What is the median salary in Australia?
When people ask “what is the median salary in Australia”, they are usually looking for a figure that represents the middle of the earnings distribution – the point where half of workers earn more and half earn less. The most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provides two key median figures: one for full-time adult employees and one for all employees (including part-time and casual workers).
Full-time median salary
According to the ABS Employee Earnings survey for August 2025, the median full-time adult ordinary-time salary in Australia is about $90,532 per year. This figure is based on ordinary-time earnings (excluding overtime) for employees who usually work 35 hours or more per week. It is a before-tax amount and does not include superannuation.
All-employees median salary
When you include part-time and casual workers, the median for all employees drops to about $74,100 per year. This lower figure reflects the many Australians who work fewer hours or in casual roles. The all-employees median is often used for broader comparisons, but the full-time median is more relevant for those in standard permanent positions.
How the median compares to the average
The national full-time average salary – the figure used by this site as the line – is $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That is about $2,083.70 per week. The full-time median of $90,532 is roughly 16% lower than the average. This gap is normal because high-income earners pull the average up, while the median stays closer to what a typical worker earns.
For context, the men’s full-time average is about $113,412 and women’s about $100,594. The median figures by gender are not published in the same release, but the gap between men’s and women’s averages suggests the median for women is likely lower than the overall median.
State and territory variations
The ABS publishes average earnings by state and territory, but not median earnings at that level. The state full-time averages (from the same May 2026 release) are:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
If you earn a salary in a particular state, you can Place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national average and the median. For a deeper look at how each state stacks up, visit the States and territories page.
The minimum wage as a floor
Australia’s national minimum wage, set by Fair Work from 1 July 2026, is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week – about $52,255 per year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time. The median salary is well above the minimum wage, but it is important to remember that many workers are covered by awards or enterprise agreements that set higher minimum rates.
Why the median matters
The median salary is a more representative measure of typical earnings than the average. If you are wondering where your pay sits, comparing it to the median can give you a better sense of whether you are above or below the middle of the pack. The average can be skewed by a small number of very high salaries, especially in industries like mining or finance.
For a broader view, you can explore Job medians or Industry medians – though note that the ABS publishes median earnings for occupations and industries only in some years. The most recent detailed data may be from the 2021 Census or the Employee Earnings and Hours survey.
Tax considerations
All figures on this site are before tax. For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (before any reductions). A full-time median earner of $90,532 would fall into the 30% bracket, with a marginal rate of 30 cents per dollar above $45,000.
Summary
The median salary in Australia is about $90,532 for full-time workers and $74,100 for all employees. These figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings survey for August 2025. The national full-time average is higher at $108,352, reflecting the influence of high earners. If you want to see where your own salary sits, use the Place a salary on the line tool. For more detail on how these figures are calculated, see How the figures are set.