Average salary in Australia 2026: AUD 2,083.70 a week

Three ABS measures, three different numbers

The ABS publishes several averages from the same survey, and they answer different questions:

• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: AUD 2,083.70 a week. Use this to benchmark a full-time salary.
• Full-time adult total earnings: AUD 2,160.00 a week, adding overtime.
• All employees, total earnings: AUD 1,579.20 a week, pulled down by part-time workers.

All three are means for May 2026, seasonally adjusted, and none includes the employer's super. The national ordinary time figure is the same seasonally adjusted and unadjusted. The next release, for November 2026, is scheduled for February 25, 2027.

Average salary in Australia by region

Average salary in Australia by industry

Where pay is highest: states and industries

The Australian Capital Territory leads at AUD 2,290.20 a week, followed by Western Australia at AUD 2,227.40 and New South Wales at AUD 2,108.80. Tasmania is lowest at AUD 1,846.30, with South Australia at AUD 1,970.20. Victoria (AUD 2,041.10) and Queensland (AUD 2,039.70) sit just under the national figure.

Industry gaps are wider. Mining pays AUD 3,224.20 a week, more than double accommodation and food services at AUD 1,509.90. Information media and telecommunications (AUD 2,714.10) and electricity, gas, water and waste (AUD 2,546.00) are next; retail trade is AUD 1,581.60. State and industry figures are unadjusted, so compare them with each other rather than with the seasonally adjusted national number.

What a full-time hire at the average costs

Super is charged on ordinary time earnings, so on the annualized AUD 108,352.40:

• Super at 12%: AUD 13,002.29
• NSW payroll tax at 5.45% on wages plus super (5.45% x 121,354.69): AUD 6,613.83, if group wages exceed AUD 1.2 million
• Total on top of salary: AUD 19,616.12, or 18.10%

This salary is well under the super contribution cap (from July 1, 2026 the ATO shows an annual maximum contribution base of AUD 270,830), so super applies to all of it. Workers' compensation is extra and depends on the state and the work. Compare this load with other countries in the employer cost index.

Average earnings against the minimum wage

The full-time adult average of AUD 2,083.70 is 2.07 times the national minimum of AUD 1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. Award-covered roles have their own minimums, at or above the national floor. The Australian minimum wage page covers award rates, casual loading and the July review.

Hiring in Australia at a market wage

An employer of record runs payroll, super and payroll tax for you. Published list prices run from $99 (Native Teams, whose help center says EUR 99) to $699 (Oyster) per employee per month (checked October 16 and 18, 2026); Remote lists from $599, about $7,188 a year, against about $13,650 in super and NSW payroll tax at the average wage.

The guide to hiring in Australia has notice rules and a monthly example; our EOR rankings and EOR price comparison help you pick a provider. Neighbors for comparison: New Zealand average salary.