Prime Minister of Australia salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

What is the Prime Minister of Australia salary?

The Prime Minister of Australia salary is not a single fixed number you can look up in one place. It is made up of two parts: a base salary that every member of parliament receives, and a Ministerial salary that is paid under section 66 of the Constitution. The Remuneration Tribunal sets the base salary, but the Ministerial component is determined separately by the government and is not published in the same way.

From the latest Remuneration Tribunal determination (2026), the base salary for all senators and members of the House of Representatives is $239,270 per year. That is the starting point for the Prime Minister’s pay. On top of that, the Prime Minister receives a Ministerial salary – the exact amount is not stated in the public documents we have, but it is known to be substantial.

Where does the Prime Minister of Australia salary sit on the salary index?

The Salary Index compares a yearly gross figure to the national line of 100, which represents full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. Based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, that line is $108,352 per year.

If we take only the base salary of $239,270, the index is:

($239,270 ÷ $108,352) × 100 ≈ 221

That is already more than double the national average. For context, the national minimum wage sits at index 48.2, and the average worker in retail trade is at index 75.9. The Prime Minister’s base salary alone is well above most industries – only mining (index 154.7) and professional services (index 114.7) come close, but still fall short.

Because the Ministerial salary is not disclosed in the search results, we cannot give a precise total index. But it is safe to say the full Prime Minister of Australia salary is significantly higher than 221.

How is the Prime Minister’s salary structured?

The base salary is paid fortnightly in arrears by the parliamentary department. It is subject to PAYG tax withholding and, for members of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme (PCSS), personal superannuation contributions are deducted. The Remuneration Tribunal sets a portion of base salary ($49,970) that is not considered parliamentary allowance for super purposes. For Ministerial salary, 20% of the office holder salary is also excluded from the super calculation.

In addition to salary, the Prime Minister receives:

• Electorate allowance: $39,700 per year (same for all members, with extra for large electorates).
• Private plated vehicle or an allowance in lieu.
• Reimbursement of residential phone and internet costs.
• Travel allowance: $652 per night when staying in commercial accommodation (2026 rate).

These are part of the total remuneration package but are not counted as salary for index purposes.

How does the Prime Minister of Australia salary compare to other roles?

To give you a sense of scale, here are some benchmarks from the pay guides and industries pages:

• National minimum wage (adult): $52,255 per year – index 48.2
• Average in retail trade: index 75.9
• Average in education and training: index 105.5
• Average in mining: index 154.7
• Base salary of a parliamentarian: index 221

The Prime Minister’s total salary is likely in the top fraction of a percent of Australian earners. Even the base salary alone puts the role in a category far above most award-covered jobs.

What about tax and super?

For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates (excluding Medicare) is:

• 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. The Prime Minister’s salary falls into the top bracket. Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, but the maximum contribution base is $270,830, so the full 12% may not apply to the entire salary.

Why is the total figure not publicly confirmed?

The search results from and the Remuneration Tribunal’s 2026 determination clearly state that Ministerial salaries are not determined by the Tribunal. They are paid under the Constitution, and the exact amount is not listed in the documents we accessed. This is a common point of confusion – many people assume the Prime Minister’s salary is a single published number, but it is actually a combination of base and Ministerial pay, with the latter not routinely disclosed in the same way.

If you are researching the Prime Minister of Australia salary for a comparison or a report, the best public figure to use is the base salary of $239,270, with the understanding that the true total is higher. For a more precise number, you would need to consult the Ministerial salary determination, which is not publicly available in the sources we reviewed.

Summary

The Prime Minister of Australia salary is well above the national average. The base component alone gives a salary index of 221, and the full package is even higher. This makes it one of the highest-paid roles in the country, comparable to top executives in mining and professional services. The salary is subject to high marginal tax rates and includes substantial allowances and superannuation benefits.

For more on how other roles compare, see the states page for regional differences or the topics page for other high-income roles.