What a salary package calculator does
A salary package calculator is a tool that helps you see the full value of your employment, not just your base salary. It typically includes salary-sacrificed items such as a car, additional superannuation, or other fringe benefits. The result is a total remuneration figure that your employer pays and that you receive as a combination of cash and benefits. However, the calculator on this site is a simpler tool: it takes your yearly salary before tax and shows you the weekly and hourly equivalent based on a standard 38-hour week. It also shows how your pay compares to the national full-time adult ordinary-time average.
The national line and where you sit
The national full-time average used on this site is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026. This is the line that the tool measures your salary against. If your salary is above that figure, you are above the national average; if below, you are below it. But the national average is just one point of reference. Your actual pay can be influenced by the state or territory you work in, the award or enterprise agreement that covers you, and whether you have any salary packaging arrangements.
State and territory differences
The ABS publishes state-level full-time averages that can differ markedly from the national figure. For instance:
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Tasmania: about $96,008
These differences reflect the mix of industries and occupations in each state. The ACT has a high proportion of public-sector and professional roles, while Tasmania has a larger share of lower-paying industries. If you live in a state with a higher average, your salary may need to be higher to match the local norm. You can explore more on the States and territories page.
Award and minimum wage effects
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours. That is well below the full-time average. But many employees are covered by awards or enterprise agreements that set higher minimum rates. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. For example, a retail employee under the General Retail Industry Award may have a higher minimum than the national minimum. If you are paid under an award, your salary package calculator should use the award rate as the base, not the national minimum. The site's tool can show you how your award salary compares to the national average.
How salary packaging changes the picture
A salary package calculator that includes salary sacrifice can show a different figure from your base salary. For example, if you salary-sacrifice a car or extra super, your taxable income decreases, but your total remuneration (what your employer pays) stays the same or increases. The site's tool only uses your pre-tax base salary, so it does not account for those adjustments. However, the tax brackets for 2026–27 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. Salary sacrifice can reduce your taxable income, potentially moving you into a lower bracket. But the site's calculator shows your gross salary, not your net pay.
Medians versus averages
The national full-time average is about $108,352, but the full-time median (the middle point where half earn more and half earn less) is about $90,532, according to the ABS Employee Earnings for August 2025. The all-employees median is about $74,100. This means the average is pulled up by high earners, while the typical full-time worker earns less. When using a salary package calculator, remember that your base salary may be below the average but still above the median. The site's tool shows distance from the average, but you can also compare to medians on the Job medians and Industry medians pages.
Putting it together
A salary package calculator is most useful when you know your total remuneration, including salary sacrifice. But the site's tool gives you a quick benchmark against the national full-time average. If your salary is below the average, consider whether your state or award explains the difference. If you are in a high-average state like the ACT or WA, you may need to earn more to match local peers. If you are covered by an award, check that your base rate meets the minimum. And if you have salary packaging, remember that your taxable salary may be lower than your total package. For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.
Ultimately, the national line is a useful starting point, but your individual circumstances—state, award, and salary packaging—can move your pay off that line. Use the site's calculator to see where you stand, and explore the state and occupation pages for a fuller picture.