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Salary Benchmarks by Industry — Australia 2026

Median and percentile salaries across 12 Australian industries. Base salary only, excluding super. Updated for 2026.

Sources: ABS Employee Earnings, Seek Salary Insights, LinkedIn Salary, industry surveys 2024–25 · Updated 17 March 2026

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Industry	25th %ile	Median	75th %ile	Notes
💻Technology & Software	$82k	$115k	$155k	Engineers, product managers, data scientists. Strong demand, above-average growth.
🏦Finance & Banking	$72k	$110k	$162k	Includes accounting. Bonuses can add 10–30% on top of base at senior levels.
⚙️Engineering	$78k	$105k	$140k	Civil, mechanical, electrical, mining. WA mining roles often 20%+ above national median.
⚖️Legal	$65k	$100k	$185k	High variance. Junior solicitors start low; partners at large firms earn $300k–$800k+.
🏥Healthcare (clinical)	$68k	$95k	$130k	Nurses, allied health, GPs. Significant variation by speciality and sector.
🔨Construction & Trades	$70k	$90k	$115k	Licensed trades in high demand. Electricians and plumbers often $100k+ in metro areas.
🏛️Public Service	$62k	$85k	$115k	APS bands 3–6 cover most roles. Strong super, leave, and job security.
📢Marketing & Comms	$58k	$82k	$118k	Digital marketing and analytics specialists command higher premiums.
🎓Education	$62k	$80k	$100k	Teachers are award-rate. University roles (academic + professional) add variance.
📋Healthcare (admin)	$55k	$72k	$92k	Practice management, hospital administration, health informatics.
🛍️Retail & Hospitality	$46k	$55k	$68k	Award-rate driven. Supervisory and management roles push the median higher.
🚛Manufacturing & Logistics	$58k	$75k	$95k	Supply chain and operations management roles on the upper end.

How to read these figures

25th %ile = 1 in 4 workers in this industry earns less than this. Median = midpoint. 75th %ile = 1 in 4 earns more than this. Figures are base salary only — add 12% for total package with super.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I use salary benchmarks to negotiate a pay rise?

Come to the conversation with data, not feelings. Use industry benchmarks from Seek Salary Insights, LinkedIn Salary, Glassdoor, and industry association surveys. Present the market range for your role, your position within that range, and your performance evidence. Asking 'based on market data my role is typically valued at $X — can we discuss aligning my salary?' is more effective than 'I feel underpaid'.

Are these salaries base salary or total package?

The figures on this page are base salary only (excluding super). Total package adds 12% super on top. Some industries (finance, tech) also include significant bonuses — those aren't captured in base salary benchmarks. When comparing offers, always normalise to base salary + super to make a fair comparison.

Why do salaries vary so much within the same industry?

Key factors: seniority and years of experience, company size (larger companies typically pay more), location (Sydney and Melbourne typically 15–25% higher than other cities), specialisation (niche skills command a premium), and sector (private vs public, startup vs enterprise). The same job title can genuinely vary by $50,000+ between a startup and a major bank.

Sources

Australian Bureau of Statistics – Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia
Australian Bureau of Statistics · Employee earnings by geography, occupation, and industry.
Robert Half – Salary Guide
Robert Half · Private market salary benchmarking and hiring-pay commentary by role and industry.

Methodology

This page compares broad industry salary benchmarks using public earnings data and market salary references to show how pay varies across major Australian sectors.

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Methodology

Start with public earnings data and industry-level benchmark sources.
Group roles into broad industries to keep the comparison readable.
Show percentile-style salary ranges where useful to reflect variation within an industry.
Treat the comparison as a benchmark, not a quote for a specific role or employer.

Assumptions

Figures are broad industry benchmarks rather than role-by-role market quotes.
Base salary is the focus unless otherwise stated.
Industry ranges include substantial variation by seniority, location, and employer type.

Limitations