What is a salary package super?
A salary package super refers to the total remuneration an employer offers, which includes the employee's base cash salary plus compulsory superannuation contributions. In Australia, the super guarantee rate is set by law and currently stands at 11.5% (from 1 July 2025). Some employers may also offer additional super contributions above the minimum, especially in public sector or enterprise agreements.
When comparing a salary package to the national full-time average, it is important to note that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings survey measures cash earnings only – that is, wages and salaries before tax, including salary sacrifice but excluding employer super contributions. Therefore, a salary package that includes super will have a lower cash salary than the total package value.
Where the national average sits
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings (seasonally adjusted) are $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52 weeks, this gives an annual cash salary of about $108,352. This is the benchmark used on this site as the 'line' for full-time workers.
For context, the full-time median cash earnings are lower at about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, equating to about $52,255 per year (Fair Work). Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date.
How a salary package super compares
If your salary package is expressed as a total cost to the employer (including super), you need to strip out the super component to compare with the ABS average. For example, a total package of $120,000 with 11.5% super gives a cash salary of roughly $107,623 – slightly below the national average. A package of $125,000 would yield a cash salary of about $112,108, above the line.
However, the ABS average itself varies by sector, state, and gender. The public sector full-time ordinary-time average is $2,263.10 per week ($117,681 annually), while the private sector is $2,034.10 per week ($105,773). Men's full-time ordinary-time average is $2,181.00 per week ($113,412), women's $1,934.50 ($100,594).
What moves a salary package above or below the average
Several factors can push your total remuneration above or below the national full-time average:
Industry and occupation
Some industries pay significantly more. The ABS Employee Earnings survey (August 2025) shows that non-managerial employees in mining earn an average hourly cash rate of $74.10, while those in retail or hospitality earn much less. Occupations such as managers ($69.20 per hour) and professionals ($64.50) are above the all-occupations average of $47.90 per hour. If your salary package super is in a high-paying industry, it is likely to exceed the national average.
State and territory
Earnings differ markedly across Australia. The highest state average is in the Australian Capital Territory at $2,290.20 per week ($119,090 annually), followed by Western Australia at $2,227.40 ($115,825). Tasmania has the lowest at $1,846.30 ($96,008). See state averages on the states page.
Public vs private sector
Public sector employees earn higher average ordinary-time earnings ($2,263.10 per week) than private sector workers ($2,034.10). This gap partly reflects the higher proportion of professionals and managers in government roles, as well as different enterprise agreements.
Overtime, bonuses, and allowances
The ABS average weekly total earnings for full-time adults (including overtime) is $2,160.00 per week, slightly higher than ordinary-time earnings. If your salary package includes guaranteed overtime, shift loadings, or performance bonuses, your total cash earnings may be above the ordinary-time average.
Gender pay gap
On average, men earn more than women across all measures. The full-time ordinary-time average for men is $2,181.00 per week, for women $1,934.50. This gap persists even when comparing similar roles and industries.
Using this site to place your salary
You can place your salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, medians, and minimum wage. The tool accepts your yearly cash salary before tax and shows the weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the average. Remember to enter your cash salary only – do not include superannuation contributions, as the benchmark is cash earnings.
Medians and minimum wage as reference points
The full-time median cash earnings of about $90,532 per year is a useful midpoint: half of full-time workers earn less, half earn more. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100. The national minimum wage provides a floor: $52,255 per year for a full-time worker. If your salary package super results in a cash salary below the minimum wage, that would be unlawful.
Tax considerations
Your salary package super affects your take-home pay. For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy of 2% applies to most taxpayers. Superannuation contributions are generally taxed at 15% within the fund, so salary sacrificing extra super can reduce your taxable income.
Summary
A salary package super is a broader measure than cash salary. To see where you stand against the national full-time average, focus on the cash component. The average is $108,352 per year. If your cash salary is above that, you are earning more than the typical full-time worker; if below, you are below the line. Factors such as industry, state, public sector employment, and additional earnings can move your package up or down. For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.