What salary you need to be rich in Australia: reading job ads and comparing offers
Understand the salary you need to be rich in Australia using the Salary Index. Compare job offers against national benchmarks from ABS and Fair Work data.
There is no official 'rich' threshold, but a salary above the national line (index 100, $108,352) is well above average; top earners often sit above index 150.
What does 'rich' mean in Australia?
When you read a job ad and see a salary figure, you might wonder: is this the salary you need to be rich in Australia? The answer isn't straightforward because 'rich' is personal. For some, it means never worrying about bills; for others, it means a six-figure income or being in the top tax bracket. But we can use official data to put any salary into perspective.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes average weekly earnings. As of May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings are $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 a year. That's our benchmark, index 100 on the Salary Index. Any salary above that is above the national average. A salary of $150,000 gives an index of 138; $200,000 gives 185. These are often considered 'rich' in everyday conversation, especially compared to the national minimum wage of $52,255 (index 48.2) set by the Fair Work Ombudsman from 1 July 2026.
Using the Salary Index to compare job offers
The Salary Index helps you compare offers on a single scale. Take a job ad for a professional role in Sydney offering $130,000. Divide by the national line ($108,352) and multiply by 100: index 120. That's 20% above average. Now compare it to a similar role in Melbourne offering $125,000 (index 115). The Sydney offer is higher in raw dollars, but you also need to consider cost of living. The index doesn't adjust for that, but it gives a quick sense of how each offer stacks up against the national benchmark.
You can also compare across industries. The ABS data shows that mining workers earn an average of $3,224 per week (index 155), while retail trade workers earn $1,582 (index 76). If you see a job ad in retail offering $80,000 (index 74), that's close to the industry average. But if you see a mining job offering $180,000 (index 166), that's well above the industry average and likely considered a high income.
How different salaries stack up
Using the states data, you can see where you need to be to feel 'rich' in your location. In the ACT, the average is $119,090 (index 110). A salary of $150,000 there is index 138, still above average but not as exceptional as in Tasmania, where the average is $96,008 (index 89). The same $150,000 in Tasmania gives index 156, a much bigger gap. So the salary you need to be rich in Australia depends partly on where you live.
Similarly, industries vary widely. Professional, scientific and technical services average $2,390 per week (index 115). Education and training average $2,198 (index 106). Health care and social assistance average $2,037 (index 98). If you're in a lower-paying industry, a salary that seems modest nationally might actually be very competitive within your field.
The role of awards and minimum wages
Most jobs are covered by a modern award, which sets minimum pay rates. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database shows these rates, updated after the 2026 Annual Wage Review (4.75% increase from 1 July). For example, the minimum hourly rate for a retail employee might be around $25–$27, while a hospitality worker might start lower. If a job ad offers only the award minimum, that's far from 'rich'. But many employers pay above award to attract talent.
The national minimum wage itself is a floor: $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. A 'rich' salary is many times that. For instance, $150,000 a year is about $72 per hour (assuming 38 hours), nearly three times the minimum. The pay guides on our site can help you check award rates for your industry.
Tax and super considerations
Gross salary isn't take-home pay. The 2026–27 tax rates (excluding Medicare) are: nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. So a $150,000 salary attracts about $35,000 in tax and Medicare, leaving around $115,000. Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, but that's on top of your salary, not included in the advertised figure. When comparing offers, remember that a higher gross salary doesn't always mean proportionally higher take-home pay due to progressive tax.
Putting it together
There is no official 'rich' number, but using the Salary Index you can see where any salary sits. The salary you need to be rich in Australia is often considered to be above index 150 (around $162,500) or at least above the top tax threshold of $190,000 (index 175). But it's also about context: a salary that feels rich in one industry or state may be merely comfortable in another. When reading a job ad, use the index to compare offers objectively, and check topics for more guides on pay negotiation and benchmarks.
Questions people ask
What is considered a rich salary in Australia?
There is no single figure, but a salary well above the national average (index 100, $108,352) is often seen as high. Many people consider a salary above $150,000 (index 138) or $200,000 (index 185) as 'rich', especially when compared to the national minimum wage of $52,255 (index 48.2). The top 10% of earners typically have incomes above $130,000–$150,000, depending on the source.
How does the Salary Index help compare job offers?
The Salary Index converts any annual gross salary into a number relative to the national line of 100 (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings). For example, a job offering $120,000 has an index of 111, meaning it is 11% above the national average. You can compare offers across states and industries using the same scale. See [how the index works](/method) for the formula.
Does the national minimum wage affect what is considered rich?
Indirectly, yes. The national minimum wage sets a floor; any salary far above it (e.g., more than three times the minimum) is clearly high. The Fair Work Ombudsman sets the current minimum at $26.44 per hour. A 'rich' salary is often many multiples of that, but the index gives a more precise comparison to the average full-time worker.