Average wage in Australia (per hour, week and year)
The average wage in Australia per hour is about $54.83 for full-time adults. That's ABS average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 in May 2026, divided by a 38-hour week. Over a year it equals $108,352 before tax (ABS Average Weekly Earnings (opens in a new tab)).
By Calculatax editorial team
These figures sit alongside the salary and pay calculators, which turn any wage into take-home pay.
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| Measure | Per week | Per year (× 52) | Per hour (÷ 38) | Change over the year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time adult ordinary time earnings (AWOTE) | $2,083.70 | $108,352.40 | $54.83 | +3.7% |
| Full-time adult total earnings (incl. overtime) | $2,160.00 | $112,320.00 | $56.84 | +3.5% |
| All employees, average total earnings | $1,579.20 | $82,118.40 | n/a (mixes part-time) | +2.4% |
| Full-time adult AWOTE, males | $2,181.00 | $113,412.00 | $57.39 | n/a |
| Full-time adult AWOTE, females | $1,934.50 | $100,594.00 | $50.91 | n/a |
| Measure (August 2025) | Per week | Per year (× 52) | Previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median weekly earnings, all employees | $1,425 | $74,100 | $1,399 (+$26, +1.9%) |
| Median weekly earnings, full-time employees | $1,741 | $90,532 | +2.4% |
Data checked 1 November 2026. Change log: published with ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 (national, state and industry tables) and Employee Earnings for August 2025.
Average vs median: why most people earn less than the average
The median is the middle earner, and it sits well below the average. A small number of very high incomes pull the average up. The median ignores how high the top earners go, so it describes the typical worker better.
- Full-time median a weekAugust 2025
- $1,741
- Full-time average ordinary time earnings a weekMay 2026
- $2,083.70
- About how much of the average the median comes toFull-time staff
- 84%
- Median across all employees a weekUp $26 on the year before
- $1,425
The all-employee median includes part-time and casual workers, so it's lower again.
Why the median and average aren't an exact match
The two figures come from different surveys and months. Average Weekly Earnings measures May 2026 from employer data, while Employee Earnings measures August 2025 and asks about each person's main job. Treat the gap between them as a guide only.
Average hourly wage worked out from weekly earnings
The ABS publishes weekly earnings and doesn't give hourly rates. Dividing weekly earnings by 38 ordinary hours gives an hourly estimate: $2,083.70 ÷ 38 = $54.83.
| Measure | Weekly | Hourly (÷ 38) | Hourly (÷ 40) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time AWOTE, all adults | $2,083.70 | $54.83 | $52.09 |
| Full-time AWOTE, males | $2,181.00 | $57.39 | $54.53 |
| Full-time AWOTE, females | $1,934.50 | $50.91 | $48.36 |
| Full-time median earnings (Aug 2025) | $1,741.00 | $45.82 | $43.53 |
| National minimum wage (from 1 July 2026) | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | n/a |
The 38-hour figure matches the full-time week used for the national minimum wage. If your role is 40 hours, the same weekly pay is worth less per hour, $52.09 instead of $54.83.
The national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour is 48.2% of the average full-time hourly figure (Fair Work Ombudsman minimum wage release (opens in a new tab)). The annual salary calculator converts any hourly rate to a yearly salary and take-home pay.
The all-employee average of $1,579.20 isn't divided by 38. It mixes full-time, part-time and casual hours, so an hourly figure from it would be misleading.
Average full-time wage after tax
On $108,352 a year, a resident pays $25,192.64 in income tax and Medicare levy in 2026-27. Take-home pay is $83,159.36, or $1,599.22 a week.
| Step | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax$4,020 plus 30% of the $63,352 above $45,000 | +$23,025.60 | $23,025.60 |
| Medicare levy2% | +$2,167.04 | $25,192.64 |
| Income tax and Medicare levy | $25,192.64 | |
| After tax, each of the 1,976 hours in a full-time year is worth | $42.08 | |
| Earner | Gross a year | Tax and Medicare | Take-home a year | Take-home a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time average (AWOTE) | $108,352 | $25,192.64 | $83,159.36 | $1,599.22 |
| Full-time average, males | $113,412 | $26,811.84 | $86,600.16 | $1,665.39 |
| Full-time average, females | $100,594 | $22,710.08 | $77,883.92 | $1,497.77 |
| Full-time median (Aug 2025) | $90,532 | $19,490.24 | $71,041.76 | $1,366.19 |
The average full-time wage is above the $105,000 Medicare levy surcharge threshold for singles. A single earner on $108,352 without private hospital cover would pay another 1%, or $1,083.52. Employer super of 12% adds $13,002.24 on top of the salary.
Earnings by state and industry
The ABS publishes full-time adult AWOTE for each state and territory, and for each industry, in the same Average Weekly Earnings release (opens in a new tab). These figures are original series, so they aren't directly comparable with the seasonally adjusted national $2,083.70.
| State or territory | Weekly | Per hour (÷ 38) | Per year (× 52) | Take-home a week | Men, weekly | Women, weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | $2,290.20 | $60.27 | $119,090.40 | $1,739.64 | $2,331.90 | $2,244.20 |
| Western Australia | $2,227.40 | $58.62 | $115,824.80 | $1,696.94 | $2,378.70 | $1,945.10 |
| New South Wales | $2,108.80 | $55.49 | $109,657.60 | $1,616.29 | $2,204.50 | $1,970.70 |
| Victoria | $2,041.10 | $53.71 | $106,137.20 | $1,570.26 | $2,140.90 | $1,889.60 |
| Queensland | $2,039.70 | $53.68 | $106,064.40 | $1,569.30 | $2,122.00 | $1,908.20 |
| Northern Territory | $1,984.10 | $52.21 | $103,173.20 | $1,531.50 | $2,095.30 | $1,853.50 |
| South Australia | $1,970.20 | $51.85 | $102,450.40 | $1,522.04 | $2,043.20 | $1,858.00 |
| Tasmania | $1,846.30 | $48.59 | $96,007.60 | $1,437.79 | $1,854.90 | $1,830.20 |
The ACT has the highest full-time average at $2,290.20 a week and Tasmania the lowest at $1,846.30, a gap of $443.90. Western Australia has the largest gap between men and women, at $433.60 a week.
| Industry | Weekly | Per hour (÷ 38) | Per year (× 52) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining | $3,224.20 | $84.85 | $167,658.40 |
| Information media and telecommunications | $2,714.10 | $71.42 | $141,133.20 |
| Electricity, gas, water and waste services | $2,546.00 | $67.00 | $132,392.00 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | $2,389.60 | $62.88 | $124,259.20 |
| Financial and insurance services | $2,341.30 | $61.61 | $121,747.60 |
| Education and training | $2,197.90 | $57.84 | $114,290.80 |
| Public administration and safety | $2,179.80 | $57.36 | $113,349.60 |
| Health care and social assistance | $2,037.20 | $53.61 | $105,934.40 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | $2,032.30 | $53.48 | $105,679.60 |
| Construction | $1,985.30 | $52.24 | $103,235.60 |
| Wholesale trade | $1,982.90 | $52.18 | $103,110.80 |
| Rental, hiring and real estate services | $1,979.60 | $52.09 | $102,939.20 |
| Administrative and support services | $1,950.00 | $51.32 | $101,400.00 |
| Arts and recreation services | $1,877.40 | $49.41 | $97,624.80 |
| Manufacturing | $1,843.10 | $48.50 | $95,841.20 |
| Other services | $1,621.70 | $42.68 | $84,328.40 |
| Retail trade | $1,581.60 | $41.62 | $82,243.20 |
| Accommodation and food services | $1,509.90 | $39.73 | $78,514.80 |
Mining pays the highest full-time average, $3,224.20 a week, which is 2.1 times accommodation and food services at $1,509.90. Full-time public sector employees averaged $2,263.10 a week, $229.00 more than the private sector's $2,034.10.
State averages differ partly because each state has a different mix of industries and occupations. A state or industry figure is a closer benchmark for your own pay than the national average.
Average wage questions: hourly rate, part-time workers, men and women, and ABS updates
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Last reviewed
What is the average hourly rate in Australia?
About $54.83 an hour for full-time adults. That's ABS average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 in May 2026, divided by 38 hours. Full-time men average $57.39 and women $50.91. The full-time median works out lower, at $45.82 an hour.
What is the average wage for part-time workers?
The ABS doesn't publish a single part-time average here. The all-employee average of $1,579.20 a week includes part-time and casual workers, as does the all-employee median of $1,425. For a part-time estimate, apply the full-time hourly figure of $54.83 to your hours.
How much more do men earn than women on average?
Full-time men averaged $2,181.00 a week and women $1,934.50 in May 2026, ordinary time. The gap is $246.50 a week, or 11.3% of men's earnings. The comparison covers all full-time workers, so it reflects differences in jobs and industries as well as pay.
How often does the ABS update average earnings?
Twice a year for Average Weekly Earnings, with May and November reference periods. The May 2026 figures, including the state and industry tables, were released on 13 August 2026. Employee Earnings, which gives the median, is updated once a year for August.
Keep going
Sources
- ABS: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026 (released 13 Aug 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- ABS: Employee Earnings, August 2025 (released 12 Dec 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Minimum wage increase 1 July 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- ATO: Tax rates: Australian residents (opens in a new tab)