Service manager salary: where does it sit against the national average?
If you are looking for a single official figure for a service manager salary in Australia, you will not find one. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish earnings data for that specific job title. The closest published category is Managers, which includes a wide range of roles from retail managers to chief executives. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025, the average weekly total cash earnings for all managers was $2,800.90 – about $145,647 a year if you multiply by 52. That is well above the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026.
But a service manager is not necessarily a typical manager. The role can vary enormously. An automotive service manager in a suburban garage will have a different pay structure from an IT service manager in a large corporation. Some service managers may be covered by an award or an enterprise agreement; others negotiate individually. Because of this variety, the best approach is to understand the benchmarks and the factors that push pay above or below the national line.
The national full-time average as a reference point
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey is the most widely used measure of typical full-time pay. For May 2026, the seasonally adjusted figure for full-time adult ordinary time earnings was $2,083.70 per week. On a 38-hour week, that is about $54.83 an hour. The site uses this figure as its line – the point against which every salary is compared.
If a service manager earns more than that, they are above the line; if less, they are below. The median full-time employee (the middle of the distribution) earned about $1,741 a week ($90,532 a year) in August 2025, according to the ABS Employee Earnings survey. The all-employees median (including part-time) was $1,425 a week ($74,100 a year). So a service manager who is full-time is likely to be above both medians, but the distance from the full-time average depends on the specific role.
What would move a service manager's pay above or below the average?
Industry is the biggest single factor. The ABS data for May 2025 shows that non-managerial employees in Mining earned an average of $74.10 per hour, while those in Retail Trade earned much less. A service manager in mining or resources could easily earn well above the national average. In contrast, a service manager in hospitality or retail might be closer to the average or even below it.
Location also matters. The on-site state averages show that the full-time adult ordinary-time average varies from $96,008 in Tasmania to $119,090 in the Australian Capital Territory. Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658) are also above the national figure. A service manager in a high-paying state is more likely to be above the line.
Experience and qualifications play a role too. The ABS data for full-time non-managerial adult employees shows that Managers had average weekly total cash earnings of $2,688.70 (persons), but that includes both junior and senior roles. A senior service manager with a large team and budget responsibility will earn more than a junior supervisor.
Award coverage is another factor. Some service managers may be covered by the Clerks – Private Sector Award or a specific industry award, but many are above the award minimum. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, $52,255 a year). Award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time. A service manager on an award would likely be above the minimum but still below the full-time average unless they receive over-award payments.
Using the site to place a service manager salary on the line
If you have a specific salary in mind – say, $110,000 a year – you can Place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, the median, and the minimum wage. The tool shows the yearly figure, the weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the line.
For a service manager, the key is to know the industry and location. The site also provides Job medians for broad occupation groups, though not for every job title. The closest group is Managers, and the median weekly earnings for full-time non-managerial adult managers (a narrower group) was not directly published, but the average for all managers gives a useful guide.
What the ABS data tells us about managers
The Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025 provides a breakdown by occupation. For Managers (all employees, including part-time), the average weekly total cash earnings were $2,800.90. The number of employees in that category was about 1.27 million. For full-time non-managerial adult employees in the Managers occupation, the average was $2,688.70 for persons, with males at $2,861.70 and females at $2,443.60. That suggests a gender pay gap within the occupation.
Service managers may fall under a different occupation code if their role is more technical. For example, an IT service manager could be classified as a Professional (average $2,049.60 per week) or even a Technician and Trades Worker (average $1,756.90). The ABS classification depends on the main tasks and qualifications. If you are unsure, the site's How the figures are set page explains the methodology.
The bottom line
Without a specific ABS figure for service managers, the best estimate is that a typical full-time service manager earns somewhere between the national full-time average ($108,352) and the manager average ($145,647), but with wide variation. Factors like industry, location, and experience can push pay above or below that range. The national line is a useful benchmark, but it is not the whole story.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the average salary for a service manager in Australia? A: The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate figure for service managers. The closest broad category is Managers, who had average weekly total cash earnings of $2,800.90 in May 2025 (about $145,647 a year). However, service managers in different industries may earn more or less than that average.
Q: How does a service manager salary compare to the national full-time average? A: The national full-time adult ordinary-time average was $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 a year) in May 2026. Even the median full-time employee earned about $1,741 per week ($90,532 a year) in August 2025. A service manager's pay is likely above those figures, but the exact gap depends on industry, location, and experience.
Q: What factors affect a service manager's pay the most? A: Industry is a key factor – for example, a service manager in mining or IT may earn more than one in retail or hospitality. Location also matters: the full-time average in Western Australia ($115,825) is higher than in Tasmania ($96,008). Experience, qualifications, and whether the role is covered by an enterprise agreement also influence pay.