Is $100,000 a good salary in Australia? It depends on where you live and what you do

Is $100,000 a good salary in Australia?

Asking whether $100,000 is a good salary in Australia is like asking whether a car is fast – it depends on the road you’re driving on. The national benchmark for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings is $108,352 a year (based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Average Weekly Earnings of $2,083.70 per week in May 2026). That means a $100,000 salary sits at an index of 92.3 – just below the national line of 100. But once you factor in where you live and what industry you work in, the picture changes dramatically.

What the Salary Index tells you

The Salary Index expresses your yearly gross pay as a number relative to the national line. An index of 100 means you earn exactly the national full-time adult ordinary-time average. Below 100 means below average; above 100 means above average. For $100,000, the index is 92.3 – slightly under the national line. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad salary. In some states and industries, $100,000 is well above the local benchmark; in others, it’s below.

State by state: where $100,000 goes further

The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes average weekly ordinary-time earnings for each state and territory. Here’s how they compare (annualised from the May 2026 data):

• Australian Capital Territory: $119,090 (index 109.9) – $100,000 is below the ACT average.
• Western Australia: $115,825 (index 106.9) – again, below the local line.
• New South Wales: $109,658 (index 101.2) – $100,000 is just under the NSW average.
• Victoria: $106,137 (index 98.0) – $100,000 is slightly below the Victorian average.
• Queensland: $106,064 (index 97.9) – similar to Victoria.
• Northern Territory: $103,173 (index 95.2) – $100,000 is a touch below.
• South Australia: $102,450 (index 94.6) – $100,000 is just under the SA average.
• Tasmania: $96,008 (index 88.6) – $100,000 is above the Tasmanian average.

So if you earn $100,000 in Tasmania, you’re earning more than the typical full-time adult in that state. In the ACT or WA, you’re below the local average. The states page on Salary Index breaks this down further.

Industry matters even more

Industry has an even bigger impact on whether $100,000 is a good salary. The ABS data shows huge variation:

• Mining: $167,658 annualised (index 154.7) – $100,000 is well below the mining average.
• Information media & telecommunications: $141,133 (index 130.2) – below average.
• Electricity, gas, water & waste services: $132,392 (index 122.2) – below average.
• Professional, scientific & technical services: $124,259 (index 114.7) – below average.
• Financial & insurance services: $121,748 (index 112.3) – below average.
• Education & training: $114,291 (index 105.5) – $100,000 is slightly below.
• Health care & social assistance: $105,934 (index 97.8) – $100,000 is just under.
• Manufacturing: $95,841 (index 88.4) – $100,000 is above the manufacturing average.
• Retail trade: $82,243 (index 75.9) – $100,000 is well above.
• Accommodation & food services: $78,515 (index 72.5) – $100,000 is significantly above.

If you work in retail or hospitality, $100,000 is a very good salary – far above the industry norm. If you’re in mining or IT, it’s below the typical earnings in those fields. The industries page has more detail.

What about take-home pay and super?

Gross salary is only part of the story. On $100,000, a resident with the tax-free threshold and 2% Medicare levy takes home roughly $74,000. Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, so your employer must contribute an extra $12,000 on top of your $100,000 salary (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830). That $12,000 is not counted in your take-home pay but builds your retirement savings.

Awards and enterprise agreements can set higher minimum rates than the national minimum wage. For example, a casual employee in retail might get a 25% loading, pushing their effective hourly rate above the award minimum. But $100,000 is well above any award floor – the lowest full-time adult award rate is around $25.74 per hour, or about $53,500 a year.

Is $100,000 a good salary? The verdict

In the broadest sense, $100,000 is a solid salary – it’s above the national minimum wage ($52,255) and close to the national average. But its relative strength depends on your location and industry. In Tasmania or retail, it’s a strong income. In the ACT or mining, it’s below par. Use the Salary Index to compare your own pay against these benchmarks, and remember that the index is a gross ordinary-time measure – your actual financial position also depends on tax, super, and cost of living.

Frequently asked questions about $100,000 in Australia

What does a $100,000 salary mean after tax in Australia?

For a resident with the tax-free threshold and a flat 2% Medicare levy, the estimated take-home pay on $100,000 in 2026–27 is about $74,000. This ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge. The exact figure depends on your circumstances.

Is $100,000 above the national minimum wage?

Yes. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 annualised). A $100,000 salary is nearly double that, placing you well above the minimum floor.

How does $100,000 compare to the high income threshold?

The high income threshold for unfair dismissal protection is $190,100 from 1 July 2026. A $100,000 salary is well below that threshold, meaning you may still be eligible for unfair dismissal protection if you are not covered by an award or enterprise agreement.