How to Use the Seek Salary Calculator to Compare Job Offers

What is the Seek Salary Calculator?

The Seek salary calculator is a tool on the Seek website that lets you compare a job advertisement's salary against other roles in the same field or location. It gives you a quick visual of whether the pay is below average, average, or above average based on advertised salaries on Seek. But to really understand where a pay figure sits, you need to compare it to the national line.

At Salary Index, we use the national line of $108,352 per year (index 100), which is the full-time adult ordinary-time earnings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This is the benchmark. The Seek salary calculator doesn't use this exact figure, but you can use it alongside our index to get a clearer picture.

How to Compare a Job Ad Using the Seek Salary Calculator

When you see a job ad with a salary range, plug the figure into the Seek salary calculator. It will show you a percentile rank. But that rank is only among other Seek ads, not the whole workforce. To make it meaningful, compare that figure to the national line.

For example, if the ad says $80,000, that is about 74% of the national line (index 74). That is below the national average. But if the job is in retail trade (industry index 75.9), $80,000 is actually close to the industry average. If the job is in mining (index 154.7), $80,000 is well below the typical pay.

You can also adjust for your state. Use the states page to see the index for your location. For instance, an offer of $100,000 in South Australia (index 94.6) is slightly above the state average, while the same offer in the ACT (index 109.9) is below.

What Affects the Salary in a Job Ad?

Awards and Minimum Rates

Many jobs are covered by modern awards, which set minimum pay rates. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year (index 48.2). But award rates can be higher. For example, an entry-level award floor is $25.74 per hour. Always check the relevant award via pay guides to see the minimum you should be paid.

Superannuation

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%. This is on top of your salary. So if a job ad says $80,000, your total remuneration is $89,600 including super. The Seek salary calculator usually shows the base salary, not including super. Keep that in mind when comparing offers.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Your take-home pay depends on tax rates. For 2026–27, resident tax rates 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, and 45% above $190,000. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. So a $100,000 salary would have about $24,667 in tax and Medicare, leaving around $75,333 take-home. The Seek salary calculator doesn't show this, so you need to estimate yourself.

Using the Salary Index to Compare Offers

The Salary Index is a simple way to compare any pay figure to the national line. Just divide the yearly gross salary by $108,352 and multiply by 100. For example, a $120,000 salary gives an index of 110.8, meaning it's 10.8% above the national average.

You can also compare offers across industries. Use the industries page to see typical indices. For example, professional, scientific and technical services have an index of 114.7, while accommodation and food services have 72.5. If you have two offers, one in each industry, the index helps you see which is more competitive relative to its field.

Practical Example: Comparing Two Job Ads

Let's say you have two offers:

• Offer A: $90,000 in retail trade in Queensland
• Offer B: $95,000 in education and training in Victoria

First, use the Seek salary calculator on each ad to see their percentile. Then compare to the national line: Offer A is index 83.1, Offer B is index 87.7. Both are below the national average. But look at industry: retail trade index is 75.9, so Offer A is above the industry average. Education and training index is 105.5, so Offer B is below the industry average. Also check states: Queensland index is 97.9, Victoria is 98. So Offer A is below the state average, Offer B is also below. Overall, Offer A looks better relative to its industry, but Offer B pays more in absolute terms.

Limitations of the Seek Salary Calculator

The Seek salary calculator only uses advertised salaries on Seek. Not all jobs are advertised there, and some ads don't list a salary. Also, advertised salaries may be base rates without penalties, allowances, or overtime. For award-covered jobs, the actual pay could be higher. The calculator also doesn't account for super, so your total package is higher.

For a more complete picture, use our how the index works page to understand the benchmarks. And check topics for guides on specific industries or roles.

Final Tips for Comparing Offers

• Always check the award or enterprise agreement for minimum rates.
• Add 12% super to compare total remuneration.
• Use the salary index to see how an offer compares to the national, state, and industry averages.
• Don't rely solely on the Seek salary calculator; combine it with other data.
• Consider non-salary benefits like flexible work, leave, and career progression.

By using the Seek salary calculator alongside the Salary Index, you can make a more informed decision about which job offer truly pays well.