State and Industry Salary Differences: How to Use the Salary Calculator

Understanding the Salary Index Across States and Industries

The Salary Index is a simple way to see where your pay sits against the national line. That line is set at 100, which equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year (based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Your personal index is your yearly gross salary divided by $108,352, times 100. For instance, if you earn $60,000, your index is about 55.4.

But the national average hides big differences between states and industries. Knowing these can help you use the Salary Index more effectively, whether you are negotiating a raise, considering a move, or just curious about the market. The states page gives a full breakdown, and the industries page shows sector benchmarks.

State Differences: Where You Live Matters

State indices range from 88.6 in Tasmania to 109.9 in the Australian Capital Territory. Here is a quick look at each state:

• ACT (109.9): The highest index, driven by a large public sector and high-skilled professional roles.
• WA (106.9): Mining and construction push average earnings well above the national line.
• NSW (101.2): Slightly above average, with strong finance and professional services sectors.
• VIC (98): Just below the national line, reflecting a diverse economy with a mix of high and low-paying industries.
• QLD (97.9): Similar to Victoria, with tourism and agriculture balancing out mining.
• NT (95.2): Below average despite some high-paying mining jobs, due to a smaller population and lower wages in other sectors.
• SA (94.6): Manufacturing and health care dominate, keeping the index below 100.
• TAS (88.6): The lowest index, with a higher share of hospitality, retail, and public sector roles at lower pay scales.

These indices are benchmarks for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. They do not capture every job or award classification. For example, a senior nurse in Tasmania might earn well above the state index, while a retail assistant in the ACT might earn below. The how the index works page explains the methodology.

Industry Differences: What You Do Matters Even More

Industry indices show even wider gaps. Mining tops the list at 154.7, meaning the average mining employee earns about 55% more than the national line. At the other end, accommodation and food services sits at 72.5, nearly 28% below the line.

• Mining (154.7): High wages for skilled trades, engineers, and fly-in-fly-out workers.
• Professional, scientific and technical (114.7): Lawyers, accountants, IT professionals, and consultants.
• Education and training (105.5): Teachers and trainers, slightly above the national line.
• Health care and social assistance (97.8): Just below average, reflecting a mix of high-paid doctors and lower-paid carers.
• Retail trade (75.9): Many part-time and casual roles at award rates.
• Accommodation and food services (72.5): The lowest, with many entry-level and casual positions.

Remember, these are averages. A head chef in a fine-dining restaurant may earn more than the accommodation index suggests, while a junior retail assistant may earn less. The salary calculator on Salary Index lets you plug in your own gross annual pay to see where you stand relative to the national line.

How to Use the Salary Calculator

The salary calculator is straightforward. Enter your yearly gross salary (before tax and super) and it returns your personal index. For example:

• $50,000 → index 46.1 (below the national minimum wage index of 48.2)
• $80,000 → index 73.8
• $108,352 → index 100 (exactly the national line)
• $150,000 → index 138.4

You can also compare your index to state and industry benchmarks. If you work in mining in WA, your index might be much higher than the national line, but if you are in hospitality in Tasmania, it may be lower. The tool helps you see where you fit.

What About Awards, Super, and Tax?

Awards set minimum pay rates for many industries. From 1 July 2026, award minima rose by 4.75%. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($52,255 per year, index 48.2). Casual workers get a loading of $33.05 per hour. Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830.

Tax for residents in 2026–27 (excluding Medicare) is nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above. Add a 2% Medicare levy. Take-home pay estimates on Salary Index use these rates but ignore HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and the Medicare levy surcharge. Always check your own situation with the ATO or a tax professional.

Putting It All Together

Understanding state and industry differences helps you interpret your salary index. If your index is 90, that is below the national line, but it might be above average for your industry or state. For instance, an index of 90 in Tasmania is above the state average of 88.6, while the same index in the ACT would be below the state average of 109.9.

The topics page has more guides on specific sectors and regions. Use the salary calculator to benchmark your pay, and remember that these indices are broad averages. Your actual pay depends on your role, experience, employer, and negotiations.