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.
Highest nominal salaries but highest cost of living. Finance and tech drive premium.
Strong professional services sector. Slightly lower COL than Sydney.
Mining sector inflates average. Strong purchasing power in Perth.
Strong construction and healthcare sectors. Brisbane growing fast.
Highest median salary — dominated by well-paid federal public service.
Most affordable capital city. Lower nominal salaries but strong real purchasing power.
Lower salaries but Hobart rents have risen sharply since 2019.
Remote location allowances and government roles push salaries above expectations.
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
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics – Employee Earnings and Hours, AustraliaAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Employee earnings by geography, occupation, and industry.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics – Average Weekly Earnings, AustraliaAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Average weekly earnings benchmark data.
Methodology
This comparison page combines public earnings data with a high-level cost-of-living view to compare salary benchmarks across Australian states and territories.
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Methodology
- Use public earnings datasets as the starting benchmark for state salary comparisons.
- Compare average and median salary signals where available.
- Apply a simple cost-of-living lens so nominal salary is not treated as the full story.
- Present the results as a directional comparison rather than a personal forecast.
Assumptions
- Salary comparisons are broad benchmarks, not role-specific offers.
- State-level figures can hide meaningful city, industry, and seniority differences.
- Cost-of-living comparisons are directional and not a household budget model.
Limitations
- A higher nominal salary does not always mean stronger purchasing power.
- Individual outcomes depend heavily on housing, household structure, and occupation.
Life Calculators provides independent modelling tools based on publicly available data and standard formulas. Results are estimates only and are not financial advice.
Last updated: 17 March 2026