What's the Salary? Understanding Pay Across Australian States and Industries

What's the Salary? A Guide to State and Industry Pay Differences

When you ask "what's the salary" for a full-time job in Australia, the answer depends heavily on where you work and what industry you're in. The national benchmark, set by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, is $108,352 per year (index 100). But that's just the middle line. Your actual pay can be much higher or lower depending on your state and industry.

The National Line and How the Index Works

The Salary Index makes it easy to see where a pay figure sits against the national average. An index of 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352. If your salary is $130,000, that's an index of about 120 – 20% above the national line. If it's $50,000, that's an index of about 46 – well below the average.

This index is a benchmark, not a promise. It's based on gross ordinary-time earnings, before tax and super. The Salary Index page shows how different roles compare.

State Differences: From Tasmania to the ACT

State indices vary significantly. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest index at 109.9, reflecting a concentration of public service and professional jobs. Western Australia follows at 106.9, driven by the mining and resources sector. At the other end, Tasmania sits at 88.6, and South Australia at 94.6.

If you're in New South Wales (index 101.2) or Victoria (index 98), you're close to the national average. Queensland (97.9) and the Northern Territory (95.2) are slightly below. These indices are based on average weekly earnings for full-time adults in each state, so they reflect the mix of industries and occupations in that state.

For a detailed breakdown, visit our states page.

Industry Differences: Mining vs Accommodation

Industry is an even bigger factor than state. Mining tops the list with an index of 154.7 – that's 54.7% above the national average. Professional, scientific and technical services (index 114.7) and Education and training (105.5) also pay above average. Health care and social assistance (97.8) is close to the national line.

On the lower end, Retail trade (75.9) and Accommodation and food services (72.5) pay well below average. These industries often rely on award wages and part-time or casual work, which pulls down the average full-time figure.

To see how your industry compares, check our industries page.

Putting It Together: Examples

Let's look at a few concrete examples using the index.

• A retail worker in Tasmania: Retail trade index is 75.9, and Tasmania's state index is 88.6. If we combine them roughly, a typical full-time retail worker in Tasmania might earn around 75.9% of the national average, then adjusted for the state. That could be about $82,000 per year (index 75.7). But remember, awards set minimum rates – the General Retail Industry Award 2020 has different levels.

• A miner in Western Australia: Mining index 154.7, WA state index 106.9. A typical full-time miner in WA might earn well above the national average – perhaps $167,000 per year (index 154). Actual pay depends on the specific role, experience, and enterprise agreements.

• A teacher in Victoria: Education and training index 105.5, Victoria index 98. A full-time teacher might earn around $114,000 per year (index 105), but again, the Victorian government school teachers' agreement sets actual salaries.

These examples show why asking "what's the salary" without context is hard to answer. The pay guides on our site can help you understand award rates and typical pay ranges.

Awards, Super, and Tax

Awards set minimum pay rates for many industries. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week (index 48.2). Award minima rose by 4.75% from that date. Many workers earn above the award, but it's the legal floor.

Superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2026, on earnings up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. That's on top of your salary.

Tax for residents in 2026–27: nil on the first $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. These are estimates and don't include HELP repayments or the Medicare levy surcharge.

Why the Index Matters

The Salary Index gives you a quick way to compare any salary to the national line. Whether you're negotiating a job offer, considering a move to another state, or switching industries, the index helps you see where you stand. For more on how we calculate it, see how the index works.

Remember, the index is a benchmark based on averages. Your individual salary will depend on your role, experience, qualifications, and employer. But knowing the state and industry context is a great start to answering "what's the salary" for your situation.

Final Thoughts

When you ask "what's the salary", the honest answer is: it depends. But with the Salary Index, you can quickly see how a pay figure compares to the national average, and how state and industry differences shift the picture. Use our topics page to explore more specific salary questions.

Understanding the index helps you make informed decisions about your career and pay. It's not about a single number – it's about where that number sits on the map of Australian earnings.