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Truck Driver Salary Perth: How It Compares to the National Average

The median weekly earnings for truck drivers are not published by the ABS, but award minimums for transport workers range from $1,021 to $1,198.80 per week (about $53,092 to $62,338 a year). The Western Australian full-time average is about $115,825 a year.

This sits $31,912 under the Australian full-time average, about 29.5% below the line. The closest full-time state average is Tasmania. It is off the left edge of the ruler. This close-up only covers full-time state averages.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$1,470 a week · $38.68 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $61,459 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Truck Driver Salary Perth: Where Pay Sits Against the National Average

Every salary on Average line is measured against the national full-time adult ordinary-time average. That figure, from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. It is the line that gives every occupation a reference point. For a truck driver in Perth, the picture is built from award minimums and state averages rather than a published occupation-specific median.

The National Average as the Reference

The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, for May and November. The May 2026 release shows that full-time adult ordinary time earnings rose 3.7% annually to $2,083.70. Men averaged $2,181.50 a week (about $113,412 a year) and women $1,934.50 (about $100,594 a year). The all-employees average (including part-time) is $1,579.20 a week. These are averages, not medians. The full-time median from the ABS Employee Earnings survey (August 2025) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100.

Truck Driver Pay: What the Sources Say

The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for Truck Drivers (General) notes that median weekly earnings are not available for this occupation. That means there is no published ABS figure for a typical truck driver’s pay. The best available guide is the Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020, which sets minimum rates for transport workers. From 1 July 2026, the award rates for a full-time employee (38 ordinary hours per week) are:

  • Transport Worker Grade 1: $1,021.00 per week ($26.87 per hour) — about $53,092 a year
  • Transport Worker Grade 5: $1,089.60 per week ($28.67 per hour) — about $56,659 a year
  • Transport Worker Grade 10: $1,198.80 per week ($31.55 per hour) — about $62,338 a year

These are minimums. Actual earnings can be higher depending on experience, the employer, overtime, and allowances. The award also covers distribution facility employees with similar rates.

Perth and Western Australia Context

For a truck driver based in Perth, the relevant state average is Western Australia’s full-time adult ordinary time earnings. According to the ABS, Western Australia’s average is $2,227.40 a week, or about $115,825 a year. That is above the national average of $108,352. Western Australia has the second-highest state average after the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090). The higher state average partly reflects the mining and resources sector, which can lift earnings across the board.

A truck driver on the award minimum in Perth would earn well below the state average. Even the top award grade ($62,338) is about 46% less than the WA average. However, many truck drivers in Perth work in industries such as freight, logistics, and construction, where above-award rates are common. Overtime is also frequent: the Jobs and Skills Australia profile notes that truck drivers work an average of 50 full-time hours per week, compared to 44 hours across all occupations. That extra time is paid at penalty rates under the award.

A Resident Take-Home Sketch

Using the 2026–27 tax rates (nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above that) plus the 2% Medicare levy, here is how take-home pay compares:

  • Award minimum (Grade 1, $53,092): Tax and Medicare of about $7,654 leaves roughly $45,438 a year, or $874 a week.
  • Award maximum (Grade 10, $62,338): Tax and Medicare of about $10,414 leaves roughly $51,924 a year, or $999 a week.
  • National full-time average ($108,352): Tax and Medicare of about $28,552 leaves roughly $79,800 a year, or $1,535 a week.

These are simple estimates without the tax offset, the low-income offset, or deductions. A truck driver with above-award pay or significant overtime could land closer to the state average, but the award provides the floor.

How the Figures Are Set

The national average comes from the ABS survey of employers, not from tax returns. The award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission after annual wage reviews. The minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 a year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% in that review. For more on how these numbers are built, see How the figures are set.

Comparing Across States and Occupations

If you are a truck driver in Perth, your pay relative to the national average depends on your grade, hours, and employer. The state average for Western Australia is a useful benchmark, but it includes all full-time workers, not just drivers. For a direct occupation comparison, the ABS does not publish a truck driver median, but you can explore other job medians on the Job medians page. And to see how Western Australia stacks up against other states, visit States and territories.

Summary

A truck driver salary in Perth is not captured by a single published figure. The award minimums range from about $53,092 to $62,338 a year, well below the national full-time average of $108,352 and the Western Australian average of $115,825. Actual earnings can be higher with experience, above-award rates, and overtime. The national line remains the reference point: every dollar earned can be placed on the line to see how far above or below the average it sits.

Questions

What is the average salary for a truck driver in Perth?

The ABS does not publish a median or average weekly earnings figure specifically for truck drivers in Perth. The most reliable guide is the Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020, which sets minimum weekly rates for transport workers from $1,021 (Grade 1) to $1,198.80 (Grade 10) for a 38-hour week. For a broader comparison, the Western Australian full-time adult average ordinary time earnings are about $2,227.40 a week, or roughly $115,825 a year.

How does the truck driver award rate compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. The lowest award rate for a transport worker (Grade 1) is $26.87 per hour, $1,021 per week, or about $53,092 a year — slightly above the minimum. Higher grades go up to $31.55 per hour (Grade 10), or about $62,338 a year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026.

What is the take-home pay for a truck driver in Perth after tax?

Take-home pay depends on the exact grade and hours. For a Grade 1 transport worker earning $53,092 a year, the 2026–27 tax on that income (including the 2% Medicare levy) is about $7,654, leaving roughly $45,438. For a Grade 10 worker on $62,338, tax and Medicare come to about $10,414, leaving about $51,924. These figures assume no other deductions or offsets. By comparison, the national full-time average of $108,352 would leave about $79,800 after tax.

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