What Makes a Salary Smart?
A smart salary in Australia is more than just a number – it is a benchmark for where your pay sits against the national full-time average. The site's line sits at the national full-time adult ordinary-time average: $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. This is the reference point for the tool on this page. A smart salary might be one that exceeds this average, especially after accounting for tax and living costs.
Take-Home Pay: What You Actually Keep
Resident tax for 2026–27 is progressive: no tax on the first $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy adds 2% applies to most income. On the average $108,352, your take-home is roughly $82,000–$84,000, depending on deductions and offsets. A salary of $120,000 would put you above average and yield about $90,000 after tax. The site's line tool shows your weekly and hourly pay on a 38-hour week, plus distance from the average.
State by State: Where the Average Is Higher
Full-time averages vary widely. The ACT has the highest at about $119,090, followed by Western Australia at $115,825 and New South Wales at $109,658. Victoria is $106,137, Queensland $106,064, South Australia $102,450, Northern Territory $103,173, and Tasmania $96,008. A smart salary in Canberra or Perth may need to be higher to match the local average. See the state breakdown for more.
Gender and the Pay Gap
The ABS reports that men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412, while women's is about $100,594 – a gap of roughly $12,800 a year. The all-employees median is $74,100, and the full-time median is $90,532. A smart salary for women often means aiming above the female average, but the gap persists across industries.
Industry and Occupation Medians
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025, shows that managers earn a median hourly rate of $69.20 and professionals $64.50. Technicians and trades earn $46.50, while sales workers earn $33.40. Mining has the highest average hourly cash earnings at $74.10. Browse job medians to see where your role sits.
The Minimum Wage Floor
Fair Work sets the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 at $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Award minimums rose 4.75% that year. A smart salary is well above this floor, but many workers rely on awards or enterprise agreements.
How to Use This Site
Place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average. The tool shows your weekly and hourly rate on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the average. You can also explore industry medians and guides on negotiating pay.
Key Takeaways
- The national full-time average is $108,352 a year (ABS, May 2026).
- A smart salary often exceeds this, especially in high-cost states.
- Take-home pay after tax and Medicare is about 75–80% of gross for average earners.
- Medians and minimum wage provide context for lower and middle earners.
- Use the site's line tool to benchmark your own salary.