The average salary in Australia is A$100,000 per year (USD 64,000), reflecting the country’s strong economy and high standard of living. This figure puts Australia in context as a market that offers attractive employment opportunities to professionals cutting across all fields of endeavour. In this blog post, we will discuss more about salaries in Australia, such as average and median salary, minimum wage, and annual income increments. Additionally, we’ll explore the key factors that influence salaries and highlight some of the top-paying industries in the country.
What is the Average Salary in Australia
Australia ranks highly in the 2024 Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index, with its cities recognized for excellent infrastructure, education, and healthcare. These reasons make it have a strong economy and competitive wages. Below, we explore average, median, and minimum salaries, showing the strength of the nation’s labour market.
Average Salary
In 2024, the gross average salary in Australia is A$100,000 per year. This comes to roughly A$1,923.40 per week or A$7,694 per month. Thus, the average hourly wage was around A$50.6, primarily signifying the high earning capacity within different sectors for employed workers. This aligns with the fact that workers will likely earn attractive earnings in various industries.
Median Salary
The median salary in Australia is about A$65,000 a year, translated to about US$44,000 a year. The median salary shows what most workers typically earn because it reflects the middle point of earnings. It is slightly lower than the average, as the average can be pushed higher by a small number of very high earners.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Australia is A$24.10 per hour and A$915.90 per week, amounting to A$47,626 annually for full-time employees. The Fair Work Commission of Australia sets its minimum wage, which is the second-highest in the world, and its workers benefit from paid leave and holidays.
Average Salary Increment Rate
Salaries in Australia go up according to the overall economy, the industry, and individual performance. Employees can see an average 3-5% rise every year. However, some of the high-growth industries could offer higher percentages, whereas some slow-growth industries would offer lesser percentage increments.
Factors Influencing Salaries in Australia
Salaries in Australia are determined by the numerous factors that involve experience, education, location, as well as industry trends. Those aspects have proven the level of variation in remunerations among employees. The following factors form the essentials involved in salary levels:
By Education
Higher qualifications for higher education have a big influence on salary levels in Australia. Advanced degrees lead often to higher earnings because they deliver specialized skills and minimize the competition for high-level positions. Here is an overview of median weekly earnings by education level:
| Education Level | Median Weekly Earnings ( AUD ) |
|---|---|
|
Postgraduate
qualifications
|
$1,893
|
|
Graduate
diploma/certificate
|
$1,726
|
|
Bachelor’s
degree
|
$1,578
|
|
Certificate
III/IV
|
$1,342
|
|
Advanced
diploma/diploma
|
$1,300
|
|
Certificate
I/II or
other
|
$1,174
|
|
No
post-school
qualifications
|
$998
|
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
By Experience
Experience is a determining factor of salaries in Australia. The more expertise professionals acquire, the higher their potential earnings. Here is a breakdown of salaries based on experience levels:
| Experience Level | Average Salary (AUD) |
|---|---|
|
Entry-level
(0-2
years)
|
$92,608
per year
|
|
Mid-level
(3-5
years)
|
$111,445
per year
|
|
Senior
(6-10
years)
|
$125,000
per year
|
|
Executive
(10+
years)
|
$140,000
per year
|
Source: Talent. com
By State
Salaries vary from country to country in Australia through its states and territories, caused by regional industries and differing economic factors. Below are the average weekly earnings figures for full-time workers according to state and territory, respectively.
| State/Territory | Average Weekly Earnings (AUD) | Male Weekly Earnings (AUD) | Female Weekly Earnings (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
New
South
Wales
|
$1,935.70
|
$2,013.00
|
$1,814.90
|
|
Victoria
|
$1,882.00
|
$1,962.70
|
$1,757.40
|
|
Queensland
|
$1,901.00
|
$2,002.10
|
$1,750.60
|
|
South
Australia
|
$1,776.90
|
$1,843.20
|
$1,662.20
|
|
Western
Australia
|
$2,094.30
|
$2,257.60
|
$1,819.70
|
|
Tasmania
|
$1,710.80
|
$1,741.60
|
$1,654.70
|
|
Northern
Territory
|
$1,845.80
|
$1,976.30
|
$1,712.10
|
|
Australian
Capital
Territory
|
$2,126.50
|
$2,215.30
|
$2,027.30
|
Source: Forbes
By City
Salaries in the cities of Australia vary and are usually determined by local markets, industries, and living costs. Big cities like Sydney and Perth have higher average salaries, because of their economic significance. Smaller cities like Hobart normally have lower averages. The table below gives a general idea of average annual salaries in Australian cities:
| City | Average Annual Salary ( AUD ) |
|---|---|
|
Sydney
|
$82,000
|
|
Melbourne
|
$78,000
|
|
Brisbane
|
$76,000
|
|
Adelaide
|
$72,000
|
|
Perth
|
$80,000
|
|
Hobart
|
$67,000
|
|
Darwin
|
$74,000
|
|
Canberra
|
$80,000
|
Source: Forbes
By Industry
Australian industries vary according to the roles, qualifications, and demand within them. Earnings ranges are different according to these major industry groups. Australian Mining has the highest weekly average earnings, and the accommodation and food services sectors have the lowest. Below is a summary of the average weekly salaries in Australia across key industries:
In Australia salaries also vary based on the sector, public sector employees in Australia earn more than those working in the private sector.
| Industry | Average Weekly Salary ( AUD ) | Male Weekly Salary ( AUD ) | Female Weekly Salary ( AUD ) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mining
|
$3,015.30
|
$3,107.00
|
$2,651.20
|
|
Manufacturing
|
$1,706.70
|
$1,746.30
|
$1,562.00
|
|
Electricity,
Gas,
Water
&
Waste
Services
|
$2,243.80
|
$2,307.10
|
$2,033.30
|
|
Construction
|
$1,821.80
|
$1,840.00
|
$1,701.30
|
|
Wholesale
Trade
|
$1,790.60
|
$1,863.80
|
$1,625.20
|
|
Retail
Trade
|
$1,454.50
|
$1,503.70
|
$1,386.70
|
|
Accommodation
&
Food
Services
|
$1,421.00
|
$1,494.30
|
$1,324.10
|
|
Transport,
Postal
&
Warehousing
|
$1,893.20
|
$1,930.00
|
$1,753.60
|
|
Information
Media
&
Telecommunications
|
$2,437.20
|
$2,582.90
|
$2,144.00
|
|
Financial
&
Insurance
Services
|
$2,283.20
|
$2,497.90
|
$2,048.20
|
|
Rental,
Hiring
&
Real
Estate
Services
|
$1,789.60
|
$1,911.00
|
$1,630.00
|
|
Professional,
Scientific
&
Technical
Services
|
$2,245.40
|
$2,448.60
|
$1,926.90
|
|
Administrative
&
Support
Services
|
$1,723.70
|
$1,857.40
|
$1,513.40
|
|
Public
Administration
&
Safety
|
$2,036.10
|
$2,078.80
|
$1,984.80
|
|
Education
&
Training
|
$2,026.40
|
$2,127.10
|
$1,974.60
|
|
Health
Care
&
Social
Assistance
|
$1,902.40
|
$2,226.80
|
$1,765.10
|
|
Arts
&
Recreation
Services
|
$1,797.30
|
$1,931.20
|
$1,616.90
|
|
Other
Services
|
$1,457.80
|
$1,497.30
|
$1,401.00
|
|
Total
Across
All
Industries
|
$1,923.40
|
$2,014.30
|
$1,782.80
|
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
By Gender
The gender pay gap in Australia remains a significant issue despite progress in recent years. The revealing gender pay gap for the financial year ending 2023-24 is an average total remuneration of 21.8% in which women earn 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. On average, this amounts to women earning $28,425 less annually than men. Even though 56% of employers have made positive changes and have narrowed their GPG, a disparity still exists with stringer differences being evident within the higher-paying roles and especially in the senior management positions.
Encouragingly, several organizations have been working hard to solve problems relating to the gender pay gap. About 68% of employers now monitor pay equity, and initiatives by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) are promoting transparency. Particularly, wage growth in female employment areas and a rise in employer contribution have shown further improvement in gender pay disparity in Australia.
Highest Paying Jobs in Australia
Australia provides diversified lucrative careers in all types of industries, with salary impacts on skills, demand, and type of work. The following is an overview of the top-paying jobs in 2024, highlighting roles in the legal, executive, and technical fields.
| Industry Role | Average Annual Salary ( AUD ) | Key Insights |
|---|---|---|
|
Legal:
Equity
Partner
|
$850,000
|
Top
firms in
Sydney
dominate
with
high
earnings;
salaried
partners
earn
$400,000+.
|
|
Executive:
CEO/Managing
Director
|
$700,000
|
For
organizations
with
turnovers
of
$50M-$500M;
include
COO and
executive
general
managers.
|
|
Finance:
Head of
Treasury
|
$510,000
|
Key
finance
roles
like
head of
tax and
risk
earn
$400,000+,
while
group
controllers
make
$315,000.
|
|
Logistics:
Chief
Procurement
Officer
|
$450,000
|
Supply
chain
directors
also
earn
high
salaries,
up to
$260,000.
|
|
Human
Resources:
Head of
HR
|
$400,000
|
HR roles
in large
organizations,
especially
with
1,000+
employees,
are in
high
demand.
|
|
Property:
Development
Director
|
$388,000
|
High
salaries
were
reported
for
project
directors
and
experienced
acquisition
specialists.
|
|
Sustainability:
Project
Development
Director
|
$357,000
|
Rising
demand
for
sustainability
professionals
in roles
like ESG
heads.
|
|
Mining:
Jumbo
Operator
|
$330,000
|
High-paying
operational
roles
for
skilled
workers
in
excavation
and
heavy
machinery.
|
|
Construction:
Construction
Manager
|
$320,000
|
Top
roles
include
project
managers
($250,000)
and
senior
estimators
($200,000).
|
|
Technology:
Project
Director
|
$280,000
|
Leadership
roles in
data
architecture
and
software
management
command
competitive
salaries.
|
The above-described figures are anchored on the actual offers within the Australian market to show the value of specialized skills, especially in leadership positions within given industries. Promotion to higher positions in these positions entails technical skills, business, and people skills. The shifting trend of Australian job markets is signified by such areas as sustainability and mining, which are currently highly in demand.
Through the right skills, certifications, and experience people can benefit from these opportunities thus making Australia a place for an ambitious career.
Source: Forbes
High-Potential Industries in Australia
Australia’s economy is led by a mix of various industries, and most significantly impacts national revenues. The financing sector comes at the number one spot followed closely with government administration and professional services. Industries like health service, mining, and also consumer goods retailing give significant contributions as well showing the broad nature of growth in this economy and the large array of contributing sectors.
| Industry | Revenue for 2024 ( AUD ) |
|---|---|
|
Finance
|
$422.9B
|
|
State
Government
Administration
|
$365.4B
|
|
Professional
Services
|
$324.5B
|
|
Superannuation
Funds
|
$289.3B
|
|
Consumer
Goods
Retailing
|
$246.9B
|
|
National
and
Regional
Commercial
Banks
|
$231.3B
|
|
Health
Services
|
$218.3B
|
|
Financial
Asset
Investing
|
$153.9B
|
|
Iron Ore
Mining
|
$131.9B
|
|
Supermarkets
and
Grocery
Stores
|
$131.7B
|
Source: IBSWorld.com
Conclusion
The landscape of salary in Australia, shaped by factors such as education, experience, and industry dynamics, is reflective of a strong and dynamic economy in the nation. This kind of information will be helpful to both job seekers and employers, in making informed decisions about jobs in a competitive labour market.
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Signup for FreeBook DemoFrequently Asked Questions
A good salary in Australia depends on location and lifestyle. What was sufficient at A$75,000 previously is now not enough for most people, who feel they need A$100,000 to be stable, especially in expensive cities like Sydney, where rent and living costs are high. Of course, the ideal salary will vary, but A$100,000 is increasingly seen as a reasonable target for financial comfort.
Living in Australia is expensive, one single person would cost AU$ 4,312 monthly, and a family of four, on average, AU$ 7,786. Countries such as Australia rank in the top of more expensive countries, in over 87% of world rankings. The cost of living in different locations in Australia differs, but overall, it’s pretty pricey compared to many nations.
Indians working in Australia earn around $30.5 lakhs per annum in average salary. Salaries mainly range between $21.0 lakhs and $50.0 lakhs, considering specific job roles and cities to work in. Major cities have a higher salary offer while the cost of living has a higher value attached.
A salary of
A$75,000 is close to the
median in Australia.
While it may provide a
comfortable living in
regional areas, it can
be challenging in cities
like Sydney or Melbourne
due to the higher cost
of living. Your quality
of life will depend on
where you live and your
personal expenses.
