Coles CEO salary: how it compares to the national line
See where the Coles CEO salary sits on the salary index, how it compares to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, and what it means when reading a job ad.
The Coles CEO's total remuneration places the salary index well above 1800, reflecting a pay multiple of over 18 times the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings.
Coles CEO salary: what the job ad doesn't tell you
When you're reading a job ad for a CEO role at Coles — or any executive position — the headline salary figure is only part of the story. The coles ceo salary has been publicly discussed in parliamentary hearings and media reports, giving us a rare look at how executive pay compares to the national line. This guide uses the salary index to put that figure in perspective, so you can better evaluate any job offer.
What we know about the Coles CEO salary
In April 2024, Coles CEO Leah Weckert appeared before a Senate committee examining supermarket prices. The committee heard that her total fixed compensation is $2 million per annum, including superannuation. For the 2023 financial year, she received $3.3 million — but that covered two months as CEO and ten months in a previous role. The Guardian's analysis of executive pay noted that chief executive pay jumped strongly in 2023-24, with many executives receiving double-digit increases.
These figures are not the full story. CEO remuneration typically includes short-term bonuses, long-term incentives, and share awards. The $2 million fixed component is the base, but total remuneration can be significantly higher. When comparing job offers, you need to look at total package, not just base salary.
How the salary index applies
The salary index measures yearly gross pay against the national line of 100, which is set at $108,352 (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). If a role pays $108,352, its index is 100. Anything above that is a multiple of the national average.
For the Coles CEO, using the $2 million fixed compensation:
- Index = ($2,000,000 ÷ $108,352) × 100 ≈ 1846
That means the CEO's base pay alone is more than 18 times the national average. If total remuneration is $3.3 million, the index jumps to around 3045. To put that in context, the retail trade industry has an average index of 75.9, and a Coles shopfloor worker earning $25 per hour full-time would have an index around 48.
What this means when comparing offers
When you're reading a job ad — whether for a CEO or an entry-level role — the salary index helps you see where the pay sits relative to the rest of the workforce. For the Coles CEO, the index is extremely high, reflecting the concentration of pay at the top. But for most roles, the index will be much lower.
Consider the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (index 48.2) or the entry-level award floor of $25.74 per hour. A full-time worker on the minimum wage earns about $52,255 annually. The Coles CEO earns that in less than two weeks.
This disparity is not unique to Coles. The Guardian's interactive tool showed that Australia's highest-paid CEOs earn almost 300 times a typical worker. The parliamentary committee also heard that many supermarket employees struggle to afford the food they sell, despite the company's strong profits.
The role of superannuation and tax
The Coles CEO's $2 million fixed compensation includes superannuation. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%, but the maximum contribution base is $270,830. For high earners, super contributions are capped, so the CEO's super is a small fraction of total pay.
On tax, a resident earning $2 million in 2026-27 would pay:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800
- 30% on the next $90,000
- 37% on the next $55,000
- 45% on everything above $190,000
Plus the 2% Medicare levy. The effective tax rate is around 45%, so take-home pay would be roughly $1.1 million. That's still an index of over 1000.
How states and industries compare
The national line varies by state and industry. For example, the states page shows that Western Australia has an index of 106.9 ($115,825 annualised), while Tasmania is 88.6 ($96,008). The Coles CEO's pay would be even more extreme in lower-earning states.
In the industries breakdown, mining leads at 154.7, while retail trade is 75.9. The Coles CEO's index dwarfs even the highest industry average. This highlights how executive pay is disconnected from the typical worker in the same company.
What the parliamentary report revealed
The Senate committee heard that Coles employs about 120,000 workers, with adult shopfloor staff paid around $25 per hour. About 40% of workers earn less than $500 per week. The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union noted that enterprise agreements pay only cents above the award. Meanwhile, the CEO's fixed compensation alone is $2 million.
This contrast is stark. When you read a job ad for any role, the salary index gives you a tool to compare offers objectively. The how the index works page explains the calculation in detail.
Key takeaways for job seekers
- The Coles CEO salary (fixed) has an index around 1846, more than 18 times the national average.
- Total remuneration can be higher, pushing the index above 3000.
- For most roles, the index will be between 50 and 150. Use it to benchmark any offer.
- Always consider the total package, including super, bonuses, and other benefits.
- The salary index is a gross figure; take-home pay will be lower after tax and Medicare.
When you next see a job ad, whether for a CEO or a checkout operator, the salary index helps you understand where that pay sits in the Australian economy. For the Coles CEO, it sits at the very top.
Further reading
Questions people ask
How does the Coles CEO salary compare to the average worker?
Based on the available figures, the Coles CEO's total remuneration is roughly 20 to 30 times the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352. For example, a fixed compensation of $2 million gives an index of about 1846. In contrast, a Coles shopfloor worker earning $25 per hour full-time would have an index around 48. The gap is substantial, and the Guardian reported that Australia's highest-paid CEOs earn almost 300 times a typical worker.
What is the salary index for the Coles CEO?
The salary index compares yearly gross pay to the national line of 100 ($108,352). For the Coles CEO, using the fixed compensation of $2 million, the index is approximately 1846. If total remuneration including bonuses is higher, the index would be even greater. This means the CEO earns more than 18 times the national average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings.
Does the Coles CEO salary include superannuation?
Yes, the $2 million total fixed compensation for the Coles CEO includes superannuation, as stated in the parliamentary hearing. The super guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2026, but for high-income earners the maximum contribution base applies. The CEO's total remuneration package may also include bonuses, shares, and other benefits, which are not captured in the fixed compensation figure.