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Salary packaging in the Northern Territory: how it compares to the national full-time average

Salary packaging is not a specific salary figure; the precise amount is not in the index. For context, the national full-time average is $108,352 a year, and the Northern Territory full-time average is $103,173.

This is the Northern Territory full-time average. It sits $5,179 under the Australian full-time average, about 4.8% below the line.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$1,984 a week · $52.21 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $79,638 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Salary packaging in the Northern Territory

Salary packaging—also known as salary sacrificing—is a common way for employees in the Northern Territory to structure their pay. It allows you to exchange part of your pre-tax salary for benefits such as a car, additional superannuation, or electronic devices. While salary packaging can reduce your taxable income, it does not change your gross salary—the figure that is compared to the national full-time average.

Where does your pay sit against the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 per year. This is the line used on this site. If your gross salary (before any packaging) is exactly that amount, you are on the average line. If it is higher, you are above; if lower, you are below.

For the Northern Territory specifically, the full-time average is $103,173 per year—about $5,179 below the national figure. This means that, on average, full-time workers in the NT earn less than the national full-time worker. However, your individual salary may differ.

Understanding the averages and medians

It is important to distinguish between averages and medians. The national full-time average ($108,352) is pulled up by higher earners. The full-time median—the middle point where half earn more and half earn less—is about $90,532 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100.

For men, the full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412; for women, about $100,594. These figures show the gender pay gap at the average level.

The national minimum wage and award rates

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from the previous year. Salary packaging does not allow an employer to pay below the minimum wage or the relevant award rate.

Tax considerations for salary packaging in the NT

Salary packaging can reduce your taxable income, which may lower the amount of tax you pay. For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates 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
  • 45% above $190,000

Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). By packaging certain benefits, you may reduce your income subject to these rates. However, the gross salary figure used for comparison on this site is before any packaging.

How to use this site

To see where your salary sits, place a salary on the line. You can enter your yearly gross salary before tax, and the tool will show you the weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38-hour week, plus how far you are from the national full-time average. You can also explore states and territories to compare averages across Australia, or check job medians and industry medians for more context.

For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set. If you want to learn about salary packaging generally, our Guides section has articles on structuring your pay. And for more about the Northern Territory specifically, visit the Northern Territory page.

Key takeaway

Salary packaging in the NT is a way to receive benefits instead of cash, but it does not change your gross salary. The national full-time average is $108,352 per year; the NT average is $103,173. If your gross salary is not exactly one of these figures, the precise amount is not in the index—but you can compare it to the line using the tool on this site.

Questions

What is salary packaging in the Northern Territory?

Salary packaging (also called salary sacrificing) is an arrangement where an employee agrees to forgo part of their pre-tax salary in exchange for benefits such as a car, superannuation contributions, or electronic devices. In the Northern Territory, it is commonly used in the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. The gross salary before packaging is what is compared to averages; packaging changes the taxable income but not the gross figure reported to the ABS.

How does the Northern Territory full-time average compare to the national average?

According to ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, the national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. The Northern Territory full-time average is $103,173 per year, which is about $5,179 below the national figure. The NT average is also lower than the national median full-time salary of $90,532.

Does salary packaging affect how my salary is measured against the average?

No. Salary packaging changes the way you receive your pay (e.g., a car instead of cash), but your gross salary—the amount agreed with your employer—remains the same for comparison purposes. The ABS collects gross earnings before any packaging. So if your gross salary is $108,352, you are exactly on the national full-time average line, regardless of how you package it.

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