Average Salary Australia 2026: By Industry, Age, State & Gender
The average full-time salary in Australia is $100,168/year (Nov 2025 AWOTE) — but the median is $78,000. See how your pay compares by industry, state, age, and gender with our free calculator.
Average vs median salary: why the median matters more
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that average full-time ordinary time earnings (AWOTE) reached $100,168 per year as of November 2025. However, this number is misleading for most workers because it is skewed upward by very high earners — CEOs, surgeons, and mining executives pulling $300,000+ inflate the average significantly. The median salary — the midpoint where exactly half of workers earn more and half earn less — is approximately $78,000 per year for full-time workers. This is a far better indicator of what a "typical" Australian earns. The gap between average ($100,168) and median ($78,000) tells you something important: income distribution in Australia is heavily right-skewed, with a long tail of high earners pulling the average above what most people actually experience. When someone quotes the "average Australian salary," ask whether they mean mean or median — the difference is over $22,000. For benchmarking your own pay, always compare against the median.
Average salary by industry
Salaries vary enormously across industries in Australia. Mining remains the highest-paying sector, with average full-time earnings of approximately $140,000 per year — driven by remote location premiums, shift work, and strong union coverage. Financial and insurance services follow at around $110,000, reflecting the concentration of high-paying roles in banking, funds management, and actuarial work. Professional, scientific, and technical services average approximately $105,000, covering lawyers, engineers, and consultants. Information media and telecommunications sits around $100,000. Health care and social assistance averages about $95,000, though this varies wildly between a specialist doctor ($350,000+) and an aged care worker ($55,000). Education and training averages around $92,000. Construction averages $88,000 but skilled tradespeople in demand can earn significantly more. The lowest-paying industries are retail trade at approximately $60,000 and accommodation and food services (hospitality) at around $55,000 — both heavily reliant on award wages and casual employment structures.
Average salary by state and territory
Where you live in Australia significantly impacts what you earn. Western Australia leads all states with average full-time earnings of approximately $108,000, driven by the massive mining and resources sector concentrated in the Pilbara and Goldfields regions. The Australian Capital Territory follows closely at $106,000, reflecting the high proportion of senior public servants, policy advisers, and defence-sector professionals. New South Wales averages $102,000, buoyed by Sydney's financial services and technology sectors. Victoria sits at approximately $97,000, with Melbourne's diverse economy spanning finance, health, and professional services. Queensland averages $94,000, with significant variation between Brisbane's professional workforce and regional tourism-dependent areas. South Australia averages $90,000, Northern Territory approximately $92,000 (inflated by remote allowances and government roles), and Tasmania has the lowest average at $85,000. However, cost of living must be factored in — a $90,000 salary in Hobart goes further than $102,000 in Sydney, where median house prices exceed $1.4 million.
Average salary by age
Earnings in Australia follow a predictable lifecycle pattern. Workers aged 20-24 earn an average of approximately $55,000 full-time, reflecting entry-level positions and early careers. The 25-34 age bracket jumps to around $80,000 as workers complete qualifications, gain experience, and move into more senior roles. The 35-44 bracket averages approximately $95,000, with many workers reaching mid-career management or senior specialist positions. Earnings peak in the 45-54 age bracket at around $105,000, representing the height of career seniority, accumulated expertise, and negotiating power. The 55-64 bracket drops slightly to about $100,000, as some workers shift to part-time arrangements, transition to less demanding roles, or face age-related barriers in certain industries. Workers aged 65 and over who remain in full-time employment average approximately $90,000, though this cohort is increasingly self-selected toward professional roles. The steepest salary growth occurs between ages 22 and 35 — this is when strategic career moves, skill development, and credential building have the highest return on investment.
The gender pay gap: women earn 14% less
The national gender pay gap in Australia stands at approximately 14%, with women working full-time earning an average of $86,000 compared to men's $100,000. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has published employer-level pay gap data since 2024, revealing significant variation. Some industries have wider gaps: construction (25%), financial services (22%), and mining (18%). Others are closer to parity: health care (10%), education (8%), and public administration (6%). The causes are multifaceted: occupational segregation (women concentrated in lower-paying caring professions), the motherhood penalty (career breaks and part-time work reducing lifetime earnings), underrepresentation in senior leadership, and in some cases, direct pay discrimination for equivalent roles. The gap narrows at graduate level (around 4%) but widens with career progression, peaking at senior management level (20%+). Legislative changes including the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment Act 2023 and mandatory employer reporting are applying pressure, with the gap slowly narrowing from 18% a decade ago to 14% today.
Where do you sit? Comparing your salary
To accurately benchmark your salary, you need to compare against people in your specific industry, role, state, and experience level — not the national average. The ABS publishes detailed earnings data twice yearly (May and November), broken down by industry, occupation, state, and employment type. The ATO's Taxation Statistics also reveal income distribution by postcode, age, and occupation, though with a one to two-year lag. As a quick guide: if you earn under $50,180 per year (full-time), you are below the current national minimum wage. If you earn around $78,000, you are at the median — earning more than half of all full-time workers. At $100,168, you match the average (mean). At $130,000+, you are in approximately the top 20% of full-time earners. At $180,000+, you are in the top 10%. And at $250,000+, you are in the top 5% of Australian income earners. Use our Pay Calculator to see your hourly, weekly, fortnightly, and annual rates, and our Take-Home Pay Calculator to see what you actually receive after tax, super, and Medicare are deducted from your salary.
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Official resources
General information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
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