HR Salary in Australia: How State and Industry Shape Pay

What the keyword “hr salary” means in practice

When we talk about “hr salary” in Australia, we’re covering a broad range of roles—from recruitment coordinators and HR advisors to senior business partners and HR directors. The keyword is a lens to examine how pay varies by state and industry, not a single figure. This guide uses the latest public data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Jobs and Skills Australia to give you a practical benchmark.

HR salary against the national index

The Salary Index sets 100 as the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which was $2,083.70 per week or $108,352 per year in May 2026 (ABS). For HR professionals, the median weekly earnings are $1,970 (full-time non-managerial), according to Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to an annualised figure of about $102,440, giving an index of roughly 94.5. In plain terms, the typical HR salary sits a little below the national line, but it’s still above the all-occupations median of $1,852 per week.

How the index works

The index is your yearly gross pay divided by the national benchmark, multiplied by 100. For example, if you earn $110,000 a year, your index is (110,000 ÷ 108,352) × 100 ≈ 101.5. That means you’re slightly above the average full-time adult worker. You can use the Salary Index to compare any role against this line.

State differences in HR pay

Where you work matters. The ABS publishes state-level indices that show how average full-time earnings vary across Australia. Here’s how they stack up:

• ACT: 109.9 ($119,090 annualised)
• WA: 106.9 ($115,825)
• NSW: 101.2 ($109,658)
• VIC: 98.0 ($106,137)
• QLD: 97.9 ($106,064)
• NT: 95.2 ($103,173)
• SA: 94.6 ($102,450)
• TAS: 88.6 ($96,008)

HR professionals are most concentrated in NSW (30.1%) and Victoria (26.5%), but the highest pay tends to be in the ACT and WA, driven by public administration and mining respectively. If you’re an HR manager in Perth, your salary is likely to be higher than a similar role in Hobart, even before adjusting for cost of living. The states page has more detail on each region.

Industry differences

HR roles exist in every industry, but the industry itself heavily influences pay. The ABS industry indices give a clear picture:

• Mining: 154.7 – the highest, reflecting strong demand and high profits.
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services: 114.7 – includes consulting and corporate services.
• Education and Training: 105.5 – universities and schools.
• Health Care and Social Assistance: 97.8 – large employer of HR staff.
• Retail Trade: 75.9 – lower margins, lower pay.
• Accommodation and Food Services: 72.5 – the lowest.

For HR professionals, the top employing industries are Administrative and Support Services, Public Administration and Safety, and Health Care. But if you move into HR for a mining company, your salary index could be well above 100. Conversely, HR in retail or hospitality will likely sit below the national line. The industries page breaks this down further.

How awards and minimums apply

Many HR roles are classified under modern awards such as the Clerks—Private Sector Award or the Professional Employees Award. The Fair Work Commission updated award minimums by 4.75% from 1 July 2026. For example, a Level 4 clerk under the Clerks Award might earn around $26–$30 per hour, but most HR professionals earn well above award rates. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), but the median hourly rate for HR is $53—nearly double. Awards set a floor, not a ceiling.

Super and tax considerations

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on earnings up to $270,830. So on a $102,440 HR salary, your employer contributes about $12,293 to super. For tax, the 2026–27 resident rates (excluding Medicare) are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; and 45% above. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A single person earning the median HR salary would pay roughly $24,000 in income tax plus Medicare, leaving about $78,000 take-home (before HELP or other deductions).

Using the salary index for HR roles

The index is a tool, not a quote. It helps you see where a specific HR role sits relative to the national average. For example, an HR business partner in Sydney’s professional services sector might have an index of 110, while a recruitment coordinator in regional Tasmania might be at 85. You can use the pay guides to find award classifications, but for market salaries, the index gives a consistent benchmark. The how the index works page explains the calculation in full.

A practical example

Say you’re offered an HR advisor role in Brisbane for $85,000 a year. The national line is $108,352. Your index is (85,000 ÷ 108,352) × 100 = 78.5. That’s well below the median HR index of 94.5, so the offer is low for the role. But if the same role in Perth offers $95,000, your index is 87.7, which is closer to the median. Always compare using the index, not just the dollar figure.

Final thoughts

HR salary in Australia is not one number. The keyword “hr salary is best understood through the lens of state and industry differences. Whether you’re an employee or an employer, the Salary Index helps you make sense of the variation. Start with the national line, then adjust for your state and industry, and you’ll have a realistic picture of where pay sits.