[Australia] Average state salary breakdown

A comprehensive new analysis mapping out the landscape of Australia’s average salary by state and territory, as well as the salaries for some of the most popular industries in the nation, has been compiled by Forbes using data from multiple sources.

According to the latest statistics from the ABS, released in August 2023, Australia’s average full-time weekly wage is $1838.

Bjorn Jarvis - Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) head of labour statistics - said in a statement that this is an annual increase of 3.9 per cent or $68 per week.

“Other than a brief spike in average earnings early in the pandemic, when lower paying jobs were particularly impacted, this is the strongest annual growth since May 2013,” Mr Jarvis said.

Forbes has broken down the current average salary for Australian full-time workers.

The latest ABS report for Australian salaries shows the average weekly earnings in each state and territory. These figures reportedly represent the wages of full-time workers across all industries.

Topping the list for the highest-earning state or territory in the nation was Western Australia. The large proportion of mining employees, generally attracting higher salaries, is likely to account for this.

Forbes’ state-by-state breakdown includes the difference in wages between men and women together with the average annual salary of the major capital cities.

The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time workers is $1,838 before tax. For men, the figure increases to $1,938.30; an additional $100.30 each week.

For women in Australia working full time, the average weekly earnings drop more than $150 per week below the national average, to $1,686.

New South Wales

The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults in NSW is $1,831.90. For men this average weekly ordinary time earning increases to $1,924.80. For women, the average decreases to $1,697.00.

Sydney

The average salary in Sydney is $80,000 a year, according to PayScale. The figure was compiled by reports from more than 58,000 workers.

Victoria

In Victoria, the average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults, regardless of gender, is $1,832.90. For men employed full-time the average weekly ordinary time earning increases to $1,933.50. For women, it decreases to $1,683.70.

Melbourne

The average annual salary in Melbourne is $75,000, according to data from PayScale. This figure reportedly comes from more than 57,000 individual reports of salary and compensation.

Queensland

Full-time workers in Queensland earn an average weekly ordinary salary of $1,791.00. For men, the state-wide weekly ordinary time earnings average is $1,887.80. Women can expect a lower weekly salary of $1637.80.

Brisbane

The average annual salary in Brisbane for full-time workers is $73,000, according to PayScale. This figure was compiled from salary reports of more than 30,000 Brisbane workers.

South Australia

The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time workers in South Australia is $1,677.80. The figure for men in South Australia is $1,717, which is still below the national average. Women are paid an average weekly wage of $1,601.80.

Adelaide

The average yearly salary for the capital city is $70,000, according to PayScale data compiled from more than 16,000 individual reports on salaries.

Western Australia

Western Australia has the highest weekly average earnings for full-time workers of all states and territories, at $2,039.30. For men in WA, this weekly wage increases to $2,216.30. For women working full-time, this figure reportedly drops significantly, to $1,741.70.

Perth

Perth’s average annual salary is $77,000, according to PayScale data sourced from 22,000 individual reports.

Tasmania

The average ordinary time earnings for full-time workers in Tasmania is $1,619.30 per week. For men, this figure increases slightly to $1,652.10 but for women, the figure drops to an average of $1,565.70.

Hobart

The average annual salary for full-time workers in Hobart is $65,000, according to PayScale data. This figure was reached from the input of more than 2000 individuals reporting their own salaries in Hobart to the site.

Northern Territory

For full-time workers in the Northern Territory, average ordinary time earnings are $1,775.90. For men working in the north, this figure rises to $1,912.10 per week. For women, weekly earnings in the NT drop behind the national threshold to $1614.10.

Darwin

The average annual salary for full-time workers in Darwin is $72,000. This figure comes from recent PayScale data, compiled from more than 1000 individual salary reports.

Australian Capital Territory

Australia’s capital has the second-highest average weekly earnings in the country. Average ordinary time earnings for full-time workers are $2,022.90. Men working in the ACT receive an average weekly ordinary-time wage of $2,192.00. For women, the weekly average in the ACT drops to $1,911.40.

Canberra

PayScale data from approximately 2,500 individual earning reports revealed that the average salary in Canberra for full-time workers is $71,000.

Source: Forbes

(Links via original reporting)

A comprehensive new analysis mapping out the landscape of Australia’s average salary by state and territory, as well as the salaries for some of the most popular industries in the nation, has been compiled by Forbes using data from multiple sources.

According to the latest statistics from the ABS, released in August 2023, Australia’s average full-time weekly wage is $1838.

Bjorn Jarvis - Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) head of labour statistics - said in a statement that this is an annual increase of 3.9 per cent or $68 per week.

“Other than a brief spike in average earnings early in the pandemic, when lower paying jobs were particularly impacted, this is the strongest annual growth since May 2013,” Mr Jarvis said.

Forbes has broken down the current average salary for Australian full-time workers.

The latest ABS report for Australian salaries shows the average weekly earnings in each state and territory. These figures reportedly represent the wages of full-time workers across all industries.

Topping the list for the highest-earning state or territory in the nation was Western Australia. The large proportion of mining employees, generally attracting higher salaries, is likely to account for this.

Forbes’ state-by-state breakdown includes the difference in wages between men and women together with the average annual salary of the major capital cities.

The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time workers is $1,838 before tax. For men, the figure increases to $1,938.30; an additional $100.30 each week.

For women in Australia working full time, the average weekly earnings drop more than $150 per week below the national average, to $1,686.

New South Wales

The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults in NSW is $1,831.90. For men this average weekly ordinary time earning increases to $1,924.80. For women, the average decreases to $1,697.00.

Sydney

The average salary in Sydney is $80,000 a year, according to PayScale. The figure was compiled by reports from more than 58,000 workers.

Victoria

In Victoria, the average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults, regardless of gender, is $1,832.90. For men employed full-time the average weekly ordinary time earning increases to $1,933.50. For women, it decreases to $1,683.70.

Melbourne

The average annual salary in Melbourne is $75,000, according to data from PayScale. This figure reportedly comes from more than 57,000 individual reports of salary and compensation.

Queensland

Full-time workers in Queensland earn an average weekly ordinary salary of $1,791.00. For men, the state-wide weekly ordinary time earnings average is $1,887.80. Women can expect a lower weekly salary of $1637.80.

Brisbane

The average annual salary in Brisbane for full-time workers is $73,000, according to PayScale. This figure was compiled from salary reports of more than 30,000 Brisbane workers.

South Australia

The average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time workers in South Australia is $1,677.80. The figure for men in South Australia is $1,717, which is still below the national average. Women are paid an average weekly wage of $1,601.80.

Adelaide

The average yearly salary for the capital city is $70,000, according to PayScale data compiled from more than 16,000 individual reports on salaries.

Western Australia

Western Australia has the highest weekly average earnings for full-time workers of all states and territories, at $2,039.30. For men in WA, this weekly wage increases to $2,216.30. For women working full-time, this figure reportedly drops significantly, to $1,741.70.

Perth

Perth’s average annual salary is $77,000, according to PayScale data sourced from 22,000 individual reports.

Tasmania

The average ordinary time earnings for full-time workers in Tasmania is $1,619.30 per week. For men, this figure increases slightly to $1,652.10 but for women, the figure drops to an average of $1,565.70.

Hobart

The average annual salary for full-time workers in Hobart is $65,000, according to PayScale data. This figure was reached from the input of more than 2000 individuals reporting their own salaries in Hobart to the site.

Northern Territory

For full-time workers in the Northern Territory, average ordinary time earnings are $1,775.90. For men working in the north, this figure rises to $1,912.10 per week. For women, weekly earnings in the NT drop behind the national threshold to $1614.10.

Darwin

The average annual salary for full-time workers in Darwin is $72,000. This figure comes from recent PayScale data, compiled from more than 1000 individual salary reports.

Australian Capital Territory

Australia’s capital has the second-highest average weekly earnings in the country. Average ordinary time earnings for full-time workers are $2,022.90. Men working in the ACT receive an average weekly ordinary-time wage of $2,192.00. For women, the weekly average in the ACT drops to $1,911.40.

Canberra

PayScale data from approximately 2,500 individual earning reports revealed that the average salary in Canberra for full-time workers is $71,000.

Source: Forbes

(Links via original reporting)