Average and median salary in Australia (2026)
- The average Australian salary is $2,051.10 per week or $106,657.20 annually, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
- The median employee earnings in main job were AUD $1,425 per week as of August 2025, approximately AUD $74,100 ($48,165) per year.
The median is the more useful benchmark for most hiring decisions. The average is pulled upward by very high earners in mining, financial services, and technology.
Why the gap matters
The gap between the average and median salary is approximately AUD $32,500 ($21,100). If you benchmark a mid-level professional hire against the average salary, you will likely overpay for most roles.
Use the median as your reference point for individual contributor and mid-level roles. Use the average for senior specialist positions where top-end earnings are more relevant.
Average salary by seniority
The gap between the average and median salary is approximately AUD $32,500 ($21,100). If you benchmark a mid-level professional hire against the average salary, you will likely overpay for most roles. Use the median as your reference point for individual contributor and mid-level roles. Use the average for senior specialist positions where top-end earnings are more relevant.
| Seniority level | Estimated annual salary (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (0 to 2 years) | $32,500 to $42,000 | $50,000 to $65,000 |
| Mid-level (3 to 7 years) | $45,500 to $65,000 | $70,000 to $100,000 |
| Senior (8 to 15 years) | $65,000 to $97,500 | $100,000 to $150,000 |
| Executive / Leadership | $97,500 to $162,500+ | $150,000 to $250,000+ |
Year-over-year salary growth in Australia
The Fair Work Commission’s 2026 Annual Wage Review awarded a 4.75% increase to minimum wages and Modern Award rates from 1 July 2026. That is higher than the 3.50% increase in 2025. Broader market wage growth for professional roles is running at 3% to 4% annually. Technology, healthcare, and construction are outperforming at 6% to 10% for specialist roles.
Those benchmarks set the competitive context. The minimum wage sets the legal floor every employer must meet.
Minimum wage in Australia: What employers need to know
The Fair Work Commission confirmed a 4.75% increase to Australia’s National Minimum Wage, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The new rate is AUD $26.44 ($17.19) per hour, or AUD $1,004.90 ($653) per week based on a 38-hour week. This is the first time the minimum wage has exceeded AUD $1,000 per week. In absolute terms, it sits above the UK, Canada, and well above the US federal minimum.
Key points for employers:
- Effective date: First full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
- Previous rate: AUD $24.95 ($16.22) per hour from 1 July 2025, a 3.5% increase.
- Annual review: The Fair Work Commission reviews the minimum wage every year. Employers must implement changes from the start of the relevant pay period.
- Casual loading: Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate. The casual minimum is AUD $33.05 ($21.48) per hour from 1 July 2026.
- Modern Awards: Most Australian workers are covered by a Modern Award specific to their industry, which sets minimum rates above the national minimum. Always check the relevant award via the Fair Work Ombudsman before setting pay. Getting the wrong award wrong can result in underpayment claims and significant penalties.
While minimum wage gives you baseline figures. Here is how actual market salaries break out across Australia’s major sectors.
Average salary in Australia by industry
In Australia, mining dominates at the top end. Technology and financial services follow. Accommodation, food services, and retail sit significantly below the national mean.
Average annual salary by industry (USD, based on ABS and FairWork data 2025-2026)
| Industry | Avg annual salary (USD) | vs national average |
|---|---|---|
| Mining | $97,000 | +40% |
| Financial and insurance services | $76,700 | +11% |
| Information technology and telecommunications | $70,200 | +1% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | $72,800 | +5% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | $55,250 | -20% |
| Construction and engineering | $65,000 | -6% |
| Education and training | $52,000 | -25% |
| Manufacturing | $49,400 | -29% |
| Retail trade | $39,000 | -44% |
| Accommodation and food services | $39,000 | -44% |
Industries with highest international demand
Technology, healthcare, engineering and construction, and financial services are the sectors where international employers most commonly hire Australian talent or build remote teams. Healthcare in particular is experiencing significant demand, with nursing and allied health roles consistently hard to fill across all major cities.
Beyond seniority and sector wise variations, which city a role is based in shapes salary expectations for most people in Australia.
Average salary in Australia by city and region
Sydney is the highest-paying major city in Australia for professional jobs, with salaries approximately 9% higher than the national average, approximately AUD $117,000 per year in USD terms around $76,000. Canberra, which has a disproportionately large public service sector, competes closely with Sydney at the top.
Average annual salary by city
| City / region | Avg annual salary (USD) | vs national average |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney (NSW) | $75,700 | +9% |
| Canberra (ACT) | $74,100 | +7% |
| Perth (WA) | $71,500 | +3% |
| Melbourne (VIC) | $68,900 | -1% |
| Brisbane (QLD) | $65,000 | -6% |
| Adelaide (SA) | $60,450 | -13% |
Western Australia leads the country in average weekly earnings, driven by mining and resources. Tasmania continues to lag. Melbourne, despite being Australia’s second-largest city, sits just below the national average, reflecting a broader industry mix with a larger share of education, retail, and hospitality employment.
Regional salary variance directly affects your total payroll outlay. The next step is understanding all the statutory costs that sit on top of gross salary in Australia.
What does it actually cost to employ someone in Australia?
Gross salary is only part of what you pay. Australia’s mandatory Superannuation Guarantee requires employers to contribute 12% of an employee’s ordinary time earnings directly to a superannuation fund, on top of gross salary. This is the single largest mandatory employer on-cost. It does not appear in any salary figure a candidate quotes you.
Superannuation explained: Australian superannuation is paid directly into the employee’s personal retirement account. It is fully portable and belongs to the employee. The 12% rate has been the permanent rate since 1 July 2025, following a phased increase from 9% starting in 2013.
Payroll tax: This is a state-based obligation that applies once a payroll threshold is exceeded. Thresholds vary by state. New South Wales applies 5.45% above AUD $1.2 million in annual payroll. Victoria applies 4.85% above AUD $700,000. Smaller businesses below the relevant threshold pay no payroll tax at all.
Mandatory employer cost components
| Cost component | Rate | Example: $65,000 gross salary |
|---|---|---|
| Superannuation Guarantee | 12% of ordinary time earnings | $7,800/year |
| Payroll tax (state-based, threshold applies) | 4.75% to 6.85% depending on state | Varies, threshold exemptions apply to smaller payrolls |
| Workers’ compensation insurance | Risk-rated, approximately 1% to 3% | ~$650 to $1,950/year |
| Total estimated on-cost | 13% to 17%+ above gross | ~$8,450 to $11,050 above gross |
Worked example: An employee in Sydney earning AUD $100,000 ($65,000) gross per year costs the employer approximately AUD $113,000 to $117,000 ($73,450 to $76,050) total. That is before any voluntary benefits such as private health insurance or additional leave.
Accurate payroll in Australia requires tracking obligations across federal and state levels. Superannuation, PAYG withholding, and workers’ compensation all remit on different schedules.
| Calculate the true cost of hiring in Australia Superannuation contributions, state payroll tax, and workers’ compensation obligations all affect your total employment outlay. Use Multiplier’s employee cost calculator to get an exact total employment cost for your specific hire before making an offer. |
How to hire in Australia without setting up a local entity
To employ someone in Australia, you need an Australian Business Number (ABN) and a registered legal entity. The standard route is a proprietary limited company (Pty Ltd) registered with ASIC. Setup typically takes four to six weeks. After that, you still need to manage ongoing compliance with ASIC, the ATO, and state payroll tax authorities.
If you want to hire without that setup, an Employer of Record in Australia is the faster route. The EOR is the legal employer. It handles contracts compliant with the Fair Work Act and the applicable Modern Award, superannuation remittances, PAYG withholding, workers’ compensation registration, and all statutory leave entitlements. You manage the work.
Many companies we work with find that using an EOR rather than setting up a local entity saves months of setup time and removes the ongoing compliance burden of managing state-by-state obligations, particularly when hiring across multiple Australian states.
Manage salaries and total employer costs compliantly with Multiplier
Multiplier is a global employment infrastructure combining EOR services, COR, and global payroll.
Designed for global teams, Multiplier is built on owned entities, native payroll engines, in-house compliance expertise, and integrated payments operating as one system across 160+ countries.
Because Multiplier owns the full infrastructure stack, including a direct entity in Australia, every hire is backed by infrastructure Multiplier controls, not a third-party partner you’ve never spoken to.
For companies expanding into Australia, that means:
- Entity-free hiring: Employ Australian talent through Multiplier’s owned local entity, with no subsidiary setup, no ASIC registration, and no entity maintenance overhead.
- Superannuation and payroll handled end-to-end: Superannuation Guarantee contributions, PAYG withholding, and state payroll tax obligations are managed through Multiplier’s native payroll engine, with 99.95% accuracy across every pay cycle.
- In-house compliance, not a partner relay: Multiplier’s 160+ in-house legal and compliance experts own Fair Work Act obligations directly. There is no third-party handoff between your question and the answer.
- Full cost visibility before you hire: Model total Australian employment cost, including superannuation, levies, and statutory entitlements, before making an offer, so compensation decisions are grounded in what you actually pay, not just gross salary.
- One accountable system across every market: Whether you are hiring in Australia, Germany, Brazil, or the UK, Multiplier provides a single chain of accountability across payroll, compliance, and employment, with no split responsibility across vendors.
Trusted by 2,700+ companies with $2B+ in wages processed and 99.95% payroll accuracy, Multiplier gives you the visibility, control, and peace of mind to build Australian teams compliantly from day one. Talk to our team to get started
FAQs
What is the average salary in Australia in 2026?
The average is AUD $106,657 ($69,300) annually per ABS November 2025 data. The median is AUD $74,100 ($48,165), a better benchmark for most hiring decisions. High earners in mining and financial services pull the mean upward. Use the median for individual contributor and mid-level roles.
How much does it cost to employ someone in Australia?
Approximately 13% to 17% above gross salary. The main driver is the 12% Superannuation Guarantee. For an employee earning AUD $100,000 ($65,000) gross, total annual employer cost is approximately AUD $113,000 to $117,000 ($73,450 to $76,050). Use Multiplier's employee cost calculator for an exact figure.
What is a good salary in Australia?
Above AUD $100,000 ($65,000) places an employee in roughly the top 30% of earners nationally. In Sydney and Canberra, AUD $120,000 ($78,000) is the benchmark for experienced professional roles in technology, financial services, and engineering.
Can I hire employees in Australia without setting up a company there?
Yes, via an Employer of Record in Australia. Multiplier employs workers in Australia through its owned local entity. It handles contracts, superannuation, PAYG withholding, Modern Award compliance, and Fair Work Act obligations. You direct the work. Multiplier handles the legal obligations. See EOR services for more detail.
How does superannuation work for foreign employers?
Superannuation is a mandatory employer contribution of 12% of an employee's ordinary time earnings, paid directly into the employee's personal retirement account. It is on top of gross salary, not included in it. It applies from the first month of employment. It cannot be used to offset any other employment obligation. For a full breakdown, see the payroll in Australia guide.
What are Modern Awards and why do they matter?
Modern Awards are industry and occupation-specific instruments that set minimum pay rates, allowances, overtime rules, and conditions above the National Minimum Wage. There are 121 of them covering most Australian workers. Applying the wrong award, or failing to apply one at all, is one of the most common compliance errors for international employers in Australia. It can result in underpayment claims, back-pay orders, and Fair Work Ombudsman penalties. Multiplier identifies and applies the correct award for every hire.
What payroll taxes apply in Australia?
Employers pay the 12% Superannuation Guarantee on ordinary time earnings, remitted quarterly. PAYG withholding is deducted from employee pay and remitted to the ATO via Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting each pay run. State payroll tax applies once annual payroll exceeds the relevant state threshold. Workers' compensation insurance is risk-rated and state-administered. For full details, see the payroll in Australia guide.
