The national line and where your salary sits
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026. This is the line that the Smart Salary novated lease calculator uses as a benchmark. When you enter your yearly salary before tax, the tool converts it to a weekly and hourly figure on a 38-hour week and shows the distance from that national average.
But the national average is just one point of reference. Your actual pay can be higher or lower depending on the state or territory you work in and whether you are covered by an award or enterprise agreement. Understanding these differences helps you interpret where your salary sits on the line.
State and territory differences
The ABS publishes state-level full-time averages alongside the national figure. For May 2026, the state averages are:
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- Tasmania: about $96,008
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
If you work in Western Australia or the ACT, the typical full-time salary is well above the national line. In Tasmania, it is noticeably below. The Smart Salary novated lease calculator does not adjust for your location—it compares your entered salary directly to the national average. So a Tasmanian worker on the state average of $96,008 would see a shortfall of about $12,344 a year from the national line, while an ACT worker on $119,090 would be about $10,738 above it.
For a more detailed breakdown by state, see the States and territories page.
Award coverage and the minimum wage
Many employees are paid under an award or the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week, which works out to about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. These rates are far below the national full-time average of $108,352.
If your salary is set by an award, the Smart Salary novated lease calculator will show a large gap below the national line. That does not mean your pay is wrong—it simply reflects the difference between award rates and the average across all full-time employees. The national average includes many higher-paid professional and managerial roles, which pulls the line up.
For more on how the figures are set, visit How the figures are set.
Medians tell a different story
The national full-time average of $108,352 is an arithmetic mean. It can be pulled up by very high salaries. The median full-time salary—the middle point where half earn more and half earn less—is about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The median for all employees (including part-time) is about $74,100. These medians are lower than the average, and they may be a better guide for many workers.
When you use the Smart Salary novated lease calculator, you see the distance from the average line. But you can also compare your salary to the medians to get a fuller picture. If your salary is around $90,000, you are near the full-time median but below the average. If it is $74,000, you are at the all-employees median but well below the full-time average.
Tax and take-home pay
The calculator works with your salary before tax. For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy of 2% applies before any reductions. Your take-home pay will be lower than the salary you enter, but the calculator focuses on the gross figure and its position relative to the national line.
Using the calculator for a novated lease
The Smart Salary novated lease calculator is designed to help you estimate the cost of a novated lease—a salary packaging arrangement where lease payments are deducted from your pre-tax salary. By entering your salary, you can see how the lease payments would affect your disposable income and how your salary compares to the national average. This context is useful when deciding whether a novated lease is affordable.
Remember that the national average is a benchmark, not a target. Your salary may be above or below it for good reasons: your industry, your experience, your location, and your award or agreement all play a role. The calculator simply shows where you stand on the line.
Summary
The Smart Salary novated lease calculator uses the national full-time average of $108,352 as its reference point. State averages vary from about $96,008 in Tasmania to $119,090 in the ACT. Award and minimum wage rates are much lower. The full-time median of $90,532 and the all-employees median of $74,100 provide additional context. Use the calculator to see your salary on the line, and explore the Place a salary on the line page for more comparisons.