What Is the Average Salary in Australia? A Guide for Reading Job Ads and Comparing Offers

What Does "Average Salary in Australia" Really Mean?

When you see a job ad quoting a salary, it helps to know where that figure sits against the national line. The average salary in Australia for a full-time adult worker is $108,352 a year, or $2,083.70 a week, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That figure is the benchmark for the Salary Index, where 100 equals the national average. Any pay above that line scores above 100; anything below scores under 100.

This index is not a promise or a target. It is a reference point. If you are reading a job ad and comparing offers, the index lets you see quickly whether a role pays above or below the typical full-time adult wage. It also helps you compare jobs across states and industries, because the index is calculated the same way everywhere.

How the Salary Index Helps You Read Job Ads

A job ad might say "$80,000 – $95,000 plus super." To see where that sits, divide the annual figure by $108,352 and multiply by 100. An $80,000 salary gives an index of about 74. That is well below the national line. A $95,000 salary gives an index of about 88, still below average. If the ad says $120,000, that index is about 111, above the national line.

But the national line is only one part of the picture. The same $95,000 means different things depending on where the job is and what industry it is in. That is why the how the index works page explains how to adjust for state and industry benchmarks.

Comparing Offers Across States

State averages vary a lot. The index for New South Wales is 101.2 (annualised $109,658), for Victoria it is 98 ($106,137), for Queensland 97.9 ($106,064), for South Australia 94.6 ($102,450), for Western Australia 106.9 ($115,825), for Tasmania 88.6 ($96,008), for the Northern Territory 95.2 ($103,173), and for the ACT 109.9 ($119,090). These are the average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in each state.

If you get an offer for $100,000 in Western Australia, that is an index of 92.3 against the national line, but against the WA average of $115,825 it is only 86.3. In Tasmania, the same $100,000 is an index of 104.2 against the Tasmanian average of $96,008 – meaning it is above the local norm. So when you compare offers, look at the states page to see how your offer stacks up locally.

Industry Benchmarks

Industry matters even more. Mining has an index of 154.7, meaning the average mining salary is about $167,600 a year. Retail trade has an index of 75.9, or about $82,200 a year. Accommodation and food services is 72.5 ($78,600). Professional, scientific and technical services is 114.7 ($124,300). Education and training is 105.5 ($114,300). Health care and social assistance is 97.8 ($106,000).

If you see a retail job offering $85,000, that is above the retail average but still below the national line. A professional services job offering $120,000 is above the national line but slightly below the industry average. The industries page has the full list.

What About Awards and Minimum Wage?

Many jobs are covered by modern awards, which set minimum pay rates higher than the national minimum wage. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, annualised $52,255 – an index of 48.2. But most award rates are higher. For example, the entry-level award floor is $25.74 per hour, and award minima rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026.

If a job ad says "above award," it means the pay is more than the minimum set by the relevant award. You can check the exact rates on the pay guides page from the Fair Work Ombudsman. Always confirm the award classification, because junior rates, casual loadings, and penalty rates can change the take-home amount.

Using the Index to Negotiate

When you have two offers, convert each to an index. Then compare them to the state and industry averages. If one offer is in a high-cost area but pays below the local average, you might negotiate for more. If another offer is in a low-cost area but pays above the local average, it could be a better deal even if the dollar figure is lower.

Remember that the index is based on gross ordinary-time earnings. It does not include super (12% from 1 July 2026), bonuses, or overtime. Tax is also separate. For a resident earning $108,352 in 2026–27, the estimated take-home after tax and the 2% Medicare levy is about $82,000, assuming no HELP debt or Medicare levy surcharge. The tax brackets are: nil up to $18,200, 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that.

Caveats

The Salary Index is a benchmark for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. It does not cover part-time or casual workers, though casual loading is often 25% on top of the base rate. Junior rates are lower: for example, a 16-year-old on the national minimum wage earns $12.51 per hour, and a 20-year-old earns $25.83 per hour. Modern awards may set different junior rates.

Also, the index is an average, not a median. Averages can be pulled up by high earners. Your own experience may differ. But as a tool for reading job ads and comparing offers, the index gives you a clear, consistent reference point.

Final Thoughts

The next time you see a salary in a job ad, run the numbers through the index. It takes two seconds and tells you instantly whether that pay is above or below the national line, and how it compares to your state and industry. That knowledge helps you make a smarter decision about which offer is truly better for you.