Hays Salary Guide 2026 PDF: Where Your Pay Sits on the Australian Salary Index

What is the Hays Salary Guide 2026 PDF?

The Hays Salary Guide FY25/26 is one of the most widely used salary benchmarks in Australia. Published as a PDF, it draws on a survey of over 12,000 respondents across Australia and New Zealand, with a balanced mix of age, gender, and location. The guide covers 25 industries—from construction and engineering to health care and financial services—and provides typical, low, and high salary ranges for more than 1,000 specific roles. All figures are exclusive of superannuation and based on a 38-hour working week for Australian roles.

If you are looking for a quick way to see how your pay compares, the Hays Salary Checker tool (available on their website) lets you enter your job title and location to see where you sit against the guide’s data. But to understand where that figure lands on the national pay landscape, you need the Australian salary index.

How the Salary Index Works

The salary index at Salary Index uses a simple idea: the national line is 100, which equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. As of May 2026, that line is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 annualised (from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Average Weekly Earnings). Any pay figure can be expressed as an index number by dividing the annual gross salary by $108,352 and multiplying by 100.

For example, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 annualised. That gives an index of 48.2—meaning it is just under half the national line. A typical professional salary of $130,000 would have an index of about 120, or 20% above the line.

The index also varies by state and industry. For instance, the ACT has an index of 109.9 ($119,090 annualised), while Tasmania sits at 88.6 ($96,008). Mining is the highest industry index at 154.7, while accommodation and food services is 72.5. You can explore these in detail on our states and industries pages.

Where Hays Salaries Sit on the Index

The Hays guide does not directly calculate index numbers, but you can easily map its typical salaries to the index. The guide’s own survey shows that 58% of respondents earn between $100,000 and $150,000—that range spans an index of roughly 92 to 138. Nineteen percent earn $150,000 to $200,000 (index 138 to 185), and 5% earn over $250,000 (index above 231).

For specific roles, the Hays PDF lists typical salaries. A mid-level accountant in Sydney might have a typical salary of $110,000, giving an index of 101.5—just above the national line. A senior engineer in Perth might be listed at $160,000, index 148. A retail store manager at $85,000 would be index 78.5, below the line but above the national minimum wage.

Remember that these are market rates, not award minima. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides official pay guides for each modern award, which set the legal minimum. For example, the Health Professionals and Support Services Award has minimum rates that are lower than typical Hays figures for experienced professionals. The index helps you see the gap between the legal floor and the market rate.

Using the Guide with Awards and Super

When you look at a Hays salary, keep in mind that it does not include superannuation. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So a Hays typical salary of $120,000 would mean an employer must also contribute $14,400 in super, making total remuneration $134,400. The index is based on gross salary before super, so the index number stays the same.

Award rates from Fair Work Ombudsman are lower than most Hays figures for professional roles, but they are the legal minimum. For example, the national minimum wage index is 48.2, while the entry-level award floor (for a 21+ year old) is about $25.74 per hour, which annualises to roughly $50,800 (index 46.9). Junior rates are even lower, as shown in the on-site reference: under 16 years $9.73/hr, 16 years $12.51/hr, etc. Modern awards can set different junior rates.

If you are negotiating a pay rise or considering a job offer, the Hays guide gives you a market benchmark, but the index tells you where that benchmark sits against the average Australian worker. For a complete picture, also check the relevant award and any enterprise agreement that might apply.

Limitations and Caveats

The Hays guide is a useful tool, but it has limitations. It is based on self-reported data, so it may not capture every role or region accurately. The survey weights responses to balance demographics, but it is not a random sample. Also, the guide excludes benefits like bonuses, vehicle allowances, or flexible packaging, which can add significant value.

The salary index itself is a benchmark for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. Part-time or casual workers will have different comparisons. Casual employees typically receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate, so a casual award rate of $33.05 per hour (as per the national minimum wage casual loading) annualises to about $65,300 (index 60.3).

For a deeper dive into how the index is calculated, see how the index works. And if you want to see how your state or industry compares, check our topics page for more analysis.

In short, the Hays Salary Guide 2026 PDF is a practical starting point for understanding market salaries. By mapping those figures to the Australian salary index, you can see exactly where your pay sits on the national line—and whether you are above, below, or right at the average.