The National Average and Your Pay
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week in May 2026. That works out to about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the figure this site uses as the line for the national full-time average. It is not a median or a minimum — it is the mean weekly earnings for full-time employees in ordinary time.
For context, the ABS also publishes medians. The full-time median weekly earnings were about $1,887 in August 2025 (roughly $90,532 a year), and the all-employees median was about $1,436 ($74,100 a year). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, which comes to about $52,255 a year. These are distinct benchmarks: the average is pulled up by higher earners, while the median better represents the typical worker.
Gender and Sector Differences
Men’s full-time ordinary-time average was about $2,181 per week ($113,412 a year), and women’s about $1,934.50 per week ($100,594 a year). The gender pay gap fell to 11.3% in May 2026, the lowest recorded. Public sector workers averaged $2,263.10 per week, while private sector workers averaged $2,034.10. These figures come from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey.
Salary Packing Explained
Salary packing (or salary sacrificing) is a way to reduce your taxable income by swapping some of your pre-tax salary for benefits. The most common items are extra superannuation contributions, a car via novated lease, or work-related equipment. Because the sacrificed amount is not taxed, your take-home pay can increase even though your gross salary stays the same. However, the benefit depends on your marginal tax rate and the type of benefit.
For example, if you earn the national average of $108,352 and sacrifice $10,000 into super, your taxable income falls to $98,352. Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above that, plus 2% Medicare levy), you would save roughly $3,000 to $3,500 in tax. That adds about $58 to $67 per week to your take-home pay. But the sacrificed $10,000 goes into super, not your pocket.
How Salary Packing Interacts with the Average
The ABS average is based on gross earnings before any salary sacrifice arrangements. So if you salary pack, your gross pay as reported by your employer may still be the same, but your taxable income is lower. When comparing your take-home pay to the national average, remember that the average figure is pre-tax and pre-sacrifice. The site’s line of $2,083.70 per week is a gross benchmark.
Take-Home Pay Sketch with Tax
To see where you stand, start with your gross annual salary. Subtract any salary-sacrificed amounts to get your taxable income. Then apply the tax brackets and Medicare levy. For a resident earning exactly the national average of $108,352 with no salary packing, the tax (including Medicare) would be roughly $25,000–$26,000, leaving a take-home of about $82,000–$83,000 per year, or $1,577–$1,596 per week. That is below the all-employees average weekly total earnings of $1,579.20 (May 2026) — interestingly close.
If you salary pack $10,000 into super, your take-home cash increases by about $3,000 per year, but your super balance grows. The ATO caps concessional super contributions at $30,000 per year (2026–27). Other items like novated leases have their own FBT implications.
State Comparisons
Full-time average ordinary-time earnings vary by state and territory. The ABS data for May 2026 shows:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week ($109,658 per year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 ($106,137)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 ($106,064)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 ($102,450)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 ($115,825)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 ($96,008)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 ($103,173)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 ($119,090)
These are the averages for full-time adults. If you are considering salary packing, your state’s average can help you gauge whether your gross pay is above or below the local norm. For more detail, see the States and territories page.
Using the Site’s Tools
You can Place a salary on the line to see how your gross pay compares to the national full-time average. The tool converts your yearly salary to a weekly and hourly figure (based on a 38-hour week) and shows the distance from the line. Remember that salary packing changes your taxable income, not your gross pay, so enter your gross salary as agreed with your employer.
For occupation and industry medians, visit Job medians or Industry medians. The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey provides medians by occupation and industry, which can be useful if you are considering salary packing options specific to your field.
Key Takeaways
- The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year).
- Salary packing can reduce your taxable income and increase take-home cash, but the sacrificed amount is not lost — it goes to benefits like super.
- The ABS average is gross; your take-home depends on tax and any salary sacrifice.
- State averages range from $96,008 (Tasmania) to $119,090 (ACT).
- Always check the ATO rules and your employer’s policy before entering a salary packing arrangement.
For more guides on how pay is measured, see How the figures are set and Guides.