Average Salary Australia 2026: By Industry, State, Age & Gender

What's the average Australian salary in 2026? Full breakdown by industry, state, age group and gender. Compare your income with data from the ABS.

National average salary (2026)

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings survey (November 2025), the average full-time ordinary time earnings in Australia are $1,926 per week, or $100,168 per year. This is the headline figure most commonly reported as the 'average salary'. However, the median (middle) salary is closer to $78,000 per year — meaning half of all full-time workers earn less than this. The average is pulled up by high earners in mining, finance, and medicine. Average total earnings including overtime are higher at approximately $2,010 per week ($104,500 per year). For all employees (including part-time), the average weekly ordinary time earnings are $1,390 per week ($72,280 per year). Average weekly earnings have grown by approximately 3.5% over the past 12 months, slightly above inflation at 2.8%, meaning real wages have grown modestly in 2025.

Average salary by industry

Average full-time earnings vary enormously by industry. The highest-paying industries are: Mining — $147,000/year (driven by remote work premiums and shift loadings in WA/QLD). Finance and Insurance — $113,000/year. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services — $108,000/year. Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste — $105,000/year. Public Administration and Safety — $97,000/year. Health Care and Social Assistance — $95,000/year. Construction — $93,000/year. Education and Training — $92,000/year. Manufacturing — $85,000/year. Transport, Postal and Warehousing — $82,000/year. Information, Media and Telecommunications — $98,000/year. At the lower end: Retail Trade — $60,000/year. Accommodation and Food Services — $55,000/year. Arts and Recreation — $65,000/year. Administrative and Support Services — $62,000/year. The gap between highest (mining) and lowest (accommodation/food) is nearly 2.7x.

Average salary by state and territory

Average full-time earnings differ significantly by state, largely driven by industry mix. Western Australia — $110,000/year (highest, due to mining and resources sector dominance). Australian Capital Territory — $105,000/year (high concentration of federal public service jobs). New South Wales — $100,000/year (finance and professional services in Sydney). Victoria — $95,000/year (diverse economy, slightly below NSW). Northern Territory — $90,000/year (mining and defence, but small sample size). Queensland — $90,000/year (mining in regions, lower cost of living in SEQ). South Australia — $85,000/year (manufacturing and defence). Tasmania — $80,000/year (lowest cost of living, smaller economy, fewer high-paying industries). These figures are averages — within each state, urban areas typically pay 10-20% more than regional areas, and capital cities pay more than surrounding suburbs.

Average salary by age group

Earnings follow a predictable lifecycle pattern, peaking in the 45-54 age group. Under 25 — $55,000/year (entry-level roles, many still studying part-time). 25-34 — $82,000/year (early career, building experience and qualifications). 35-44 — $100,000/year (mid-career, many moving into management or senior specialist roles). 45-54 — $105,000/year (peak earning years, senior management and executive roles). 55-64 — $95,000/year (some transition to part-time or lower-stress roles approaching retirement). 65 and over — $80,000/year (those still working tend to be in professional or consulting roles, but many have reduced hours). The jump from under-25 to 35-44 is the steepest — earnings nearly double as workers gain experience and move up classification levels. Most awards and enterprise agreements include annual increments and progression through pay scales.

Gender pay gap

The national gender pay gap in Australia stands at approximately 14.5% based on full-time ordinary time earnings. Men average approximately $105,000/year while women average approximately $90,000/year in full-time roles. The gap is widest in: Finance and Insurance — 23% gap. Mining — 20% gap (though women in mining are fewer in number and concentrated in lower-paying roles). Professional Services — 18% gap. The gap is narrowest in: Education and Training — 5% gap. Public Administration — 6% gap. Health Care — 8% gap (though this masks wide variation between doctors and nurses). The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) now requires employers with 100+ employees to publish gender pay gap data. Key drivers of the gap include: occupational segregation (women concentrated in lower-paying industries), career interruptions for caring responsibilities, underrepresentation in senior leadership, and differences in negotiation outcomes.

Where do you sit? Salary percentiles

Understanding where your salary falls in the distribution is more useful than comparing to averages. Here are approximate full-time salary percentiles for Australia in 2026. $50,000/year — bottom 25% (first quartile). This includes many retail, hospitality, and entry-level roles. $65,000/year — 35th percentile. Below median but common for early-career workers. $78,000/year — 50th percentile (median). Half of full-time workers earn less than this. $100,000/year — approximately top 35%. You are in the upper third of earners. $120,000/year — approximately top 25%. $150,000/year — approximately top 15%. Common for senior professionals, mid-level managers, and experienced trades in mining. $200,000/year — approximately top 5%. Senior management, medical specialists, senior lawyers, and some tech roles. $300,000/year — approximately top 2%. Executives, partners, specialists. $500,000+/year — top 1%. C-suite executives, surgeons, and successful business owners. Use our Pay Calculator and Salary Converter tools to see exactly how your salary breaks down after tax, super, and HECS.

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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.