Average Salary Australia by Age: How Awards and the National Minimum Wage Shape Pay

Average Salary Australia by Age: What the Numbers Really Mean

When people ask about the average salary in Australia by age, they often want a simple number: what does a typical 25-year-old earn? Or a 45-year-old? The honest answer is that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a single average salary figure broken down by age for full-time workers. The best national benchmark is the full-time adult ordinary-time earnings figure of $108,352 per year (index 100). But that is an average across all adult workers, not a breakdown by age.

So where does age come into pay? The biggest legal difference is through junior rates under the national minimum wage and modern awards. If you are under 21, your minimum hourly rate is a percentage of the adult national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour. A 17-year-old gets at least $15.28 per hour, while a 20-year-old gets at least $25.83 per hour. That is a huge gap, and it directly affects the average salary for younger age groups.

How Awards Change the Picture

The national minimum wage is only the floor. Most workers are covered by a modern award, which sets higher minimum rates. For example, the Retail award pays more than the national minimum wage for most classifications. A 17-year-old working in retail might earn a junior rate under that award, which could be higher than $15.28. Similarly, the Hospitality award has its own junior percentages. So the actual average salary for a 17-year-old depends on which award applies and what classification they are in.

This is where the writing angle of awards versus the national minimum wage becomes important. The national minimum wage gives you the legal minimum, but awards often push pay higher. For younger workers, that means the average salary by age is not just a function of age; it is also a function of industry and award coverage.

Using the Salary Index to Compare

The Salary Index is a simple tool: take any annual gross salary, divide it by $108,352, and multiply by 100. That gives you an index number. The national line is 100. If you earn $52,255 (the national minimum wage for an adult), your index is 48.2. If you are a 17-year-old on the junior national minimum wage of $15.28 per hour, working full-time (38 hours per week, 52 weeks), that is about $30,193 per year, giving an index of about 27.9. That is well below the national line.

But remember: most 17-year-olds are not working full-time, and many are in industries like retail or hospitality where awards set higher rates. So the actual average salary for that age group is likely higher than the junior minimum, but still well below the adult average.

What About Older Workers?

For workers over 21, the national minimum wage is the same for all adults. But average salaries rise with experience and seniority. The ABS data shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings are the benchmark, but that figure is an average across all ages. Older workers tend to earn more, but there is no official age-specific average from the reference. The pay guides on this site can help you find award rates for specific roles, which give a better idea of what someone in a particular job might earn.

State and Industry Differences

Your average salary by age also depends on where you live and what industry you work in. The reference shows state indices: Western Australia has an index of 106.9 ($115,825 annualised), while Tasmania has 88.6 ($96,008). So a 30-year-old in WA is likely to earn more than the same person in TAS, even in the same job. Industries also vary hugely: Mining has an index of 154.7, while Retail trade is 75.9. A young worker in mining will earn far more than one in retail, regardless of age.

The Role of Super and Tax

Superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2026, paid on top of your salary. That is not included in the salary index, which is gross ordinary-time earnings. Tax rates for 2026–27 start at nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. So take-home pay is lower than gross. For a young worker on a low wage, tax is minimal, but super still adds to total compensation.

Why There Is No Single Average by Age

The ABS does publish data on employee earnings by age in its Employee Earnings and Hours publication, but that is not summarised in the reference provided here. If you need a precise figure, you would need to consult that publication directly. What we can say is that the national minimum wage and awards create a floor that varies by age, and that the average salary for younger workers is significantly below the national line of 100.

Practical Takeaways

• If you are under 21, check your award or the national minimum wage junior rates to know your minimum pay.
• Use the how the index works page to compare any salary to the national average.
• Remember that awards often pay more than the national minimum wage, so your actual salary may be higher than the junior minimum.
• For a rough idea of average salary by age, look at industry and state benchmarks, as those have a bigger impact than age alone.

The question of average salary in Australia by age does not have a simple answer, but understanding the role of junior rates, awards, and the national minimum wage gives you a solid framework. The states page can help you see how location affects pay, and the industries page shows which sectors pay above or below the national line.