Average Salary & Wage Australia 2026: $108,352/yr (ABS May 2026) by Industry

The latest ABS Average Weekly Earnings release (May 2026, published August 2026) puts average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults at $2,083.70 per week (seasonally adjusted, up 3.7% over the year), which is $108,352 per year. Counting overtime, full-time adults average $2,160.00 a week. The median sits well below the average because a small number of very high earners pull the mean up: the ABS Employee Earnings survey (August 2025) puts median weekly earnings for all employees at $1,425 ($74,100 per year), and for full-time workers at $1,841 for men and $1,631 for women.

In the private sector, full-time men average $2,139.50 a week in ordinary time earnings and women $1,840.80 — a gap of about 14%; in the public sector the figures are $2,399.30 and $2,154.00. Across all employees, including part-timers, average weekly total earnings are $1,579.20 ($82,118 a year). These are cash earnings before tax — they exclude super, salary-sacrificed amounts and non-cash benefits (sources: ABS 6302.0 Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026; ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). See where your own pay sits with the salary benchmark tool.

Average annual full-time salaries by industry, ordered from highest to lowest: Mining: $148,000. Financial and Insurance Services: $118,000. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services: $112,000.

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services: $110,000. Information Media and Telecommunications: $108,000.

Public Administration and Safety: $100,000. Construction: $96,000.

Education and Training: $94,000.

Transport, Postal and Warehousing: $88,000.

Wholesale Trade: $86,000. Manufacturing: $84,000.

Health Care and Social Assistance: $82,000. Administrative and Support Services: $72,000. Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: $70,000.

Arts and Recreation Services: $68,000. Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services: $66,000.

Retail Trade: $62,000. Accommodation and Food Services: $60,000. Other Services: $70,000. These are averages and vary significantly by role, experience, and location. The industry figures are rounded from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings industry tables (full-time adult ordinary time earnings, annualised) and are indicative — the ABS refreshes them each May and November. For a role-level view, use the salary benchmark tool.

Here is what common salary levels actually look like after tax (2026-27, no HECS, including Medicare): $60,000 gross = approximately $50,380 take-home ($969/week). $80,000 gross = approximately $63,880 take-home ($1,228/week). $100,000 gross = approximately $77,480 take-home ($1,490/week). $120,000 gross = approximately $91,080 take-home ($1,752/week). $150,000 gross = approximately $110,430 take-home ($2,124/week). $200,000 gross = approximately $140,130 take-home ($2,695/week). The diminishing returns of higher salaries are clear: going from $60K to $120K (doubling your gross salary) only increases your take-home by 80%. This is because higher income pushes more of your earnings into higher tax brackets (2026-27 resident rates: 15% from $18,201, 30% from $45,001, 37% from $135,001, 45% above $190,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy — ATO).

Use the take-home pay calculator to see your exact after-tax figure, including HECS and salary sacrifice.

The fastest salary growth in 2026 is in: technology and cybersecurity (10-15% year-on-year for experienced roles), healthcare (driven by workforce shortages, particularly nursing and allied health), trades (plumbers, electricians, and builders benefiting from housing construction demand), and mining (commodity price driven). For career switchers, the biggest after-tax salary gains come from moving into mining, financial services, or tech from lower-paying industries. A hospitality worker earning $60,000 who moves into mining at $148,000 increases their take-home pay from approximately $50,380 to $109,210 (2026-27 tax, no HECS) — a $58,830 increase in annual spending power.

Trades offer strong returns with relatively short training periods: a 4-year electrical apprenticeship leads to average earnings of $85,000-95,000 with potential for much more through overtime and contracting.