📖 Beginner guide
What Is a Good Salary in Australia?
How Australian salaries compare by city, industry, and experience level — and what "good" actually means once you account for living costs.
💵 Beginner guide·6 min read·Updated 17 March 2026
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Explore salary benchmarks, tax guides, comparisons, and salary examplesSalary benchmarks by industry (2026)
| Industry | Median salary | Range (25th–75th %ile) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology / Software | $115,000 | $85,000 – $155,000 |
| Finance & Banking | $110,000 | $75,000 – $160,000 |
| Engineering | $105,000 | $80,000 – $140,000 |
| Healthcare (clinical) | $95,000 | $70,000 – $130,000 |
| Legal | $100,000 | $65,000 – $180,000 |
| Marketing & Communications | $85,000 | $60,000 – $120,000 |
| Education | $80,000 | $65,000 – $100,000 |
| Retail & Hospitality | $55,000 | $45,000 – $70,000 |
| Construction trades | $90,000 | $70,000 – $115,000 |
| Public service | $85,000 | $65,000 – $115,000 |
Source: ABS, Seek Salary Insights, LinkedIn Salary 2024–25. Full-time employees. Detailed industry comparison →
What the same salary buys by city
A $90,000 salary feels very different depending on where you live. Rent is the dominant variable:
Sydney
Rent: $2,800/mo
$43,600
after rent & tax
Melbourne
Rent: $2,200/mo
$50,800
after rent & tax
Brisbane
Rent: $1,950/mo
$53,600
after rent & tax
Perth
Rent: $1,900/mo
$54,200
after rent & tax
Adelaide
Rent: $1,600/mo
$57,800
after rent & tax
Canberra
Rent: $2,200/mo
$50,800
after rent & tax
$90k gross. After-tax ~$66,000. Rent cost = median 1-bed monthly rent × 12.
Salary by experience level
As a rough rule of thumb across white-collar professions in Australia's major cities:
Graduate / entry level (0–2 yrs)$55,000 – $75,000
Mid-level (3–6 yrs)$80,000 – $110,000
Senior (7–12 yrs)$110,000 – $150,000
Lead / Principal (10+ yrs)$140,000 – $200,000
Manager / Director$130,000 – $250,000+
C-suite / Executive$200,000 – $500,000+
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Australia?
The average (mean) full-time adult ordinary earnings in Australia is approximately $100,000 per year as of late 2024 (ABS data). The median salary — the midpoint where half earn more and half earn less — is around $73,000–$78,000 for full-time workers. The mean is higher than the median because high earners pull the average up. The median is a more useful benchmark for most people.
What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2026?
The National Minimum Wage from July 2026 is $24.10 per hour, equating to $915.90 per 38-hour week or approximately $47,600 per year before tax. Award minimum wages vary by industry and are generally similar to or above the National Minimum Wage. The minimum wage is reviewed annually by the Fair Work Commission.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Australia?
$100,000 gross puts you comfortably above the median Australian salary. After tax and Medicare levy, it takes home approximately $73,000–$75,000. In Sydney and Melbourne, with median rents of $2,200–$2,800/month for a one-bedroom, $100k provides a reasonable standard of living but isn't wealthy. In Adelaide or Perth, the same income provides significantly more purchasing power.
How do I know if I'm being underpaid?
Check your Modern Award or Enterprise Agreement on the Fair Work website (fairwork.gov.au) for your minimum entitlement. Compare your salary to industry benchmarks on Seek Salary Insights, LinkedIn Salary, or Glassdoor. Talk to recruiters in your field — they have real market data. If you're significantly below market and have performed well, that's a strong basis for a pay review conversation.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics – Average Weekly Earnings, AustraliaAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Average weekly earnings benchmark data.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics – Employee Earnings and Hours, AustraliaAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Employee earnings by geography, occupation, and industry.
- Robert Half – Salary GuideRobert Half · Private market salary benchmarking and hiring-pay commentary by role and industry.
How this page works
This guide combines public earnings benchmarks, broad living-cost context, and market salary references to explain what a 'good' salary can mean in Australia.
▶Read more
Methodology
- Use national earnings benchmarks as the base reference point.
- Compare salary expectations by city, industry, and experience level.
- Add cost-of-living context so salary is judged in practical rather than headline terms.
- Frame the result as a benchmark discussion, not a universal answer for every household.
Assumptions
- A 'good' salary is context-dependent and not a fixed national number.
- Housing, dependants, debt, and city choice materially change the answer.
- Benchmarks are directional and should be paired with your own budget and career context.
Limitations
- Average and median salary measures can tell different stories.
- Private-market salary guides may differ from ABS reporting methodology.
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
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