Patrick Cripps salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

What is Patrick Cripps' salary?

Patrick Cripps is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Carlton Football Club in the AFL. His exact salary is not published in any official Australian government database. The Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Fair Work Commission, and the Australian Taxation Office do not disclose individual earnings of private employees or athletes. Media reports often quote figures, but those are not verified by government sources and can vary depending on contract clauses, performance bonuses, and third-party agreements.

Because no confirmed figure exists in the public records we searched, this guide explains how the Australian salary index works and what Patrick Cripps' salary would mean if it were known. The index is a simple tool to compare any pay rate against the national benchmark.

How the salary index works

The salary index is built on the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Average Weekly Earnings series. For May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings were $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year. That figure is set as index 100. Every other salary is expressed as a percentage of that benchmark.

For example:

• The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, annualised at $52,255. That gives an index of 48.2.
• The average weekly total cash earnings for all employees (including part-time) is $1,611.10, annualised $83,777, index 77.3.
• Mining industry average weekly earnings are $3,177.70, annualised $165,240, index 152.5.

To calculate an index for any salary: take the annual gross figure, divide by $108,352, and multiply by 100. The result shows how many times the national benchmark that salary represents.

Where Patrick Cripps' salary would sit on the index

If we had a confirmed annual gross figure for Patrick Cripps, we could calculate his index instantly. Based on typical AFL player salaries reported in the media – which are not official – a star player like Cripps might earn between $700,000 and $1,200,000 per year. Using those illustrative numbers:

• $700,000 annual salary → index 646 (6.46 times the national benchmark)
• $900,000 annual salary → index 831
• $1,200,000 annual salary → index 1107

These are purely hypothetical. The actual figure may be different, and it may include components like match payments, marketing allowances, or superannuation that are not part of standard salary definitions. The salary index uses gross ordinary-time earnings before tax and before the 12% super guarantee that applies from 1 July 2026.

How AFL player pay compares to award-covered workers

Most Australian employees have their pay set by a modern award or a registered agreement. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database contains minimum rates for hundreds of classifications. For example, a full-time retail employee under the General Retail Industry Award earns a minimum of about $25.74 per hour (entry-level adult rate), annualised around $50,000, index 46. A professional engineer under the Professional Employees Award might earn $45–$60 per hour, index 90–120.

AFL players are not covered by modern awards. Their employment is governed by the AFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, which sets minimum salaries for listed players (around $100,000 for first-year players in 2025) and a total player payments cap for each club. Star players like Cripps earn well above the cap average, but the exact figures are commercial-in-confidence.

Using the salary index for your own pay

The index is not just for celebrities. You can use it to see where your own salary sits against the national line. If you earn $80,000 per year, your index is 74 (80,000 ÷ 108,352 × 100). If you earn $130,000, your index is 120. The how the index works page explains the calculation in more detail.

You can also compare by state or industry. For instance:

• New South Wales has an index of 101.2 (annualised $109,658)
• Western Australia has an index of 106.9 ($115,825)
• The Australian Capital Territory has the highest at 109.9 ($119,090)
• Tasmania has the lowest at 88.6 ($96,008)

Industry benchmarks are even more varied. Mining leads at 154.7, while accommodation and food services sit at 72.5. The industries page lists all major sectors.

What about tax and super?

When you read a salary figure for an AFL player, it is usually reported as gross pay before tax. For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates (excluding Medicare) are:

• Nil up to $18,200
• 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
• 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
• 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
• 45% above $190,000

Plus a 2% Medicare levy. On a hypothetical $900,000 salary, the tax and Medicare would be roughly $330,000, leaving about $570,000 take-home. But that ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

Superannuation is also relevant. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For high earners, the compulsory super contribution is capped at $32,500 per year. AFL players often have additional super arrangements in their contracts.

Why official sources don't list Patrick Cripps' salary

The Australian Bureau of Statistics collects earnings data through surveys of employers and households, but it does not publish individual names. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database covers minimum rates for award-covered employees, not professional athletes. The Australian Taxation Office receives individual tax returns but does not release them publicly. So while you can find general benchmarks for occupations like Sales Assistants (General) or Registered Nurses, you won't find a line for "AFL player" in any government dataset.

What this means for you

If you are negotiating a salary or just curious about where you stand, the salary index gives you a clear, number-based answer. You can compare your pay to the national average, your state average, or your industry average. For Patrick Cripps, the index would be very high – likely above 700 – but without an official figure, we can only illustrate the method.

For more context on how different pay rates compare, see the pay guides section or explore states to see how your location affects the benchmark. The index is a tool, not a judgment: it simply shows where a salary sits on the line from minimum wage to top earnings.

Summary

Patrick Cripps' salary is not available from official Australian government sources. The salary index, based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings of $108,352 per year (index 100), provides a consistent way to compare any salary. If his annual gross pay were known, it would likely place him many times above the national benchmark. For most workers, the index offers a practical way to understand their own pay in relation to the rest of the country.