So what’s the average salary in Australia in 2026? According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, a full-time adult employee earns an average of $2,083.70 per week in ordinary-time earnings — roughly $108,000 a year before tax (ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). But that single number hides a much richer story: where you live, what industry you work in, and whether you look at the average or the median all change the answer dramatically.
This guide breaks down the average salary in Australia by state and territory, by industry, and by occupation — all using official ABS data — and then puts it through the tax system so you can see what the “average” really buys you.
The national picture: what the average Australian earns
The ABS’s headline measure is full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings (AWOTE). It’s the go-to benchmark for wage comparisons in Australia, published twice a year in the Average Weekly Earnings release. Ordinary time means it excludes overtime; full-time adult means workers aged 21+ (or paid at adult rates) on a full-time roster. Here’s the latest snapshot:
| Measure | Weekly ($) | ≈ Annual ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time adult — ordinary time earnings (seasonally adjusted) | $2,083.70 | $108,350 |
| Full-time adult — total earnings (incl. overtime) | $2,160.00 | $112,320 |
| All employees — total earnings (incl. part-time workers) | $1,579.20 | $82,120 |
Source: ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Annual figures are approximate (weekly × 52).
A few things jump out. First, annual growth to May 2026 was 3.7% — the slowest since November 2022 — and inflation was running at 3.8% over the same period, meaning real wages were going slightly backwards. Second, the “all employees” figure ($1,579/week) is far lower than the full-time figure because it includes the millions of part-time and casual workers. Third, the public sector is out-pacing the private sector: full-time public-sector ordinary time earnings averaged $2,263.10/week (up 4.4% annually) versus $2,034.10 in the private sector.
Average vs median: why most people earn less than the “average”
Here’s the catch with averages: high earners pull the mean up. The ABS’s separate Employee Earnings release (August 2025) reports the median — the midpoint where half of employees earn more and half earn less — and it’s notably lower:
| Measure | Weekly ($) | ≈ Annual ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Median employee earnings (main job) | $1,425 | $74,100 |
| Median hourly earnings | $42.90 | — |
| 75th percentile (75% earn less than this) | $2,127 | $110,600 |
| 90th percentile (90% earn less than this) | $3,000 | $156,000 |
Source: ABS, Employee Earnings, August 2025.
So while the average full-time salary sits around $108,000, the typical (median) employee takes home roughly $74,000 a year. If you’re on $100,000 or above, you’re comfortably in the top quarter of Australian earners. Want to see what your pay packet looks like after the ATO takes its share? Run the numbers through our income tax calculator.
Average salary by state and territory
Where you live matters a lot. The ACT tops the table thanks to its concentration of high-paying public service jobs, while WA rides on mining and resources. Tasmania and South Australia sit at the bottom:
| State / Territory | Average weekly ($) | ≈ Annual ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | $2,290 | $119,000 |
| Western Australia | $2,228 | $116,000 |
| New South Wales | $2,109 | $110,000 |
| Victoria | $2,043 | $106,000 |
| Queensland | $2,041 | $106,000 |
| Northern Territory | $1,981 | $103,000 |
| South Australia | $1,970 | $102,000 |
| Tasmania | $1,846 | $96,000 |
Source: ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 — full-time adult ordinary time earnings. Annual figures are approximate (weekly × 52).
The median figures tell the same story in softer tones: the ACT’s median weekly earnings were $1,600 and Tasmania and South Australia sat at $1,300 each (ABS, Employee Earnings, August 2025). Among capital cities, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth led at $1,500/week, with Melbourne and Hobart at $1,400.
Of course, higher pay in places like Sydney or Perth comes with higher housing costs — a $110,000 salary in Sydney stretches very differently than the same salary in Hobart. See our $100,000 salary breakdown to explore after-tax pay at this level.
Average salary by industry
The industry you work in is the single biggest driver of pay differences. The ABS ranks industries in two complementary surveys, and both tell the same story: mining pays the most, hospitality the least.
Full-time average weekly earnings by industry
| Industry | Median weekly ($) — Aug 2025 |
|---|---|
| Mining | $2,761 |
| Electricity, gas, water & waste services | $2,000 |
Source: ABS, Employee Earnings, August 2025 (median weekly earnings, all employees).
For full-time workers specifically, the ABS’s Average Weekly Earnings series has historically shown mining at around $2,952 per week (November 2023, the most recent widely-reported industry breakdown), well ahead of every other sector. At the other end, accommodation and food services (~$1,397/week full-time) and retail trade (~$1,435/week) lag far behind — these industries have high concentrations of part-time, casual and award-minimum workers.
That gap is driven less by “what you do” and more by how the industry is structured. Mining jobs are overwhelmingly full-time, highly unionised and remote (which attracts allowances), while hospitality and retail employ large numbers of casuals and part-timers on award rates. For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44/hour or $1,004.90 per week — the first time it’s crossed the $1,000-a-week mark — so full-time workers on minimum rates sit well below the national average.
Pay by occupation
Occupation-level data from the same August 2025 ABS release shows how pay clusters around skill and responsibility:
| Occupation group | Median weekly ($) — Aug 2025 |
|---|---|
| Chief executives, general managers & legislators | $3,223 |
| Specialist managers | $2,310 |
| ICT professionals | $2,300 |
| Managers | $2,072 |
| Professionals | $1,900 |
| Labourers | $940 |
| Sales workers | $742 |
| Hospitality workers | $556 |
Source: ABS, Employee Earnings, August 2025.
The gap is stark: chief executives earn nearly six times the median hospitality worker. Part of that reflects hours — sales workers, labourers and hospitality staff are far more likely to work part-time — but hourly rates show the same pattern: managers at $58.80–$59.50/hour versus sales workers at $30.80/hour.
The gender pay gap in Australia 2026
Using the ABS’s most commonly cited measure — full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings — men averaged $2,181.00/week and women $1,934.50/week in May 2026, putting the gender pay gap at 11.3%, one of the lowest levels on record. The gap narrows further in the public sector, where female full-time earnings reached $2,154.00/week. Women’s earnings also grew slightly faster over the year (3.8% versus 3.5% for men).
What the average salary looks like after tax
Earning the average doesn’t mean keeping it. On a gross salary of $108,000 (roughly the full-time average), a 2025–26 resident taxpayer pays about $23,188 in income tax plus $2,160 in Medicare levy, leaving around $82,700 in take-home pay — about $6,890 a month.
That 2025–26 tax calculation uses the current resident brackets: 16% on income from $18,201 to $45,000, and 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy. Your actual take-home depends on deductions, HECS-HELP repayments (which kick in at $67,000 in 2025–26), and salary-sacrificed super contributions. Plug your own salary into our income tax calculator for an exact figure.
How does $82,700 after tax compare with typical budgets? See what everyday salaries look like after the ATO: $80,000 after tax and $100,000 after tax.
Is the average Australian salary a “good” salary in 2026?
It depends on your yardstick. At ~$108,000 a year, the average full-time worker sits above the median earner by roughly $34,000 — comfortably in the top quarter of all employees. In cities like Sydney and Melbourne, where the median house price still eats a huge share of a $108,000 salary, it feels tight; in Adelaide, Hobart or regional centres, the same money stretches much further.
A few useful benchmarks for 2026:
- The minimum wage is $26.44/hour ($1,004.90/week) — a full-time minimum-wage worker earns about half the average salary.
- The HECS-HELP compulsory repayment threshold is $67,000 — the average salary is well into repayment territory.
- Real wage growth is slightly negative: earnings grew 3.7% while inflation ran at 3.8%, so the average worker’s purchasing power went slightly backwards in the year to May 2026.
- To beat the average, you need to earn roughly $2,084+ a week — about $27 an hour on a 38-hour week just to match AWOTE.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Australia in 2026?
Full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026 (ABS), or roughly $108,000 a year. Including part-time workers, average weekly earnings for all employees were $1,579.20 (~$82,000 a year).
What is the median salary in Australia?
The median employee earned $1,425 per week (about $74,100 a year) in their main job in August 2025 (ABS, Employee Earnings). The median is lower than the average because high earners skew the average upwards.
Which state has the highest average salary in Australia?
The Australian Capital Territory has the highest average full-time earnings at $2,290/week (~$119,000/year), followed by Western Australia at $2,228/week. Tasmania has the lowest at $1,846/week (ABS, May 2026).
Which industry pays the highest salary in Australia?
Mining is consistently the highest-paying industry — median weekly earnings of $2,761 in August 2025, with full-time averages around $2,952/week in the most recent full ABS industry breakdown. Accommodation and food services is the lowest-paid industry.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Australia in 2026?
Yes — $100,000 puts you well above both the median ($74,100) and close to the full-time average ($108,000), landing you roughly in the top quarter of earners. Check our $100,000 after-tax breakdown to see what it looks like in your pocket.
How much of the average salary do you keep after tax?
On the average full-time salary of ~$108,000, you’ll keep roughly $82,700 after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy in 2025–26 — about 77% of your gross pay. Use our income tax calculator for your exact take-home.
Conclusion
The average salary in Australia in 2026 is about $108,000 a year for a full-time adult worker — but the median worker earns closer to $74,000, Tasmanians earn far less than Canberrans, and miners earn nearly six times what hospitality workers make. The “average” is a useful benchmark for comparing offers and negotiating pay, but the number that really matters is your after-tax figure in your city. Run it through our income tax calculator to find out where you stand against the national average.