It makes the world go round, rules everything around us, and as per the assertions of modern American poet Christopher Wallace, creates mo’ problems. But what is the average salary in Australia?
Below, we’ve collated data from every reputable source available; including some timely facts and figures from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), which may prove to be the most accurate indication of what you should be earning. Even more so than the incredibly granular Australian Bureau of Statistics breakdown.
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*Note: All $$$ = Before Tax
According to data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as of November 2023, full-time workers need to rake in an annual salary exceeding $98,217.60 to be considered an above-average income earner (average full-time weekly pay: $1,888.80).
This is, of course, a one-size-fits-all figure. The adjusted numbers will vary depending on factors such as gender, sector, education level, qualifications, job title, industries, and geography. Plus none of these average figures account for performance bonuses, side hustles, and whatnot.
The average weekly earnings for all employees in Australia, on the other hand, sits at $1,432.60. This effectively translates to a significantly lower average annual salary of $74,495.20 when we include part-time, casual, and other workers outside of the full-time sphere in the mix.
And just in case you were curious: as determined by the Fair Work Commission, as of 2024, the minimum wage in Australia is $882.80 per week for full-time employees (38 hours per week). Or a minimum of $23.23 per hour.
Is it time to start working weekends or is it time to schedule a meeting with the boss?
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Average Australian Salary By Gender & Sector
Assuming full-time and adult.
| Men | Women | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $1,982.80 | $1,744.80 |
| Average Salary | $103,105.60 | $90,729.60 |
| Public Sector | Private Sector | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $2,061.10 | $1,845 |
| Average Salary | $107,177.20 | $95,940 |
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Average Australian Salary By State & Territories
New South Wales
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $1,977.50 | $1,760.20 | $1,891.40 |
| Average Salary | $102,830 | $91,530.40 | $98,352.80 |
Victoria
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $1,940.90 | $1,733.30 | $1,858.10 |
| Average Salary | $100,926.80 | $90,131.60 | $96,621.20 |
Queensland
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $1,931.50 | $1,709.80 | $1,844.70 |
| Average Salary | $100,438 | $88,909.60 | $95,924.40 |
South Australia
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $1,793.80 | $1,628.80 | $1,735.40 |
| Average Salary | $93,277.60 | $84,697.60 | $90,240.80 |
Western Australia
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $2,301.60 | $1,802.00 | $2,107.70 |
| Average Salary | $119,683.20 | $93,704 | $109,600.40 |
Tasmania
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $1,704.30 | $1,612.80 | $1,670.00 |
| Average Salary | $88,623.60 | $83,865.60 | $86,840 |
Northern Territory
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $1,974.90 | $1,671.10 | $1,832.80 |
| Average Salary | $102,694.80 | $86,897.20 | $95,305.60 |
Australian Capital Territory
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $2,189.90 | $1,972.90 | $2,087.60 |
| Average Salary | $113,874.80 | $102,590.80 | $108,555.20 |
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The 5 Highest Average Salaries By Profession
Mining Industry
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $3,049.30 | $2,568.90 | $2,951.80 |
| Average Salary | $158,563.60 | $133,582.80 | $153,493.60 |
Information Media and Telecommunications
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $2,536.20 | $2,126.80 | $2,406.10 |
| Average Salary | $131,882.40 | $110,593.60 | $125,117.20 |
Financial and Insurance Services
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $2,378.70 | $1,962.30 | $2,182.70 |
| Average Salary | $123,692.40 | $102,039.60 | $113,500.40 |
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $2,468.60 | $1,889.20 | $2,222.80 |
| Average Salary | $128,367.20 | $98,238.40 | $115,585.60 |
Electricity, Gas, Water, and Waste Services
| Male | Female | Overall | |
| Average Weekly Earnings | $2,266.20 | $2,023.40 | $2,212.60 |
| Average Salary | $117,842.40 | $105,216.80 | $115,055.20 |
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Median Salary in Australia (2024)
While “average salary Australia” is the search term that brought you here, a more realistic read of what you should be earning lies in the country’s median salary.
Considering an average is calculated by adding every recorded value of a dataset before being divided by the total number of values, the 1%-ers (i.e. multi-billionaires such as Twiggy Forrest, the Atlassian fellas) will inevitably skew the results.
A median, on the other hand, organises a dataset in ascending order before revealing the middle value. So what does this look like in the context of personal income in Australia?
Taking the median weekly earnings of a full-time worker (all persons), we multiply $1,710 by the 52 weeks in a year to calculate a total annual sum of $88,920.
If we were to examine this more closely by gender, Aussie men make a median salary of $92,872 while Aussie women are staring down the barrel of $83,200.
Check out the breakdown for yourself below.
Average Taxable Income in Australia (2024)
As we pointed out in the intro, despite how granular everything you’ve read thus far has been, perhaps the best (and potentially most accurate) indication of the average salary in Australia can be found in this country’s taxation data.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has once again published an outline of what we’re earning; along with where our wealthiest professionals cluster geographically, and the highest-earning professional as per those tax forms.
As per the latest roundup for FY20/21, the average taxable income in Australia is $68,289 — $84,328 for males; $60,054 for females — while the median taxable income sits at $50,980 — $61,988 for males; $45,813 for females.
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The 10 Highest Average Taxable Income By Postcodes
Unsurprisingly, six of the 10 highest-earning postcodes in Australia are from Sydney. Particularly within the Eastern Suburbs.
At the time of this writing, the throne is no longer occupied by what we’d previously dubbed the “dark horse” postcode of Western Australia’s 6011 (Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove).
After bumping up its average taxable income by an impressive $90,000 in a single year, the highest-earning postcode in Australia is now 2028 (Double Bay) at just over $354,000.
- [2028] Double Bay NSW — $354,308
- [6011] Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove WA — $285,283
- [2027] Darling Point, Edgecliff, HMAS Rushcutters, Point Piper NSW — $269,777
- [3142] Hawksburn, Toorak VIC — $266,020
- [2023] Bellevue Hill NSW — $245,728
- [2030] Dover Heights, Rose Bay North, Vaucluse, HMAS Watson, Watsons Bay NSW — $239,974
- [3944] Portsea VIC — $221,867
- [2108] Coasters Retreat, Currawong Beach, Great Mackerel Beach, Palm Beach NSW — $216,262
- [2110] Hunters Hill, Woolwich NSW — $215,456
- [2025] Woollahra NSW — $215,123
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The 10 Highest Average Taxable Income By Profession
In terms of the occupation breakdown, four out of the top five involve medicine; the rankings having remained virtually unchanged for years now.
Surgeons have yet again defended their title by claiming the number one spot (average taxable income: $460,356), followed closely by anaesthetists ($431,193), internal medicine specialists ($373,733), financial dealers ($373,733), and then psychiatrists ($276,545).
Here’s what every other gig in the Top 10 ranked (by FY20/21 average taxable income).
- Surgeons — $460,356
- Anaesthetists — $431,193
- Financial Dealers — $373,733
- Internal Medicine Specialists — $340,729
- Psychiatrists — $276,545
- Other Medical Practitioners — $255,754
- Mining Engineer — $214,365
- Judicial or Other Legal Professionals — $204,934
- Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director — $197,720
- Financial Investment Advisor or Manager — $185,834
