How the National Average Is Measured
The most widely cited salary survey in Australia is the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) release. Published twice a year for May and November, it tracks the ordinary-time earnings of full-time adults. The latest survey, for May 2026, puts the national full-time average at $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52, that works out to about $108,352 a year before tax. This figure is the reference line on this site: the point against which every salary is measured.
Men’s full-time ordinary-time earnings average $2,181.00 per week (about $113,412 a year), while women’s average $1,934.50 per week (about $100,594 a year). The gap reflects structural differences in industries, roles, and hours, not just pay rates.
What a Resident Takes Home
Gross pay is only part of the story. For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
A Medicare levy of 2% applies to most taxpayers, with reductions available for low-income earners.
On the full-time average of $108,352, the estimated tax and Medicare levy total about $39,977, leaving a take-home of roughly $68,375 per year, or about $1,315 per week. This is an illustration only; individual circumstances such as deductions, offsets, and family situation will change the outcome.
How the Average Compares to Medians and the Minimum
The average is not the same as the typical salary. The full-time median – the middle point where half earn more and half earn less – is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The median for all employees, including part-time and casual workers, is about $74,100. These medians are lower than the average because high incomes pull the average upward.
At the other end of the scale, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week – about $52,255 a year. Award-covered employees received a 4.75% increase in the same Annual Wage Review. The minimum wage is roughly half the full-time average, highlighting the wide spread of earnings in Australia.
State-by-State Differences
Where you live makes a big difference. The ABS AWE survey provides state-level full-time averages (original, May 2026):
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Tasmania: about $96,008
The ACT and WA lead, driven by public-sector employment and mining respectively. Tasmania sits well below the national average. These figures are averages for all full-time adults in each state, not adjusted for industry mix.
Using This Site to Place Your Salary
This site takes the national full-time average as its fixed line. You can Place a salary on the line to see how your own pay compares – both weekly and hourly on a 38-hour week – and how far above or below the average you sit. For a local view, the States and territories page breaks down the averages for each region. Industry-specific medians and job medians are also available to give a more detailed picture.
The salary survey data here comes from the ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO. The average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Medians are from ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025. The minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026. All figures are before tax unless stated otherwise.
Understanding where your salary sits in the broader landscape helps with career planning, negotiations, and financial decisions. Whether you are above, below, or right on the line, the national average provides a stable benchmark in a changing economy.