Want to know how your income compares to others across the country? Using data from a number of sources, we've mapped average wages in different parts of Australia.
Our analysis takes into account average salaries in states and territories, as well as salaries in some of the country's most popular industries.
Overall, the median weekly income of full-time Australian workers is A$1,838Announcing the latest ABS statisticsAugustus 2023
That figure is rising 3.9 percent a year, or $68 a week, says Bjorn Jarvis, director of labor statistics at ABS.in a statement。
“Barring a brief rise in average earnings at the start of the pandemic, when low-wage jobs were hit particularly hard, this is the strongest annual increase since May 2013,” Jarvis said.
Below is a breakdown of the current average salary for a full-time worker in Australia.
Average salary by state in Australia
The latest Australian wage report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows average weekly earnings by state and territory. These figures represent wages for full-time workers across all industries.
Western Australia was named the highest paid state or territory in the country, probably due to the fact that most miners typically earn higher wages.
The breakdown by state is as follows, taking into account the gender pay gap and the average annual salary in major capitals.
What is the average salary in Australia?
The average full-time worker in Australia earns an average of A$1,838 per week before tax. For Australian men, this adds up to $1,938.30, or an additional $100.30 per week.
Meanwhile, the average weekly wage of working women in Australia is expected to fall more than $150 below the national average, to $1,686.
New South Wales
The average weekly regular income of a full-time adult in NSW is $1,831.90. That's just $6.1 less than the national average.
For men, the average regular work week rose to $1,924.80, while for women it fell to $1,697.00.
Sydney average salary
According to PayScale, the median salary in the city of Sydney is $80,000 per year. The figure is based on reports from more than 58,000 employees.
Victoria
In Victoria, full-time adults (regardless of gender) earn an average regular work week of $1,832.90. That's just $5.1 a week below the national average.
For Victorian men working full-time, the median work week rose to $1,933.50. Women are down to $1,683.70.
Average salary in Melbourne
The median annual salary in Melbourne is $75,000, according to PayScale. The figure comes from more than 57,000 individual pay and compensation reports.
Queensland
The average weekly wage for a full-time worker in Queensland is $1,791.00. That's $47 less than the national average.
For men, the median regular-time weekly income of $1,887.80 statewide is higher than the national average. However, women may earn a lower weekly wage of $1,637.80.
Average salary in Brisbane
According to PayScale, the average annual salary for a full-time worker in Brisbane is $73,000. The figure comes from pay reports for more than 30,000 workers in Brisbane.
South Australia
The average regular weekly income of full-time workers in South Australia is $1,677.80, which is $160.20 less than the national average weekly income.
The figure for South Australian men rose slightly to $1,717, but was still below the national average. South Australian women, on the other hand, earn an average weekly wage of $1,601.80.
Average salary in Adelaide
Data collected by PayScale from more than 16,000 individual pay reports in Adelaide shows that the median annual salary in the capital is $70,000.
Western Australia
Western Australia has the highest median weekly income of $2,039.30 for full-time workers compared to all other states and territories. That's $201.30 per week higher than the national average.
For men in Washington state, the weekly wage increase was even greater: $2,216.30. For women working full-time, this figure has dropped significantly, falling below the national average of $1,741.70.
Average salary in Perth
The median annual salary in Perth is $77,000, according to data from 22,000 individual reports from PayScale.
Tasmania
The average fixed income of Tasmanian full-time workers is $218.70 less than the national average of $1,619.30 per week.
For men working full-time in Tasmania, the figure rose slightly to $1,652.10, but was still well below the national average weekly income for normal working hours. For women, the figure dropped even further, to an average of $1,565.70.
Average salary in Hobart
PayScale data shows that the average annual salary for a full-time worker in Hobart is $65,000. The figure was determined by the participation of over 2,000 people who reported their salaries in Hobart on the website.
Northern Territory
The average regular job income for full-time workers in the Northern Territory is expected to be $1,775.90, which is $62.10 less than the national average weekly income.
For men working in the North, this figure was higher than the national average of $1,912.10 per week. New Zealand women, on the other hand, earn even less than the national threshold of $1,614.10 per week.
Average salary in Darwin
The average annual salary for a full-time worker in Darwin is $72,000. The figure is based on the most recent PayScale data, compiled from more than 1,000 individual compensation reports.
Australian Capital Territory
Full-time workers in the Australian capital earn an average of A$2,022.90 per week, the second highest in the country.
That number grew even more for men working in the Capital Region, who earned an average regular working week wage of $2,192.00, $354 more than the national average.
For women, the ACT's median weekly wage fell to $1,911.40, still $73.40 above the national average.
Average salary in Canberra
PayScale data from approximately 2,500 personal income reports shows that the median salary for a full-time worker in Canberra is $71,000.
The maximum salary depends on location and profession
While knowing the average salary in your state or city is great, it may not give you insight into the fairness of your compensation package, as there are always wide variations between industries.
FYI: Forbes consultants have researched some of Australia's most in-demand jobs and compared national average annual salaries to state salaries.The following data comes from SEEK。
SEEK said the salary statistics are based on full-time salary ranges disclosed by employers in SEEK job postings from the past three months, starting August 2023. See our article for more informationA guide to the average salaries in Australia。
average teacher salary in Australia
The national median teacher salary is between $90,000 and $95,000, averaged across all occupations.
Tasmania is the country with the highest teacher salaries, with median salaries in excess of $110,000. Meanwhile, average salaries in the Australian Capital Territory start at $80,000, well over $10,000 below the national average.
average wages of miners in Australia
The average annual salary of an Australian miner is between $120,000 and $140,000. This figure is equivalent to the average annual wages of miners in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The lowest wages for miners are in South Australia, where the average annual salary is between $90,000 and $100,000.
SEEK currently does not have mining wage data for NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania or the ACT due to a lack of mining jobs in these regions.
Average salary of a lawyer in Australia
According to data from SEEK, the average annual salary of an Australian lawyer is between A$85,000 and A$105,000.
Average lawyer salaries are highest in Western Australia, ranging from A$95,000 to A$115,000. In South Australia, the median salary starts at a much lower $75,000. It amounted to $95,000.
The salary range in Tasmania is also lower than the national average with the average salary for a Tasmanian lawyer being just $80,000-85,000.
Average nurse salary in Australia
In Australia, the average annual salary for a nurse can be expected to be between $75,000 and $95,000. For some states and territories, the range remains, with SEEK New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia reporting the same numbers.
Nurses have a much wider range of jobs in the ACT; the average salary of an ACT nurse is between $100,000 and $110,000.
Compared to the rest of the country, nurses in Western Australia and Queensland can expect to earn above average salaries, with median annual wages in the states of $100,000 to $105,000 and $80,000 to $100,000 respectively.
Data on nurse salaries for Tasmania and the Northern Territory is not available.
Average salary of a construction manager in Australia
Industry in Australia has many different occupations, from carpenters to drillers and electricians. A common occupation in the construction industry is that of construction manager, with an average annual salary between $100,000 and $120,000.
For a tradesman working as a construction manager in the Northern Territory, the average salary has increased exponentially, from $120,000 to $135,000.
Tasmania has the lowest salaries for construction managers, with an average annual salary between $80,000 and $100,000. In other states and territories, the gap is smaller, either on the national average or within $5,000 relative to the national parameter.
Average salary of a shop assistant in Australia
The average annual salary for a shop assistant in Australia is between $55,000 and $65,000.
The highest paid shop assistants work in Western Australia, with the average annual salary cap reaching $70,000. Northern Territory residents, meanwhile, earn the lowest wages, dropping to an average of $45,000 to $55,000 a year.
Shop assistants are not far behind on average in Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia, with starting salaries in all three states starting at just $50,000.
Wages are rising after the pandemic
Salary has long been a key factor for Australians to take on a new role or stay in their current job, butinflationAs the economy grows, fair wages become more important to many people.
In fact, according toLatest SEEK researchPay and salary are now more important than before Covid-19 for 40% of candidates on job sites.
As worker mobility increases across the country, companies will need to offer higher wages and other benefits to attract new workers and retain existing workers – even in times of crisis, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.RBA rates are steadily rising。
LastABS published salary dataShow that businesses in Australia recognize the need: the average weekly wage in Australia has increased from $1,769.80 last year to $1,838.10 in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the average annual salary in Australia?
The average annual salary in Australia is around $90,000. Of course, this number varies based on your experience, industry, and location.
related: A guide to the average salaries in Australia
What is a good salary in Australia?
Since the average weekly ordinary income for Australians in 2023 is $1,838.10, anything close to that amount is considered a good salary.
However, it is worth remembering that different people have different financial needs and therefore have different ideas about what constitutes a 'good' salary for them. Whatever your salary, it is advisable to keep the spending pattern within your means as much as possible.
How can I earn more money in Australia?
ifRepair costsThe crisis is still raging and Australians are feeling uncertainty about whether the RBA will continue to raise rates.
In response to financial stress, many Australians are looking for ways to supplement their income by:secure a pay riseOr look for sources of income other than salary.
sidelineIt is becoming increasingly popular among Australians. If you prefer to look for passive ways to grow your bankroll, use the following methodsBest Passive Income Ideas for 2023.
How much tax do I pay on my salary?
Australians who earn an average of $90,000 a year before tax will pay $19,717 in tax in the 2022-2023 financial year.
This figure comes trueIncome tax calculator via the Moneysmart websiteEnter your salary here to calculate how much tax you have to pay.
For more information on how taxes are calculated,Read our tax guide here。
Which state in Australia has the highest salaries?
according toLatest ABS dataWestern Australia is the highest revenue state in Australia, followed by the Australian Capital Territory. This is believed to be due to the high density of mining jobs in Washington State and political actors within the ACT.