Australia Median Salary: How It Compares to the National Index
Understand where the australia median salary sits on the Salary Index, with comparisons to national benchmarks, states, and industries.
The precise australia median salary is uncertain, but it typically falls below the national line of index 100 ($108,352 because high earners pull the mean higher.
What is the australia median salary
The australia median salary is the middle point of all full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in Australia. It is the figure that splits the workforce into two equal halves: half of workers earn less and half earn more. The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes median earnings data, but the precise number is not available in the reference. The national line index 100 is the mean full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, annualised $108,352. The median is usually lower than the mean because high earners pull the average higher. The national minimum wage index 48.2 and award minima are lower benchmarks. The australia median salary typically falls between the award floor and the national line.
How the australia median salary compares to the national index
The Salary Index sets the national line at 100, which equals $108,352 per year gross for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. The australia median salary is uncertain, but it is likely below this line. For example, the national minimum wage index 48.2 ($52,255) is much lower. The award floor index 48.2 is also lower. The median is probably above these but below the mean. In practice, many workers earn between the award floor and the national line. The index helps you see where any pay figure sits relative to the national line.
State and industry comparisons
States have different average earnings. The reference provides state indices: ACT index 109.9 ($119,090), WA index 106.9 ($115,825), NSW index 101.2 ($109,658), VIC index 98 ($106,137), QLD index 97.9 ($106,064), SA index 94.6 ($102,450), NT index 95.2 ($103,173), TAS index 88.6 ($96,008). These are mean figures. The australia median salary in each state is likely lower than the state mean. For instance, in WA the mean is high due to mining, but the median may be closer to the national line. Without median data, it is uncertain which states have a median above the national median.
Industries also vary. Mining index 154.7 is very high, while retail trade index 75.9 and accommodation and food services index 72.5 are low. The australia median salary is influenced by industry mix. A worker in mining likely earns above the median, while a worker in retail likely earns below. The median across all industries is uncertain but likely between these extremes.
How to use the index for your pay
If you have a pay figure, you can calculate its index: yearly gross divided by the national line ($108,352) times 100. For example, a salary of $80,000 gives an index of 73.8, which is below the national line. The australia median salary is uncertain, but you can compare your index to the state and industry indices. If your index is above 100, you earn more than the average full-time worker. If below, you earn less. The index does not tell you if you are above or below the median.
Awards and super
Modern awards set minimum pay rates above the national minimum wage. The award floor index 48.2 is the minimum for award-covered workers. The australia median salary is likely above award rates. Super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, with a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is on top of the gross salary. The index uses gross ordinary-time earnings, not including super. Take-home pay is after tax and Medicare levy. The tax rates for 2026–27: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, then 30% to $135,000, then 37% to $190,000, then 45% above. Medicare levy 2%. The australia median salary after tax depends on the total income.
Why the australia median salary is uncertain
The reference does not provide a median figure. The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes median earnings data, but it is not included here. Therefore, the precise australia median salary is uncertain. The index is based on average weekly earnings. The median is a different measure. The median is typically lower than the mean. The national line index 100 is the mean. The median is likely between the award floor and the national line. Without median data, it is uncertain what the australia median salary is.
Related guides
- Salary Index - the national line and how to use it
- Pay guides - award rates and minimum wages
- States - state indices comparison
- Industries - industry indices
- How the index works - methodology
- Topics - more salary topics
Questions people ask
What is the australia median salary?
The australia median salary is the middle point of all full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in Australia. It means half of workers earn less and half earn more. The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes median earnings data, but the precise figure is not available in the reference. The national line index 100 ($108,352) is the mean, which is higher than the median because high earners pull the average up. The median is typically lower, often around the award floor or above the national minimum wage.
How does the australia median salary compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, annualised $52,255, index 48.2. The australia median salary is higher than the minimum wage. The median is likely above the award floor of $25.74 per hour (index 48.2) but below the national line index 100. The exact comparison is uncertain without a precise median figure.
Which states have a median salary above the national average?
The reference does not provide median salary by state. It provides state indices based on average weekly earnings: ACT index 109.9 ($119,090), WA index 106.9 ($115,825), NSW index 101.2 ($109,658). These are mean figures, not median. The australia median salary is likely lower than the mean in each state. For example, in WA the mean is high due to mining, but the median may be closer to the national line. Without median data, it is uncertain which states are above the national median.