Ever wondered how your earnings compare with others across the country? Using data from a number of sources, we've mapped out the landscape of average salaries in different parts of Australia.
Our analysis looks at the average salary by state and territory, as well as the salaries for some of the most popular industries in the nation.
Overall, the average weekly earnings for an Australian working full time is $1,888.80 pre-tax, according to the latest statistics from the ABS released in November 2023.
This is an annual increase of 4.5%, or $81 per week, ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis said in a statement in February 2024.
Such an increase was the strongest since May 2013, other than a brief spike in average earnings early in the Covid-19 pandemic Jarvis stated.
These figures provided by the ABS put the average salary at around $98,000 for full time workers (before tax).
Here is a state-by-state breakdown for full time workers.
Average Salary In Australia By State
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics report for Australian salaries shows the average weekly earnings in each state and territory. These figures represent wages of full-time workers across all industries.
Coming out on top for the highest earning state or territory in the nation was Western Australia, likely bolstered by the large proportion of mining employees who generally attract higher salaries.
The state-by-state breakdown is detailed below, including the difference in wages between men and women, and the average annual salary of the major capital cities.
What Is the Average Salary in Australia?
The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time Australian adults is $1,888.80 before tax.
For men in Australia, this figure increases to $1,982.80–an additional $94 every week.
Meanwhile, women in Australia working full time can expect their average weekly earnings to drop $144 per week below the national average, coming out to $1,744.80.
New South Wales
The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults in NSW is $1,891.40. This is nearly three dollars a week more than the national average.
For males, this average weekly ordinary time earnings increases above the state average to $1,977.50. For females, it decreases to $1,760.20.
Average Salary in Sydney
According to PayScale, the average salary in the city of Sydney is $82,000 a year. This figure has been compiled by reports from more than 49,000.
Victoria
In Victoria, the average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults, regardless of their identifying gender, is $1,858.10. This is $30.7 dollars below the national average per week.
For males employed full-time in Victoria, this average weekly ordinary time increased above both the national average and the state average, being $1,940.90. For women, it decreases to $1,733.30.
Average Salary in Melbourne
According to data from PayScale, the average annual salary in Melbourne is $77,000. This figure comes from more than 48,500 individual reports of salary and compensation.
Queensland
Full time workers in Queensland can expect to earn an average weekly ordinary salary of $1,844.70. This is $44 per week below the national average.
For men, the state-wide weekly ordinary time earnings average is $1,931.50—which is above the state and national average. Women, however, can expect a lower weekly salary of $1,709.80.
Average salary in Brisbane
The average annual salary in Brisbane for full-time workers is $75,000, according to PayScale. This figure was derived from salary reports of more than 26,000 Brisbane workers.
South Australia
The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time workers in South Australia is $1,735.40, which is $153.40 below the national average per week.
This figure increases a few dollars for men in South Australia to $1,793.80, which is still below the national average. Women in South Australia are paid even less, with an average weekly wage of $1,628.80.
Average Salary in Adelaide
PayScale data compiled from nearly 13,000 individual reports on salaries being paid in Adelaide found that the average yearly salary for the capital city is $72,000.
Western Australia
Western Australia has the highest weekly average earnings for full-time workers compared to all other states and territories, coming out at $2,107.70. That's a weekly salary that is $218.90 higher than the national average.
For males in WA, this weekly wage increases even more to $2,301.60. For women working full-time, this figure drops significantly to $1,802.00.
That means women are paid nearly $500 ($499.60, to be exact) a week less than men in Western Australia.
Average Salary in Perth
The average annual salary in Perth is $79,000, according to PayScale data sourced from nearly 20,000 individual reports.
Tasmania
The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time workers in Tasmania is $218 lower than the national average, coming out at $1,670 per week.
For men working full time in Tasmania, this figure increases to $1,704.30. Whereas, for women, the figure drops even to an average of $1,612.20.
Average Salary in Hobart
PayScale data found that the average annual salary for full-time workers in Hobart is $66,000. This figure was determined thanks to the input of 2000 individuals reporting their own salaries in Hobart to the site.
Northern Territory
Full-time workers in the Northern Territory can expect average weekly ordinary time earnings of $1,832.80, which works out to be $56 lower than the national average per week.
For males working in the north, this figure increases above the national average to $1,974.90 per week. Contrarily, female weekly earnings in the NT drop significantly behind the national threshold to $1,671.10.
Average Salary in Darwin
The average annual salary for those working full-time in Darwin is $74,000. This figure is according to recent PayScale data, compiled from more than 1200 individual salary reports.
Australian Capital Territory
Australia's capital has the second-highest average weekly earnings in the country, with the average ordinary time earnings for full-time workers coming in at $2,087.60.
This figure increases even more for men working in the ACT, who will receive an average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,189.90: just over $300 a week more than the national average.
For women, the weekly average in the ACT falls to $1,972.90. While this is still $84 a week higher than the national average, it shows the significant disparity in the wage gap.
Average Salary in Canberra
PayScale data from approximately 3000 individual earning reports showed that the average salary in Canberra for full-time workers is $71,000.
Highest Salary Based On Location and Occupation
While it's helpful to know the average salary in your state or city, it may not offer any insight into the fairness of your pay packet considering there are always going to be large disparities between industries.
For your reference, Forbes Advisor has looked at some of the most popular jobs in Australia, and compared the national average annual salary with the salaries by state. The following data was sourced from SEEK.
SEEK states that its salary insights are based on full-time salary ranges disclosed by hirers on SEEK job ads from the previous three months leading up to its posting, with the latest data refreshed on July 1, 2024.
Average Teacher Salary in Australia
The average salary nation-wide for teachers ranges from $90,000 to $100,000, placing it in the average range for all occupations.
Tasmania is where teachers can find the best salary, with the average range going being $95,000 to $110,000. Meanwhile, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland have an average salary that begins at the national lower baseline of $90,000.
Average Miner Salary in Australia
The average annual salary for Australian miners ranges from $120,000 to $140,000, which is above the national average salary.
According to the SEEK data, this figure is consistent across all states and territories as of July 1, 2024.
Average Lawyer Salary in Australia
The average annual salary for lawyer jobs in Australia ranges from $90,000 to $110,000, according to data from SEEK.
This range is consistent for lawyers in New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and Queensland.
While the ACT and South Australia have slightly lower average ranges than the national average, the most significant change was in Tasmania: with the average range of salary for Tasmanian lawyers being $80,000-$85,000.
Average Nursing Salary in Australia
In Australia, nurses can expect to earn an average annual salary between $90,000-$110,000.
This range remains true for one state and both territories, with South Australia, the ACT, and the Northern Territory reporting the same figures according to SEEK.
The remaining states offer lower-than-expected salaries compared to the national average. Victoria currently has the lowest offering, with an average salary for a nurse in Victoria being $60,000-$80,000.
Average Site Supervisor Salary in Australia
There are many different types of trade jobs in Australia, ranging from carpenters to drilling assistants and electricians. A common trade in the construction sector is a site supervisor, which has an average annual salary between $105,000 to $125,000.
For tradies working in the Northern Territory and Western Australia as site supervisors, that average salary increases exponentially to between $115,000 and $135,000.
Tasmania pays its site supervisors the least, with the average annual salary coming out between $80,000-$100,000.
Average Retail Sales Assistant Salary in Australia
Australian retail sales assistants can expect to earn an average annual salary ranging slightly between $55,000 to $60,000, which is below the national average wage for all industries.
This range does not vary significantly between the states and territories. New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria all record the same range as the national average.
For the remaining, the ranges are $55,000-$65,000 in Western Australia, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. In the Northern Territory, the range is $50,000-$55,000.
Are Salaries Increasing in Australia in 2024?
Our data is largely pulled from the latest ABS salary insights, which were published in November 2023—more than six months ago.
While this data shows that salaries had been increasing since the Covid-19 pandemic and amid rising inflation, it doesn't paint the full picture in 2024.
The average Australian weekly salary, for example, increased annually by 4.5% to reach $1,888.80 in November 2023, however the next release from the ABS scheduled for August will show how wages have grown over the past 11 months.
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/au/personal-finance/average-salary-by-state-australia/
