Income Australia — Salaries, Calculators, and Pay Guides
This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial advice. For advice tailored to your situation, consult a licensed financial adviser. Learn more.
Contents
Understanding your income — what you earn, what you take home, how it compares, and how to earn more — is foundational to every other financial decision. Whether you’re trying to set a budget, assess a job offer, or plan for retirement, you need a clear picture of your income.
What Is the Average Salary in Australia?
According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) survey (November 2024):
- Average full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $104,600/year
- Median personal income (all workers, ATO data): ~$66,000/year
- Median full-time employee: ~$97,000/year
The gap between average and median is significant and reflects the distribution of income in Australia — a relatively small number of high-income earners push the average well above the median. Most full-time workers earn less than $97,000.
The minimum wage (National Minimum Wage, from 1 July 2025) is approximately $24.10/hour or $915.90/week for full-time adult workers — approximately $47,600/year.
Australian Income by Percentile
| Income percentile | Annual income (approx) |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | ~$23,000 |
| 25th percentile | ~$40,000 |
| 50th percentile (median) | ~$66,000 |
| 75th percentile | ~$108,000 |
| 90th percentile | ~$160,000 |
| 95th percentile | ~$210,000 |
| 99th percentile | ~$380,000+ |
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022–23 (latest available), personal income by range.
These figures include all income-earners — including part-time, casual, and self-employed Australians. For full-time workers only, the distribution shifts substantially higher.
The Gender Pay Gap in Australia
Australia has a persistent gender pay gap. The WGEA (Workplace Gender Equality Agency) measures the national gender pay gap annually. As of 2024:
- The full-time total remuneration gender pay gap is approximately 21.7%
- Women earn on average $26,400 less per year than men in full-time roles
- The gap is wider in finance, insurance, professional services, and mining
- The gap is narrower in healthcare, education, and community services
The gap reflects both occupational segregation (women overrepresented in lower-paid industries) and within-occupation differences driven by seniority representation, part-time work rates, and other factors.
Income Sources Beyond Salary
Most Australians primarily earn labour income (salary or wages), but income can come from multiple sources:
Investment income: Interest on savings accounts, dividends from shares, rent from investment properties. All taxable (with specific rules like franking credits for dividends, negative gearing for rental income).
Capital gains: Profit from selling an asset — shares, property, crypto. Assessable in the year sold; 50% CGT discount for assets held more than 12 months. See Capital Gains Tax Australia.
Business income: Sole traders, partnerships, trusts, and company structures all have different tax implications. Business income is assessable in the year earned.
Super contributions: Employer super contributions (11.5% SG in FY2025–26) are not income in the traditional sense — they go directly to your super fund. They are part of your total compensation package. See Superannuation guides.
Government payments: Centrelink payments (JobSeeker, Family Tax Benefit, Age Pension) are income for tax purposes, subject to specific rules.
Tax on Income
Australia has a progressive income tax system — higher incomes are taxed at higher marginal rates. For FY2025–26:
| Taxable income | Marginal tax rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $18,200 | Nil (tax-free threshold) |
| $18,201 – $45,000 | 19% |
| $45,001 – $120,000 | 32.5% |
| $120,001 – $180,000 | 37% |
| $180,001+ | 45% |
Medicare levy of 2% applies to most taxable incomes above the low-income threshold.
HECS-HELP repayments begin once income exceeds approximately $54,435 (FY2025–26) and increase as a percentage of income up to 10% for incomes over ~$160,000.
Use the income tax calculators to estimate take-home pay for any salary level.
Income by Age and Career Stage
Income in Australia tends to follow a life-cycle pattern:
- Under 25: Below average — typically minimum wage or award rates, part-time, entry-level roles
- 25–34: Rising rapidly as qualifications convert to experience; median around $65,000–$80,000 for full-time workers
- 35–54: Peak earning years; median for full-time workers $90,000–$110,000; top earners significantly above
- 55–64: Often stable or declining as some shift to part-time, care roles, or semi-retirement
- 65+: Many have retired; those working typically receive income well above median due to self-selection
Income also rises with qualification level. Full-time workers with bachelor degrees earn approximately 20–30% more than those with vocational qualifications, and 40–60% more than those whose highest qualification is Year 12.
Income Guides in This Section
Calculators
- Salary Calculator Australia — Take Home Pay 2025–26
- Hourly to Annual Salary Calculator
- Income Calculators Hub
Average Income
- Average Salary Australia 2025–26
- Median Income Australia
- Australian Income Percentile Calculator
- Minimum Wage Australia 2025–26
- Australian Graduate Salaries Guide
By City
- Good Salary in Sydney
- Good Salary in Melbourne
- Good Salary in Brisbane
- Good Salary in Perth
- Salary by City Hub
By Occupation
- Salary by Occupation Hub
- Healthcare Salaries Australia
- Engineering Salary Australia
- IT Salary Australia
- Teacher Salary Australia
Salary Negotiation
Income by State
Income levels vary meaningfully by state and territory, driven primarily by industry mix, population density, and the presence of high-paying sectors.
New South Wales: Sydney dominates the state economy. Finance, professional services, technology, and media command high salaries in the CBD, Inner West, and North Shore. The NSW average full-time salary sits around $104,400 — broadly at the national average despite Sydney’s higher cost of living.
Victoria: Melbourne is Australia’s second-largest economy. Professional services, healthcare, education, and retail are major employers. Average earnings (~$100,200) are slightly below NSW, but so are some housing costs — particularly in outer suburbs.
Western Australia: The resources and mining sector significantly lifts WA’s average ($113,500). Perth is the highest-earning non-territory capital city. FIFO (fly-in fly-out) workers in Pilbara and Kimberley mining operations often earn $150,000–$250,000 in operational roles.
Australian Capital Territory: Canberra has the highest average earnings in the country ($126,200) due to the Australian Public Service’s dominance. Government, defence, and intelligence roles pay well and are concentrated in a relatively small city.
Queensland: Brisbane and south-east Queensland have seen significant population and economic growth since 2021. Construction, tourism, agriculture, and resources all contribute. The QLD average (~$97,800) reflects this diversity.
South Australia: Adelaide has a lower average ($90,100) reflecting a smaller financial services sector and lighter concentration of high-paying industries. However, cost of living is materially lower than Sydney or Melbourne.
Tax-Effective Ways to Grow Income
Beyond earning more, structuring income tax-effectively can significantly improve your financial position:
Salary packaging (salary sacrifice): Directing pre-tax salary to certain benefits — super, novated car leases, FBT-exempt items — reduces your taxable income and tax paid. For employees of hospitals, charities, and not-for-profits, salary packaging limits are higher ($15,990 or $9,010 depending on type), making it exceptionally valuable.
Investment income and franking credits: Dividends from Australian shares often carry franking credits — tax already paid at the 30% company rate. If your marginal tax rate is below 30%, the excess franking credit is refunded to you. This is a meaningful after-tax return enhancement for lower-income investors.
Trust structures: Discretionary family trusts allow income to be distributed to family members in lower tax brackets. These involve significant setup and maintenance costs and require proper legal and tax advice. They are most relevant for business owners and high-income investors.
Superannuation contributions: Salary sacrificing into super reduces taxable income and invests at a 15% earnings tax rate rather than your marginal rate. For anyone on the 32.5%, 37%, or 45% marginal rate, this is highly tax-effective.
Related Income Guides
- Australian Income Tax Calculator 2025–26
- Capital Gains Tax Australia
- Negative Gearing and Investment Income
- Superannuation — Salary Sacrifice Guide
Using Income Data to Plan Your Finances
Understanding your income relative to Australian benchmarks helps you make better financial decisions:
Savings rate benchmarks: Financial planners often recommend saving 15–20% of gross income. At the median income (~$66,000), this is $9,900–$13,200/year — achievable but requiring deliberate budgeting, particularly in high-cost cities.
Emergency fund sizing: 3–6 months of expenses — not income. If your monthly expenses are $4,000, you need $12,000–$24,000 in accessible savings regardless of your income level.
Super contributions context: Your employer SG contributions (11.5% in FY2025–26) are on top of your salary. On $80,000 salary, this is $9,200/year into super — significant but often underappreciated because it’s invisible to day-to-day budgeting.
Income trajectory: Understanding where you sit on the income distribution at your age and career stage gives context. Earning $55,000 at 22 in your first full-time role puts you well above many peers. The same income at 45 in an experienced professional role represents underemployment relative to your peers. The income percentile calculator can help you assess your relative position.
For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a licensed financial adviser. You can find one through the ASIC financial advisers register or MoneySmart.