Is $55,000 a good salary in Australia?
$55,000 is below median in Australia. After tax your take-home is $45,733/year — $3,811/month or $879/week.
Includes LITO. Does not include HELP repayments or other offsets.
$55,000 is below the Australian full-time median salary of ~$73,000. It's a solid entry-level or regional income, but below what most full-time workers earn nationally.
Take-home pay on $55,000
2025–26 tax year. Effective rate 16.8% · Marginal rate 32.5%. Full tax breakdown →
How $55k compares nationally
What $55k buys in each city
Take-home ($45,733/yr) minus typical 1-bedroom rent:
Median 1-bed rents from Domain/SQM Research 2025. Rent cost = monthly × 12.
How $55k compares by industry
| Industry | Median salary | vs $55k |
|---|---|---|
| Technology / Software | $115,000 | −$60,000 |
| Finance & Banking | $110,000 | −$55,000 |
| Engineering | $105,000 | −$50,000 |
| Legal | $100,000 | −$45,000 |
| Healthcare (clinical) | $95,000 | −$40,000 |
| Construction trades | $90,000 | −$35,000 |
| Public service | $85,000 | −$30,000 |
| Marketing & Comms | $85,000 | −$30,000 |
| Education | $80,000 | −$25,000 |
| Retail & Hospitality | $55,000 | +$0 |
Source: ABS, Seek Salary Insights 2024–25. Full-time employees. Full industry comparison →
Frequently asked questions
How this page works
This page combines broad salary benchmarks, tax context, and living-cost framing to answer whether a given salary is likely to feel strong, average, or tight in Australia.
Methodology
- Start with the nominated salary.
- Compare it with broad benchmark salary references.
- Use take-home pay and housing-cost context to make the comparison more practical.
- Present the result as a benchmark view rather than a universal answer.
Assumptions
- A 'good' salary depends on city, housing costs, and household structure.
- Benchmarks are directional rather than personalised.
- Living-cost examples are illustrative and not a household budget model.
Limitations
- Two people on the same salary can have very different outcomes.
- Job-specific market rates can sit above or below the broad benchmark used here.
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.
- SEEK – Salary Guide and Salary InsightsSEEK · Private market salary benchmarking by role and industry.
Last updated
17 March 2026
LifeCalculators provides independent modelling tools based on publicly available data and standard formulas. Results are estimates only and are not financial advice.
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Includes LITO. Does not include HELP repayments or other offsets.