Barnaby Joyce salary: gross pay, super, and tax explained
How Barnaby Joyce's salary of $239,270 compares to the national line, with super and tax breakdown. See his salary index and what it means.
Barnaby Joyce's base salary of $239,270 gives a salary index of about 221, more than double the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings line.
What is the Barnaby Joyce salary?
The barnaby joyce salary is the base pay for the federal member for New England. According to public records from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) and reported by.au, his base salary is $239,270 per year. That figure is set by the Remuneration Tribunal and applies to all members of the House of Representatives, with additional allowances for electorate size and travel.
To understand where that sits against the national line, we use the Salary Index. The index takes a yearly gross figure and divides it by the national benchmark: full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. As of May 2026, that benchmark is $108,352 (index 100). Barnaby Joyce's salary gives an index of about 221 – more than double the national line.
Gross pay breakdown
The $239,270 is gross ordinary-time earnings. It does not include:
- Electorate allowance (varies by division; for New England it is not publicly reported)
- Travel allowance or other expense reimbursements
- Superannuation
If we add the super guarantee (12% from 1 July 2026), the total employer cost is roughly $267,982 before any salary sacrifice. The super guarantee is capped by the maximum contribution base of $270,830, so the full 12% applies.
Tax on the Barnaby Joyce salary
Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (excluding Medicare):
- $0 – $18,200: nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15% = $4,020
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30% = $27,000
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37% = $20,350
- $190,001 – $239,270: 45% = $22,171.50
Total tax (before offsets) = $73,541.50. Add the 2% Medicare levy ($4,785.40) gives an estimated tax bill of $78,326.90. That leaves an after-tax income of about $160,943 from the base salary. This ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.
How it compares to other benchmarks
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 annualised (index 48.2). A full-time worker on award minimums might earn around $53,500 (index 49.4). Even the highest-paying industry – mining at index 154.7 – is well below Joyce's index of 221.
State comparisons: the highest state index is the ACT at 109.9 ($119,090). Joyce's salary is more than double that. The lowest state is Tasmania at 88.6 ($96,008).
Where the figure comes from
The base salary for federal politicians is public information. IPEA publishes quarterly reports, and sites like Plain Politics aggregate the data. The Remuneration Tribunal reviews the rate periodically. The current $239,270 has been in place since the last determination.
Super and total remuneration
Super is separate. At 12%, the employer contribution is $28,712.40. That goes into a super fund, not the member's pocket. The total remuneration package (salary plus super) is about $267,982. If you include the electorate allowance (which is not reported for Joyce), the total could be higher.
What this means for the salary index
The how the index works page explains that the index is a tool for comparing any gross pay figure to the national line. For a politician, the index shows how far above the average worker they sit. Joyce's index of 221 means his base salary is 121% above the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings.
Other considerations
- Awards: Parliamentarians are not covered by modern awards. Their pay is set by legislation and tribunal determination.
- Casual loading: Not applicable; politicians are permanent employees.
- Junior rates: Not applicable.
If you want to see how your own pay compares, use the Salary Index. You can also explore pay guides for award-covered roles, or check industries and states for regional benchmarks.
Questions people ask
How is Barnaby Joyce's salary determined?
Parliamentarian salaries are set by the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent body that reviews and determines pay for federal politicians, judges, and other office holders. The base salary for a member of the House of Representatives is currently $239,270 per year. Additional allowances, such as an electorate allowance, may be paid depending on the size and location of the electorate.
Does Barnaby Joyce receive superannuation on his salary?
Yes, like all employees, parliamentarians are entitled to the superannuation guarantee. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For Barnaby Joyce, that would be an additional $28,712.40 per year contributed to his super fund, subject to the maximum contribution base ($270,830 in 2026–27).
What is Barnaby Joyce's salary index and how does it compare?
The salary index compares gross annual earnings to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings line (index 100 = $108,352). Barnaby Joyce's base salary of $239,270 gives an index of about 221. That is more than double the national line and well above the average for most industries. For context, the mining industry index is 154.7 and the professional, scientific and technical services index is 114.7.