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Property developer salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index
Understand property developer salary in Australia using the Salary Index. Compare with national benchmarks, awards, and state data. No single figure exists, but manager-level pay s
Property developer salary is not set by a single award; typical earnings for managers (a proxy) sit near the national index of 100, but actual pay varies widely.
What is a property developer?
A property developer buys land or existing dwellings, improves them, and sells them for profit. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the occupation requires a bachelor degree or at least five years of relevant experience. Developers work with architects, builders, and trades to design, approve, and construct projects. They may be employees of development companies or self-employed.
Where does property developer salary sit on the index?
The Salary Index uses the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year (index 100). Because there is no single published figure for property developer salary, we look at the closest available benchmark: managers. In August 2025, the ABS Employee Earnings report showed median weekly earnings for managers at $2,072, or about $107,744 annually. That gives an index of roughly 99.5 – almost exactly on the national line.
But property developers are not all managers. Some work in construction or real estate services. The same ABS report lists median weekly earnings for the Construction industry at $1,500 (index 83.3) and for Rental, hiring and real estate services at $1,500 (index 83.3). Those figures include many lower-paid roles, so a developer’s pay is likely higher. Successful self-employed developers can earn far above the index, while junior or salaried developers may earn less.
How the index works
The index is your yearly gross ordinary-time earnings divided by the national line ($108,352) multiplied by 100. For example, if you earn $130,000, your index is 120 – 20% above the national average. If you earn $80,000, your index is 74. You can compare your own pay using our how the index works page.
Award coverage and minimums
Property developers are not covered by the Real Estate Industry Award (MA000106). That award sets minimum rates for real estate employees – from $26.59 per hour for a Level 1 associate to $33.88 per hour for a Level 4 in-charge role – but it does not apply to developers. Developers are professionals or managers and are typically covered by individual contracts or enterprise agreements. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (index 48.2), but that is a floor, not a guide for developer pay.
State and industry comparisons
Property development happens across Australia, and pay varies by location. The states page shows indices for each state: NSW 101.2, VIC 98, QLD 97.9, WA 106.9, SA 94.6, TAS 88.6, NT 95.2, ACT 109.9. A developer in Western Australia or the ACT may earn more than one in Tasmania, reflecting broader market conditions.
Industry also matters. The industries page shows that Professional, scientific and technical services (index 114.7) and Mining (index 154.7) pay well above the national line. Property developers who work for large firms in those sectors may see higher salaries. Those in construction (index 83.3) or real estate services (index 83.3) may earn closer to the median for those industries.
Tax and super considerations
For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates start at nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy is 2%. Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, with a maximum contribution base of $270,830. A property developer earning $107,744 would pay roughly $24,000 in tax plus Medicare, leaving about $83,700 after tax (excluding HELP or other deductions).
Conclusion
Property developer salary is not a simple number. The best public benchmark is the manager median of $107,744 (index 99.5), but actual pay depends on experience, location, and whether you work for a company or yourself. Use the Salary Index to compare any offer or current pay against the national line. For more on how awards and minimums work, see our pay guides page.
If you are negotiating a property developer role, remember that the index is a starting point – not a ceiling. The market for experienced developers can push pay well above 100, especially in high-growth states or specialised sectors.
Questions people ask
What is the typical property developer salary in Australia?
There is no single figure because property developers are not covered by a modern award and ABS does not publish a separate earnings statistic. As a rough guide, managers (a category that includes many developers) earned a median of $2,072 per week in August 2025, which annualises to about $107,744 and sits just below the national index of 100 ($108,352). Actual salaries vary widely based on experience, project size, and whether the developer is an employee or self-employed.
How does the Salary Index apply to property developer pay?
The Salary Index compares yearly gross ordinary-time earnings to the national line of $108,352 (index 100). For a property developer earning the manager median of $107,744, the index is about 99.5 – very close to the national average. However, many developers earn well above or below that. The index helps you see where any pay figure sits relative to the Australian workforce, but it cannot replace individual salary data for this occupation.
Are property developers covered by the Real Estate Industry Award?
No. The Real Estate Industry Award (MA000106) covers real estate employees such as sales representatives, property managers, and administrative staff. Property developers are classified as professionals or managers (ABS skill level 1) and are not within the award’s scope. Their pay is determined by enterprise agreements, individual contracts, or self-employed earnings, not award minimums.