How the average line works
This site compares any salary to the national full-time adult average, which is the line on the chart. The line is based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026: full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year when multiplied by 52. That figure is updated twice a year, in February and August, when the ABS releases the May and November surveys.
You can place a salary on the line to see how it stacks up. The tool shows the yearly figure you enter, then converts it to a weekly amount (÷ 52) and an hourly amount (÷ 38, the standard full-time week). It also tells you the dollar and percentage distance above or below the national average.
For context, the full-time median (the middle of all full-time earners) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $52,255 a year on 38 hours.
Where a sparky salary sits
The ABS does not publish a separate average for electricians (often called sparkies). The closest published occupation group is Technicians and Trades Workers, which includes electricians, plumbers, carpenters and many others. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025, non-managerial employees in that group earned an average of $46.50 per hour (total cash earnings). On a 38-hour week that is about $1,767 a week, or $91,884 a year.
That is roughly 15% below the national full-time average of $108,352. However, it is very close to the full-time median of $90,532, meaning a sparky on the group average is earning around the middle of all full-time workers.
Keep in mind that the technicians and trades average covers many occupations. Electricians in mining, for example, often earn significantly more, while those in residential work may earn less. The best way to see where your specific sparky salary sits is to enter your actual yearly pay into the salary line tool.
Award rates and minimums
Most electricians are covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020, which sets minimum hourly rates for different classifications. From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75% (the same percentage as the national minimum wage increase). The exact rate depends on your level – for example, an Electrician Level 1 has a different minimum than an Advanced Electrician. The national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour is the legal floor, but award-covered sparkies should be paid at least their award classification rate.
Converting pay periods
The tool on this site lets you see your salary as a year, a week and an hour. If you know your hourly rate, multiply by 38 for a weekly figure, then by 52 for a yearly figure. If you know your weekly pay, multiply by 52 for yearly. The national average of $2,083.70 a week works out to $54.83 an hour ($2,083.70 ÷ 38).
For a sparky on the technicians and trades average of $46.50 an hour, the weekly figure is $1,767 and the yearly is $91,884. That is about $16,468 below the national average line.
State comparisons
Earnings vary by state. The full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings for each state and territory (ABS, May 2026) are:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 a week (~$109,658 a year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 (~$106,137)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 (~$106,064)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 (~$102,450)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 (~$115,825)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 (~$96,008)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 (~$103,173)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 (~$119,090)
If you are a sparky in Western Australia or the ACT, you are likely earning above the national average for all occupations, while in Tasmania the average is lower. You can compare your salary to your state's average using the states and territories page.
Industry medians
Electricians work across many industries. The ABS publishes average weekly earnings by industry, which can give a clue. For example, the Mining industry has very high average earnings, while Construction and Manufacturing are lower. The industry medians page shows how different sectors compare to the national line.
How the figures are set
The national average line comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which samples employers. It measures ordinary time earnings for full-time adults – that is, base pay plus regular bonuses and commissions, but excluding overtime. The median figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, which samples employees directly. The minimum wage is set annually by Fair Work after reviewing submissions from unions, employers and the community. For more detail, see how the figures are set.
If you want to learn more about how salaries are benchmarked, check the guides section. And for an explanation of the site's methodology, visit about this site.