Production Manager Salary: How to Read a Job Ad and Compare Offers
Learn how to interpret a production manager salary from a job ad using the Salary Index. Median weekly earnings $2,298, index 110. Compare offers across industries and states.
The median production manager salary sits at an index of about 110, above the national line of 100, but actual offers vary by industry and location.
What a production manager salary really means
When you see a salary figure in a job ad for a production manager, it helps to know where that number sits against the national benchmark. The Salary Index measures gross annual earnings relative to the national line of 100, which is set at $108,352 per year (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, May 2026). A production manager salary of, say, $120,000 would give an index of about 111 – above average. But what does the data say?
According to the Jobs and Skills Australia profile for Production Managers (ANZSCO 1335), the median full-time weekly earnings are $2,298 per week. That's based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. Annualised, that's about $119,500 – an index of roughly 110. That makes production managers one of the better-paid managerial roles, though not at the top of the tree.
How to read a job ad using the index
Imagine you're looking at two production manager roles: one in manufacturing in Victoria, another in mining in Western Australia. The ad might say "$115,000 plus super" or "$130,000 including super". To compare, convert to gross annual salary (excluding super) and divide by the national line ($108,352), then multiply by 100. The $115,000 role gives an index of 106; the $130,000 role gives 120. But you also need to consider industry and location.
The states page shows that Western Australia has a state index of 106.9, meaning ordinary-time earnings in WA are about 6.9% above the national line. A production manager in WA might expect higher pay. Mining has an industry index of 154.7 – so a mining production manager could be well above 154.7. So the $130,000 in WA mining might actually be on the low side for that industry.
Where the data comes from
The main source for production manager salary data is the Jobs and Skills Australia profile from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The ABS also provides the national line. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database sets minimum rates for some classifications, but production managers are typically not covered by awards – they're usually on individual contracts or enterprise agreements. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but a production manager would earn well above that.
Caveats when comparing
The median figure of $2,298 per week is for full-time production managers, but note that 96% work full-time and average hours are 47 per week. That's three hours more than the all-occupations average of 44. So the hourly median is $54, which is above the national median hourly earnings of $42.90 (from ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2024). But the index uses ordinary-time earnings, not including overtime. If your job ad includes overtime or allowances, the effective hourly rate may differ.
Also, the median is a midpoint – half earn less, half earn more. Entry-level production managers just starting out may earn less, while senior ones in mining may earn more. The median age is 47 years, so experience matters.
Using the index for your offer
When you get a job offer, you can use the how the index works to see where your offer sits. For example, a production manager salary of $125,000 gives index 115.3. If you're in Tasmania (index 88.6), that same salary would be well above the state benchmark. Use the industries page to see typical industry indices.
Super and tax
Super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026. If your job ad says "salary plus super", the super is on top. Take-home pay after tax for $119,500: using 2026-27 rates and 2% Medicare levy, a resident would take home roughly $86,000 (estimate, ignoring HELP or salary sacrifice). But that's not in the ad.
The Fair Work Commission's pay guides can help if you're on an award, but production managers are usually not.
Conclusion
The production manager salary is above the national line. Use the index to compare any advertised figure. Salary Index helps you see where you stand.
Questions people ask
What is the typical salary for a production manager in Australia?
Based on ABS data, the median full-time weekly earnings for production managers is $2,298 per week, which annualises to about $119,500. That gives a Salary Index of 110, meaning it's 10% above the national full-time adult ordinary-time benchmark. However, actual salaries vary by industry (e.g., mining tends to pay more) and experience.
How does the production manager salary compare to the national average?
The national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark is $2,083.70 per week (index 100). Production managers earn a median of $2,298 per week, so they sit at index 110 – about 10% above the national line. Keep in mind that many production managers work 47 hours a week on average, so the hourly rate may be closer to the national median hourly earnings of $54.
What factors affect a production manager salary in a job ad?
Industry is a major factor – production managers in mining often earn more than those in manufacturing or construction. Location also matters: states like Western Australia (index 106.9) and the ACT (109.9) have higher benchmarks, while Tasmania (88.6) is lower. Experience, company size, and whether the role includes overtime or allowances also affect the offer. Use the Salary Index to compare any advertised salary against the national line.