Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Pinterest
Flipboard
Email
Messenger
WhatsApp
What is the average salary in Australia?
By Ben McKimm - Guide Published: , Last Updated:
If you’re looking for the answer to the question, what is the average salary in Australia? Chances are you aren’t the only one. For some of us data is king, and we want to know how we stack up against those around us. Average weekly earnings, averages salaries and our average annual salaries tend to be the first metric we take into consideration.
Thanks to the Australian Bureau of Statistics information about average salaries are readily available. Knowing what makes a strong salary in Australia is pivotal to working out where your annual income stands against yourself and those in your industry. Whether you’re in the private sector, public sector or technical services, statistics are indicating salary trends based on a whole fleet of demographical measurements. For instance, when analysing data to work out the average salary within different industries, the mining industry continues to outperform every other industry in Australia. There’s plenty to digest, and we have the answers to all your income-related questions.
Average Salary in Australia at a Glance
The average salary in Australia is AUD $71,113 a year, according to the November 2022 data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
- Average Australian Weekly Salary: AUD $1,808 per week (an increase of 3.4% on May 2022)
- Average Australian Taxable Annual Income: AUD $94,016
- Average Australian Annual Superannuation: AUD $9,872
- Average Australian Annual Taxation: AUD $22,903
Note: Annual figures have been calculated using the Pay Calculator.
Top Five Weekly Salaries Broken Down By Industry
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics: Mining workers earn the highest salary in Australia.
- Mining: AUD $2,812 per week
- Manufacturing: AUD $1,583 per week
- Electricity, Gas and Water services: AUD $2,098 per week
- Construction: AUD $1,786 per week
- Wholesale Trade: AUD $1,678 per week
View the weekly salary breakdown by industry
Top Five Highest Salaries Broken Down By State
Top Five Highest Salaries Broken Down By StateAccording to the Australian Bureau of Statistics: workers in the ACT earn the highest average salary in Australia.
- ACT: $2,019 per week
- WA: $1,989 per week
- Queensland: $1,761 per week
- South Australia: $1,658 per week
- Western Australia: $1,989 per week
View the salary breakdown by State
“According to the ABS, between 45 and 54 is when you earn the most.” | Image: Unsplash
Average Australian Salary by Age Overview
Age has a significant impact on salaries in Australia. For example, casual employees receive a wage according to their age – the younger they are, the lower the pay. According to the ABS, between 45 and 54 is when you are earning the most. Young individuals evidently suffer when it comes to wages, which can be attributed to job types, as young individuals often rely on occasional work while they study. However, a leading research analyst at the University of Sydney, Damien Oliver, suggests there may also be aspects of discrimination at play. “There is plenty of evidence to show that the labour market is strong and sophisticated enough to promote employment opportunities for young people without resorting to discrimination,” he writes. This information supports the growing theme of an increasingly hostile environment for many young millennials in the Australian workforce. For example, the average salary for persons under 20 is the lowest, which is about 7 per cent of Australia’s labour force. The average wage earned by those aged 21-34 is also relatively low. Wages will increase with age, however, you’ll need to monitor the varied minimum wage expectations set by Fair Work.
View the minimum wage information
Gender Pay Gap Broken Down By Industry
Gender Pay Gap Broken Down By IndustryAccording to the Australian Bureau of Statistics: The gender pay gap in Australia is 10%.
- Women make up the majority of part-time employees 69 per cent.
- Women earn less than men in every industry.
- The average weekly earnings for full-time Males is AUD $2,091
- The average weekly earnings for full-time Females is AUD $1,857
- The average of women earn 10% less than men.
View the gender pay gap breakdown
Median weekly household income in Australia by State
Key Australian Salary Trends
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics:
- The median hours worked in Australia was 38 hours per week.
- There was an annual increase in full-time average earnings of 3.4 per cent.
- The top three reported occupations were Sales Assistants, Registered Nurses and General Clerks.
- The national median personal income has increased to $805 since 2016.
- Employee income was the largest income category at 88% of total personal income
- Total personal income was $983.0 billion
Check out the latest overview Check out the previous report overview.
“The Australian government offers a weekly tax table tool” | Image: Unsplash
6. Calculate Your Weekly Australian Tax
The Australian government offers a weekly tax table tool, which helps work out salaries, taxes, and everything in between. To use this table, you need to work out the withholding amount. Start by calculating your employee’s total weekly earnings and add any allowances and irregular payments to be included in this week’s pay to the normal weekly earnings, ignoring cents. Use the appropriate column to find the correct amount to withhold. If your employee claims the tax-free threshold, use column 2 or column 3 if not.
Taxable Tool
Key Terms Explained
- Total Personal Income: This refers to the sum of all income earned by individuals within a specified period.
- Median Personal Income: The median personal income is the middle point in a distribution of personal incomes, where half of the individuals earn more and half earn less.
- Employee Income: Employee income refers to the earnings received by individuals through employment. It includes wages, salaries, bonuses, tips, and other forms of compensation for work performed.
How The Gender Pay Gap Is Calculated According to ABS
- We start by looking at the earnings of males and females separately.
- Let’s say males earn an average of $1000 per week and females earn an average of $900 per week.
- To calculate the gender pay gap percentage, we subtract the earnings of females from the earnings of males. In this case, it would be $1000 – $900, which equals $100.
- Then, we divide the result from step 2 (which is $100) by the earnings of males ($1000) and multiply it by 100.
Alternatives to average Australian salary breakdown
If you’re looking for other statistics, we’ve got you covered with some options listed below. You can also check out our highest-paid CEO list. If you’re looking for a more specific list, check out our mental health list every Australian needs to read or the Best cool restaurants in Melbourne. If you’ve hit a food coma and want to get active, we can also show you the Best Camping sites in Victoria.
Average Salary FAQs
What is the average income in Australia?
The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults in Australia is $1,769.80 per week
What is the highest earning industry in Australia?
Mining, Resources & Energy is the highest paying industry with the average advertised salary now at $116,000 a year.
What is the average household income in Australia?
The average household earns just over $116,000 per annum.
You’ll also like:
Tesla Loses Almost $700 Billion of Market Value in Just 12-Months
Crypto Billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried Has Nearly Lost His Entire Fortune
Somebody Just Paid $27 Million to Have Lunch with Billionaire Warren Buffett
Related: These are the highest-paying jobs in Australia.
