows at $115,825, buoyed by mining and resources. At the other end, Tasmania sits at $96,008, and South Australia at $102,450. New South Wales ($109,658), Victoria ($106,137), and Queensland ($106,064) cluster around the national line. The Northern Territory ($103,173) is slightly below.
If you are negotiating a salary or setting expectations, knowing your state average gives you a more realistic target than the national number alone. A worker in Canberra can reasonably expect a higher offer than one in Hobart, all else being equal. For a full breakdown of every state and territory, visit States and territories.
How awards and the minimum wage set a floor
Salary expectations are also shaped by the legal minimums that apply to your job. Fair Work sets the National Minimum Wage, which from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week. On a standard 38-hour week, that works out to about $52,255 per year. But this minimum only applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. Most Australian workers are covered by an industry or occupation award, and those awards often set higher minimum rates. In the 2026 Annual Wage Review, award minimums increased by 4.75%, meaning many award-covered workers saw their base rate rise above the national minimum.
For example, a retail employee under the General Retail Industry Award has a minimum hourly rate that is higher than the national minimum, and that rate increases with classification level and experience. Similarly, hospitality, construction, and health awards all have their own schedules. Your salary expectations should start from the award rate that applies to your job, not from the national minimum. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, the rates in that agreement are the legal minimum for your workplace.
Medians versus averages
It is also important to distinguish between averages and medians. The national full-time average of $108,352 is pulled up by high earners. The full-time median, from the ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025, is about $90,532 per year. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual workers) is about $74,100. For most people, the median is a better guide to what a typical worker earns. If your salary expectations are based on the average, you may be aiming higher than what most full-time workers actually receive.
Gender also matters. The ABS data shows men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412 per year, while women's is about $100,594. This gap reflects differences in industry, occupation, and hours, not just pay discrimination. When setting expectations, consider the typical earnings for your gender and industry. For more on how different jobs compare, see Job medians and Industry medians.
Putting it all together
Your salary expectations should be informed by three things: the national line as a starting point, your state average for geographic context, and the award or agreement that sets your legal minimum. If you are in a high-paying state like the ACT or WA, and in an occupation covered by a strong award or enterprise agreement, you can expect to be above the national line. If you are in Tasmania or South Australia, or in an award with lower classification rates, your expectations may need to adjust downward.
Remember that the national average is just one point of reference. The ABS updates Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, in May and November. The figures on this site are from the May 2026 release. For a deeper look at how the numbers are calculated, see How the figures are set. And if you want to see where your own salary sits on the line, you can Place a salary on the line.
Guides and further reading
Salary expectations are not static. They change with economic conditions, wage reviews, and your own career progression. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides tools to check award rates, and the ATO publishes tax tables that affect your take-home pay. For 2026–27, resident tax rates start at nil for income up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus a 2% Medicare levy (with possible reductions). Your gross salary expectations should factor in these deductions.
For more practical advice on negotiating pay, understanding your award, or comparing industries, visit Guides. And if you have questions about how this site works, see About this site.