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Salary Benchmarks by State — Australia 2026

How average and median salaries compare across Australian states and territories, with a cost-of-living index to show real purchasing power.

Sources: ABS Employee Earnings & Hours, 2024–25
New South Wales
Sydney
NSW
Median
$97k
Average
$105k
COL index
100

Highest nominal salaries but highest cost of living. Finance and tech drive premium.

Victoria
Melbourne
VIC
Median
$92k
Average
$100k
COL index
93

Strong professional services sector. Slightly lower COL than Sydney.

Western Australia
Perth
WA
Median
$97k
Average
$110k
COL index
88

Mining sector inflates average. Strong purchasing power in Perth.

Queensland
Brisbane
QLD
Median
$88k
Average
$96k
COL index
86

Strong construction and healthcare sectors. Brisbane growing fast.

Australian Capital Territory
Canberra
ACT
Median
$105k
Average
$114k
COL index
92

Highest median salary — dominated by well-paid federal public service.

South Australia
Adelaide
SA
Median
$82k
Average
$90k
COL index
78

Most affordable capital city. Lower nominal salaries but strong real purchasing power.

Tasmania
Hobart
TAS
Median
$78k
Average
$84k
COL index
76

Lower salaries but Hobart rents have risen sharply since 2019.

Northern Territory
Darwin
NT
Median
$90k
Average
$98k
COL index
95

Remote location allowances and government roles push salaries above expectations.

About the COL index

NSW = 100 baseline. All other states indexed relative to NSW overall cost of living (rent, groceries, transport, utilities). A lower COL index means your money goes further. Full city comparison →

Frequently asked questions

Why does WA have such high average salaries?
Western Australia's mining and resources sector drives above-average wages, particularly in Perth and regional mining areas. Fly-in fly-out (FIFO) roles in the Pilbara often pay $120,000–$200,000+, pulling up the state average significantly. Outside mining, WA salaries are broadly similar to the national average.
Do ACT salaries reflect the public service?
Yes — Canberra's workforce is dominated by federal public service roles (APS), which are well-structured, highly stable, and offer strong super and leave entitlements. APS roles at APS4–EL1 levels span $75,000–$135,000, and senior executive service (SES) roles pay $180,000–$350,000+. This concentration of professional roles pushes median salaries above most states.
Is it worth moving states for a higher salary?
It depends heavily on the cost of living difference. A $10,000 salary increase moving from Adelaide to Sydney may leave you worse off after rent. Use our cost of living comparison and salary after tax calculator together to model the real difference. Remote work has also changed this calculation significantly — many roles are now location-independent.