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What a Salary Seeker Needs to Know About the National Full-Time Average

A salary seeker earning the national full-time average of $108,352 a year would take home roughly $83,160 after tax and the Medicare levy.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 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

The National Full-Time Average

For a salary seeker, the most useful benchmark is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average. According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, that figure is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses as its reference point.

This average covers full-time employees in both the public and private sectors, before tax. It is not the same as the median (the middle point) or the minimum wage, but it gives a clear picture of where typical full-time earnings sit.

Take-Home Pay After Tax

A salary seeker on the national average can expect to take home roughly $83,160 after income tax and the Medicare levy for 2026–27. Here is the breakdown:

  • Gross annual salary: $108,352
  • Tax-free threshold: $18,200 (nil tax)
  • Tax on next $26,800 (15%): $4,020
  • Tax on remaining $63,352 (30%): $19,005.60
  • Total income tax: $23,025.60
  • Medicare levy (2% of taxable income): $2,167.04
  • Total deductions: $25,192.64
  • Net take-home: $83,159.36

This calculation uses the resident tax rates for 2026–27 and assumes no other deductions or offsets. The Medicare levy is applied before any reductions; most full-time workers on this salary pay the full 2%.

How Your State Compares

Earnings vary significantly across Australia. The ABS provides state-level full-time adult ordinary-time averages (original estimates) for May 2026. A salary seeker in one state may earn well above or below the national figure. Here are the annualised figures from the on-site notes:

  • New South Wales: $109,658
  • Victoria: $106,137
  • Queensland: $106,064
  • South Australia: $102,450
  • Western Australia: $115,825
  • Tasmania: $96,008
  • Northern Territory: $103,173
  • Australian Capital Territory: $119,090

For a detailed look at your location, see States and territories. The take-home pay in each state will differ slightly because the same tax rates apply nationally, but the gross amount changes.

Medians and the Minimum Wage

While the average is a useful reference, a salary seeker should also understand the median and the minimum wage.

  • Full-time median weekly earnings: $1,674 for males, $1,250 for females (all employees medians are lower). The national full-time median is about $90,532 a year (from ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025). This means half of full-time workers earn less than that.
  • All-employees median: About $74,100 a year – this includes part-time and casual workers.
  • National minimum wage: From 1 July 2026, Fair Work sets the minimum at $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, equating to about $52,255 a year. Award minimums increased by 4.75% in the same review.

These figures are distinct. The average is pulled up by high earners; the median better reflects the typical worker. The minimum wage is the legal floor for award-free employees.

Where to Find More Detail

A salary seeker can explore earnings by occupation or industry using the ABS data. The site offers Job medians and Industry medians based on the Employee Earnings and Hours survey. For a deeper understanding of how the ABS calculates these figures, see How the figures are set. If you want to compare your own salary against the line, use Place a salary on the line.

A Note on Award Coverage

Many employees are covered by awards or enterprise agreements that set higher minimum rates than the national minimum wage. Fair Work provides pay guides and a Pay and Conditions Tool to check award rates. The 4.75% increase to award minimums from 1 July 2026 means most award-covered workers received a rise, but the national full-time average reflects all employees, not just those on awards.

Summary for the Salary Seeker

The national full-time average of $108,352 is a solid benchmark. After tax, a worker on that salary takes home about $83,160. State averages vary, with the ACT and Western Australia leading. Medians are lower, and the minimum wage is about half the average. Use the tools on this site to see where your salary sits on the line.

For further reading, the Guides section offers articles on salary negotiation, tax planning, and understanding your pay slip.

Questions

How much tax will I pay on the national full-time average salary?

For the 2026–27 financial year, a resident earning the national full-time average of $108,352 pays about $23,026 in income tax and a $2,167 Medicare levy, leaving around $83,160 take-home pay. This uses the tax-free threshold of $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, and the 2% Medicare levy.

How does the national average compare to state averages?

The national full-time average is $108,352. State averages range from Tasmania's $96,008 to the ACT's $119,090. Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658) are above the national figure, while Victoria ($106,137) and Queensland ($106,064) are slightly below. These are full-time adult ordinary-time earnings from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey.

What is the difference between the average, median, and minimum wage?

The national full-time average ($108,352) is the mean of all full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. The full-time median ($90,532) is the midpoint – half earn more, half less. The all-employees median ($74,100) includes part-time workers. The national minimum wage ($52,255 for a 38-hour week) is the legal floor for award-free employees. Award minimums rose 4.75% from 1 July 2026.

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