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Average Salary in Australia

Author: Madalina Roman

31 October 2024

The average salary in Australia is AUD 95,726 (USD 63,054). The average monthly salary is AUD 7,977 (USD 5,254.45), with average weekly earnings in May 2024 of AUD 1,996.40 (USD 1,315).

However, the average wage fluctuates based on several factors, and this article tackles multiple factors so you can get a realistic picture of the average salary in Australia.

Please note:

All data in this article are based on official statistics and reports, such as those from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the OECD. Data linked at the end of the article.
The official currency of Australia is the Australian dollar (AUD).
All figures in the article are gross salaries.
One AUD equals 0.66 USD when writing this article. Please double-check the exchange rate at the time of reading.

Key statistics

Average annual salary: AUD 95,726 (USD 63,054). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Average monthly salary: AUD 7,977 (USD 5,254.45). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Median salary: AUD 1,300/month (855.84 USD). Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Minimum hourly wage: AUD 24.10 (15.86 USD). Source: Australian Workers Union
Gender pay gap: 11.5% in 2024. Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

Australia has one of the world’s highest minimum wages among the OECD nations. Source: OECD
Australia has a “fly-in, fly-out” (FIFO) work arrangement. Frequently met in the mining industry, workers are flown to remote mine sites for extended shifts followed by longer work periods. Source: Professionals Australia
Australia has seen 28 years of uninterrupted economic growth before the COVID-19 Pandemic. Source: Australia Government

Average salary in Australia

Based on data from 2024 provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia maintains robust compensation levels across its workforce, with average salary figures higher than in many OECD nations. The average yearly salary is AUD 95,726 (USD 63,054), translating to monthly earnings of AUD 7,977 (USD 5,254.45).

Weekly earnings as of May 2024 averaged AUD 1,996.40 (USD 1,315), reflecting Australia’s strong labor market and relatively high standard of living.

Therefore, whether you’re considering relocating to Australia, hiring in Australia or just want to learn about Australia average salary, salary expectations should be high.

Median salary

The median salary represents the middle value in a dataset where half of all salaries fall below and half fall above this point. Unlike the average salary (the mean), the median is less affected by extreme values and often provides a more realistic picture of typical earnings in a population.

Therefore, the median salary shows a more realistic view of a country’s typical earnings.

The median weekly earnings in Australia in 2023 was AUD 1,300. That leads to a median salary of AUD 5,200 per month, with a yearly median wage of AUD 62,400. The median income introduced comes as a national average, and the data is provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Minimum wage

In Australia, all employees are entitled to a minimum wage, and it’s illegal for employers not to offer at least the minimum wage.

Starting with July 1st, 2024, Australia’s minimum wage is AUD 24.10 per hour, with a weekly AUD 915.90 a week (for 38 hours, which in Australia is the norm for full-time workers). This wage growth was 3.75% to the national minimum wage.

There are exemptions to the rule, too, but only the following categories can have a lower minimum wage:

workers aged under 21;
workers on the Supported Wage System;
apprentices and trainees.

Average salary by region

According to the latest data available from May 2024 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian states and territories feature notable regional variations in income levels.

Western Australia (WA) leads with the highest average weekly earnings at AUD 2,094.30, followed closely by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) at AUD 2,126.50.

These higher earnings most likely reflect WA’s strong mining industry and ACT’s concentration of government jobs. In contrast, Tasmania has the lowest average earnings at AUD 1,710.80 per week.

The national average is AUD 1,923.40, with major economic centers like New South Wales (AUD 1,935.70) and Victoria (AUD 1,882.00) hovering close to this benchmark.

Here is a breakdown of salaries in Australia’s regions:

Region	Average salary (AUD)/week	Average salary (AUD/Year)
New South Wales	1,935.70	100,656.40
Victoria	1,882.00	97,864.00
Queensland	1,901.00	98,852.00
South Australia	1,776.90	92,398.80
Western Australia	2,094.30	108,903.60
Tasmania	1,710.80	88,961.60
Northern Territory	1,845.80	95,981.60
Australian Capital Territory	2,126.50	110,578.00
Australia	1,923.40	100,016.80

Average salary by sector

Some key observations relevant to average salaries by sector are that the public sector has a higher average salary than the private sector, while the overall national average total earnings are AUD 1,994.30 per week.

Ordinary-time earnings (excluding overtime and bonuses) for public sector workers are AUD 2,091.80 weekly, while their private sector counterparts earn AUD 1,879.00. Both sectors have experienced healthy growth in the last year, with yearly changes ranging from 4.4% to 6.0%, which indicates a robust employment market for government and private industry positions.

Note that “Ordinary vs Total Earnings” in the below table means the following:

Ordinary time earnings: Base salary for standard working hours, excluding overtime, bonuses, or additional payments
Total earnings: Includes everything – base salary plus overtime, bonuses, and other additional payments

Source: Bureau of Statistics

Average salary by industry sector

Australian wage data from the Statistics Bureau reveals significant variations across industries, with mining leading as the highest-paying sector. Employees in the mining industry earn an average weekly salary of AUD 3,015.30, substantially outpacing other industries. Information media, telecommunications, and professional services are the top earners, while hospitality and retail services show lower average earnings.

Notably, the data also highlights a persistent gender wage gap across all sectors, with males having a higher average full-time salary than women, ranging from 10% to 30%. You will discover more information on the gender wage gap in the next paragraphs, however.

Source: Bureau of Statistics

Average salary by education

In Australia, like in many other developed countries, there is a clear education-salary correlation. Some of the correlations provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2023 are as follows:

The highest salary (AUD 1,893) corresponds to postgraduate degree holders.

The lowest salary (AUD 988) is associated with no formal qualifications.
There’s roughly a 92% difference between the highest and lowest salaries (between no qualifications and Postgraduate degree).

Average salary by occupation

In regards to occupation, the Australian labor market has significant wage disparities across occupational categories.

Managers have the highest weekly earnings at AUD 2,712.40, roughly 82% above the all-occupations average of AUD 1,489.80. At the other end of the spectrum, sales workers (AUD 785.40) and community/personal service workers (AUD 953.10) earn substantially below the national average. There is a clear hierarchical wage structure, with knowledge-intensive and managerial roles having a premium compensation.

An interesting fact is the relatively strong position of machinery operators/drivers (AUD 1,631.00) who earn more than clerical workers (AUD 1,238.90). This indicates the value of skilled technical labor in the Australian economy.

Occupation	Average Weekly Total Cash Earnings (AUD)
Managers	2,712.40
Professionals	1,954.00
Technicians and trades workers	1,614.20
Community and personal service workers	953.10
Clerical and administrative workers	1,238.90
Sales workers	785.40
Machinery operators and drivers	1,631.00
Labourers	1,022.00
All occupations	1,489.80

Salary growth trends

Australian average salaries have consistently increased at a faster rate than inflation. According to the Wage Price Index data from June 2024, the Australian wage growth was 4.1% in the year to the June quarter of 2024, the same rate of growth from the March quarter of 2024.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Gender wage gap

In 2012, the Australian Government designated a statutory agency to promote and improve gender equality in Australia: The Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

The latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the national gender wage gap has reached its lowest level on record, falling to 11.5 % in 2024.

The gender pay gap in Australia was 14.1% in May 2022 and then 12% in November 2023.

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

“That’s not a coincidence, it’s because the Government has taken action like banning pay secrecy clauses, modernising the bargaining system, enforcing transparent gender pay gap reporting and delivering pay rises for aged care and child care workers.” Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese

Interesting labor market facts about Australia

The “fly-in, fly-out” (FIFO): This work arrangement is common in the mining industry, where workers are flown to remote mine sites for extended shifts followed by longer periods off work. It is frequently met in Western Australia and Queensland mining regions.
One of the world’s highest minimum wages: Australia’s minimum wage makes it a leader in wage protection among developed nations. This has contributed to relatively low-income inequality compared to other OECD countries.
Casual employment: 25% of the Australian workforce works with flexibility, while they receive 25% higher hourly pay (casual loading). Casual employment is popular in the hospitality, retail, and education sectors.
Unique “Modern Awards” system: This system provides industry-specific minimum pay rates and conditions that typically exceed the national minimum wage. This creates a complex but comprehensive worker protection framework across the 122 different industries in the Australian economy.
One of the longest periods of uninterrupted economic growth: Australia experienced over 28 years of economic growth before the COVID-19 Pandemic among developed nations.
30% of the workforce works part-time: Australia has one of the highest rates of part-time employment among OECD countries.
“Two-Speed Economy” phenomenon: In Australia, mining states (WA, QLD) often grow at different rates than service-oriented states (NSW, VIC), a fact which influences regional development patterns.

FAQ

What is considered a good salary in Australia?

Based on the fact that the average weekly earnings for Australians are AUD 1,996.40 (USD 1,315), a salary around this figure would be a good salary. The monthly equivalent is AUD 7,977 (USD 5,254.45).

Is $100,000 salary good in Australia?

Yes, $100,000 allows you to live comfortably in Australia. The average salary in Australia is AUD 95,726 (USD 63,054), meaning that you’ll have an above-average salary. However, keep in mind that it depends on your lifestyle costs and the location you’re based in.

Read more:

Sources:

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings-and-hours-australia/may-2023

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/may-2024

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/wage-price-index-australia/latest-release#:~:text=the%20Methodology%20page.-,Overview,the%20same%20period%20last%20year.

https://www.wgea.gov.au/pay-and-gender/gender-pay-gap-data

https://www.wgea.gov.au/the-gender-pay-gap