Median Salary Sydney: Gross Pay, Super, and Tax Explained

What is the median salary in Sydney?

When people ask about the median salary Sydney, they usually want a single number that represents what a typical full-time worker earns in Australia’s largest city. The honest answer is that no official median figure is published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The ABS reports average weekly earnings, which for New South Wales is $2,108 per week, annualising to $109,658. That figure sits at an index of 101.2 on the Salary Index, meaning it is 1.2% above the national line of $108,352 (index 100).

But the average is not the median. The median is the middle point: half of workers earn more, half earn less. Because income distribution is skewed to the right (a minority earn very high amounts), the median is usually lower than the average. For Sydney, private salary surveys often estimate the median full-time salary between $80,000 and $90,000, but these are not verified by government data. This guide will help you understand the context around the median, using the index, industry benchmarks, and the impact of super and tax.

Using the Salary Index as a benchmark

The Salary Index measures gross annual ordinary-time earnings relative to the national average. An index of 100 means you earn exactly the national average ($108,352). For Sydney, the NSW state index of 101.2 is a useful starting point, but it reflects the average, not the median. To get a sense of where a typical salary might sit, look at industry indices. For example:

• Professional, scientific and technical services: index 114.7 (annualised $124,300) – common in Sydney’s CBD.
• Education and training: index 105.5 ($114,300).
• Health care and social assistance: index 97.8 ($105,900).
• Retail trade: index 75.9 ($82,300).
• Accommodation and food services: index 72.5 ($78,600).

A median salary in Sydney likely falls between the retail and professional indices, perhaps around index 90–95, which would be $97,500–$103,000 annualised. But this is an estimate; the true median could be lower because many workers in Sydney are in lower-paid service roles.

Gross pay, super, and tax on a typical Sydney salary

Let’s take a hypothetical gross salary of $90,000 – a common estimate for the median. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Gross pay: $90,000 per year, or $1,730 per week.
• Superannuation: From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%, so your employer must contribute an additional $10,800 to your super fund. This is not part of your take-home pay but is a compulsory retirement saving. The maximum contribution base is $270,830, so on $90,000 you get the full 12%.
• Tax (2026–27 resident rates):
• $0–$18,200: nil
• $18,201–$45,000: 15% = $4,020
• $45,001–$90,000: 30% = $13,500
• Total tax = $17,520
• Plus Medicare levy (2%) = $1,800
• Total tax and Medicare = $19,320
• Take-home pay: $90,000 – $19,320 = $70,680 per year, or about $5,890 per month.

This is a resident estimate using the tax-free threshold and flat 2% Medicare levy. It ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and the Medicare levy surcharge (which applies if you don’t have private hospital cover and earn above $93,000).

How awards and the minimum wage affect the median

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, annualised $52,255 (index 48.2). Many workers in Sydney are covered by modern awards, which set minimum pay rates above the national minimum. For example, the entry-level award floor is $25.74 per hour, and award minima rose 4.75% from 1 July 2026. Junior rates apply for workers under 21, starting at $9.73 per hour for under 16s.

A worker on the national minimum wage in Sydney would earn well below the median. But a typical award-covered worker in retail or hospitality might earn around $60,000–$70,000, which is closer to the median. The pay guides on this site can help you find specific award rates.

Why the median matters more than the average

The average can be misleading in a city like Sydney, where high earners in finance, tech, and law push the mean up. The median gives a better picture of what a typical worker actually earns. If you are negotiating a salary or comparing job offers, knowing the median for your industry and experience level is more useful than the state average. For professional roles, the industries page shows indices that can help you benchmark.

Final thoughts on the median salary in Sydney

While we cannot give you a precise median figure, you can use the NSW state index (101.2) and industry indices as a reference. Remember that the median is likely lower than the average, and your own pay will depend on your occupation, award coverage, and employer. Superannuation adds 12% on top of your gross pay, and tax takes a significant chunk. Use the Salary Index to compare any salary against the national line, and check states for other regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median salary in Sydney? The median salary in Sydney is not directly reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The ABS publishes average weekly earnings, which for NSW is $2,108 per week (annualised $109,658). The median is typically lower because high earners pull the average up. Private surveys often suggest a median around $80,000–$90,000 for full-time workers, but these are not official. For a reliable benchmark, use the NSW state index of 101.2 (where 100 is the national average of $108,352).

How does the median salary in Sydney compare to the national average? The national average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings are $108,352 per year (index 100). NSW, where Sydney is located, has an index of 101.2, meaning average earnings are about 1.2% above the national line. However, the median in Sydney is likely below the national average because the average is pulled up by high-income earners in finance, tech, and professional services. For context, the national minimum wage is $52,255 (index 48.2), so the median sits somewhere between the minimum and the average.

How do superannuation and tax affect the take-home pay from a median salary in Sydney? Superannuation is 12% of gross pay (from 1 July 2026), paid by your employer on top of your salary. For a gross salary of, say, $90,000, your employer would contribute $10,800 to super. Your take-home pay after tax (2026–27 rates, including 2% Medicare levy) would be approximately $69,500, assuming you claim the tax-free threshold. The actual amount depends on your total income, deductions, and whether you have HELP debt or a Medicare levy surcharge. Remember, super is not part of your take-home pay but is a long-term benefit.