Salary packaging in Western Australia and the national average
Salary packaging is a common way to structure pay in Western Australia, especially in the public sector and mining industry. But when you compare your salary to the national full-time average, it is important to look at the gross figure before any packaging. This site uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, to set the line at $2,083.70 a week, or $108,352 a year. Western Australia's state full-time average is higher: about $115,825 a year, or $2,227.40 a week on a 38-hour week. That is about $58.61 an hour.
How the figures are set
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings series, published twice a year (May and November). The latest available is May 2026. The site multiplies the weekly figure by 52 to get an annual amount. The Western Australia state average is also from that same ABS release. Medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025: the full-time median is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026, is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours.
What salary packaging means for your comparison
When you enter your salary on this site, you should enter the gross amount before any salary packaging deductions. That is the figure that the Place a salary on the line tool compares to the national average. If you salary package, your taxable income is lower, but the gross figure remains the benchmark for the line. For example, if you earn $115,825 in WA and package $15,000 into a car and super, your taxable income drops to about $100,825, but the site still shows you above the national average because your gross salary is higher.
Western Australia in context
Western Australia's full-time average of $115,825 is the second-highest among states and territories, behind the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090). It is well above the national average of $108,352. The state's strong resources sector often pushes average earnings higher. For a weekly breakdown: $2,227.40 per week, and at 38 hours that is $58.61 per hour. Compare that to the national average of $2,083.70 per week and $54.83 per hour. The gap is about $143.70 per week.
Tax and salary packaging
Salary packaging can reduce the tax you pay. The 2026–27 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; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy is 2% before any reductions. By packaging part of your salary, you lower your taxable income and may move into a lower bracket. However, the gross salary used on this site is the starting point. For more on how different states compare, see the States and territories page.
Medians and minimum wage
It is also useful to know where you sit against the median. The full-time median for all of Australia is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. Western Australia's median is not separately published in the on-site notes, but the state average is above the national median. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour. If you are on salary packaging, your hourly rate based on gross salary is still the relevant figure for award comparisons.
Using the tool
The Place a salary on the line tool shows your salary as a year, a week, and an hour on a 38-hour week. It also shows the distance from the national full-time average. If you are in Western Australia and use salary packaging, enter your gross salary. The tool will not adjust for packaging. The line is the same for everyone: the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026.
Summary
Salary packaging in WA does not change the gross salary that this site uses for comparison. Western Australia's full-time average is $115,825, above the national average of $108,352. When you look at your own pay, use the gross figure. For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.