# Average salary Australia: Earnings Benchmark AU

> The median published figure in the Earnings Benchmark AU is 1,600 AUD across 13 figures from 3 sources' own pages in AUD (range 448 to 3,223 AUD; 4 sources publish a figure), read 12 October 2026.

Employee Cost Australia · https://employeecostaustralia.com/datasets/earnings-benchmark-au/ · computed 2026-10-25

**Median published figure:** 1,600 AUD (range 448 to 3,223 AUD; 13 published figures; 4 of 10 sources read publish one).

4 of the 10 named sources read in full publish a figure; 6 publish none, read 12 October 2026.

The median is up 164 AUD since 26 September 2026 (was 1,436 AUD across 3).

## By measure and state and occupation and industry

| Breakdown | Median | Range | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| measure average weekly ordinary time earnings, full-time adults | 2,083.7 AUD | 2,083.7 to 2,083.7 AUD | 1 |
| measure median weekly earnings, all employees | 1,436 AUD | 1,436 to 1,436 AUD | 1 |
| measure median weekly earnings in main job | 1,425 AUD | 1,425 to 1,425 AUD | 1 |
| measure wage price index, annual growth | 3.2 % | 3.2 to 3.2 % | 1 |
| state Australian Capital Territory | 1,600 AUD | 1,600 to 1,600 AUD | 1 |
| state Northern Territory | 1,510 AUD | 1,510 to 1,510 AUD | 1 |
| state Northern Territory | 2.8 % | 2.8 to 2.8 % | 1 |
| state South Australia | 3.6 % | 3.6 to 3.6 % | 1 |
| occupation Managers | 2,072 AUD | 2,072 to 2,072 AUD | 1 |
| occupation Professionals | 1,900 AUD | 1,900 to 1,900 AUD | 1 |
| occupation Chief Executives, General Managers and Legislators | 3,223 AUD | 3,223 to 3,223 AUD | 1 |
| occupation Food Preparation Assistants | 448 AUD | 448 to 448 AUD | 1 |
| industry Mining | 2,761 AUD | 2,761 to 2,761 AUD | 1 |
| industry Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 2,000 AUD | 2,000 to 2,000 AUD | 1 |
| industry Accommodation and food services | 700 AUD | 700 to 700 AUD | 1 |
| industry Retail trade | 900 AUD | 900 to 900 AUD | 1 |

## Every figure, with its source

One row per source: the figure the source's own page publishes, the page, and the day it was read.

| Source | Figure | Breakdown | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 3,223 AUD | Chief Executives, General Managers and Legislators | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 2,761 AUD | Mining | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/latest-release) | 2,083.7 AUD | average weekly ordinary time earnings, full-time adults | 2026-10-12 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 2,072 AUD | Managers | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 2,000 AUD | Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 1,900 AUD | Professionals | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 1,600 AUD | Australian Capital Territory | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 1,510 AUD | Northern Territory | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings-and-hours-australia/latest-release) | 1,436 AUD | median weekly earnings, all employees | 2026-10-12 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 1,425 AUD | median weekly earnings in main job | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 900 AUD | Retail trade | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 700 AUD | Accommodation and food services | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) | 448 AUD | Food Preparation Assistants | 2026-10-11 |
| [ABS, Wage Price Index, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/wage-price-index-australia/latest-release) | 3.6 % | South Australia | 2026-10-12 |
| [ABS, Wage Price Index, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/wage-price-index-australia/latest-release) | 3.2 % | wage price index, annual growth | 2026-10-12 |
| [ABS, Wage Price Index, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/wage-price-index-australia/latest-release) | 2.8 % | Northern Territory | 2026-10-12 |

## The sentence each figure was read from (16)

- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "The sub-major occupation groups with the highest median weekly earnings in August 2025 were: Chief Executives, General Managers and Legislators - $3,223."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "Mining ($2,761 per week, up from $2,594 in August 2024)."
- [ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/latest-release), read 2026-10-12: "Estimates for average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults (seasonally adjusted): increased by 3.7% annually to $2,083.70 in May 2026"
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "In August 2025, the occupation groups with highest median weekly earnings were Managers ($2,072 per week) and Professionals ($1,900)."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "Mining ($2,761 per week, up from $2,594 in August 2024). Electricity, gas, water and waste services ($2,000, up from $1,897)."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "In August 2025, the occupation groups with highest median weekly earnings were Managers ($2,072 per week) and Professionals ($1,900). The lowest were Sales workers ($742) and Labourers ($940)."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "The state or territory with the highest median weekly earnings in August 2025 was the Australian Capital Territory at $1,600 per week, followed by the Northern Territory at $1,510."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "The state or territory with the highest median weekly earnings in August 2025 was the Australian Capital Territory at $1,600 per week, followed by the Northern Territory at $1,510. The lowest were Tasmania and South Australia (both $1,300)."
- [ABS, Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings-and-hours-australia/latest-release), read 2026-10-12: "Median weekly earnings were $1,436.00 for all employees, $1,674.00 for males and $1,250.00 for females."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "50% of employees earned less than $1,425 (50th percentile/median)."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "Accommodation and food services ($700 per week, up from $650 in August 2024). Retail trade ($900, up from $895)."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "Accommodation and food services ($700 per week, up from $650 in August 2024)."
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release), read 2026-10-11: "The sub-major groups with the lowest median weekly earnings in August 2025 were: Food Preparation Assistants - $448."
- [ABS, Wage Price Index, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/wage-price-index-australia/latest-release), read 2026-10-12: "State and territory wage estimates in original terms show: South Australia recorded the highest quarterly rise at 1.1% and the highest annual growth at 3.6%."
- [ABS, Wage Price Index, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/wage-price-index-australia/latest-release), read 2026-10-12: "Wage growth was 3.2% for the year to the June quarter 2026, down from June quarter 2025 (+3.4%)."
- [ABS, Wage Price Index, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/wage-price-index-australia/latest-release), read 2026-10-12: "The Northern Territory recorded the lowest annual rise at 2.8%."

## Read in full, publishes no figure

- [ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (series page)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia), read 2026-10-12: read in full and no accepted figure on the page
- [ABS, Characteristics of Employment, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/characteristics-employment-australia/latest-release), read 2026-10-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [ABS, average earnings guide](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/understanding-statistics/guide-labour-statistics/earnings-guide/average-earnings-guide), read 2026-10-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Jobs and Skills Australia, occupation and industry profiles](https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [Jobs and Skills Australia, labour market insights](https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/labour-market-insights), read 2026-09-12: every candidate on the page was refused
- [ATO, taxation statistics](https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/taxation-statistics), read 2026-10-12: read in full and no accepted figure on the page

## Methodology

Every row is a verbatim sentence read from the named source's own page through our fetch service on the date shown, hash-pinned to the stored read (the sha of the page's visible text; the raw page is mirrored to R2). 4 of the 10 named sources that could be read published a usable figure; 6 published none and are recorded as not published, never filled in; 1 could not be read (blocked, dead or unreachable) and count nowhere. The headline figures (median, minimum, maximum, quartiles) are over ONE figure per source for each breakdown it prices, in AUD (a source's median where its page yielded several accepted sentences for one breakdown), so a page that gives figures for several breakdowns gives one for each and N counts 13 figures, never sentences; 105 candidate sentence(s) were refused by a reviewer with the reason recorded. The fuller derivation this dataset is chartered to grow into (not yet what the figures above are; they are each source's own published figure as read): the ABS median and average earnings per industry, occupation and state with the period they cover, joined to the Wage Price Index so a figure can be carried forward to today, and then multiplied by the on-cost index to give total employer cost per employee; the ABS publishes the earnings and the WPI separately and never the employer-cost product

## Sources

- [ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/latest-release) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [ABS, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (series page)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [ABS, Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings-and-hours-australia/latest-release) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [ABS, Employee earnings (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/employee-earnings/latest-release) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [ABS, Characteristics of Employment, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/characteristics-employment-australia/latest-release) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [ABS, Wage Price Index, Australia (latest release)](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/wage-price-index-australia/latest-release) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [ABS, average earnings guide](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/understanding-statistics/guide-labour-statistics/earnings-guide/average-earnings-guide) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Jobs and Skills Australia, occupation and industry profiles](https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [Jobs and Skills Australia, labour market insights](https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/labour-market-insights) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [ATO, taxation statistics](https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/taxation-statistics) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)
- [abs.gov.au](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions) (the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment)

## Cite or embed

- The median published figure in the Earnings Benchmark AU is 1,600 AUD across 13 figures from 3 sources' own pages in AUD (range 448 to 3,223 AUD; 4 sources publish a figure), read 12 October 2026.
- 4 of the 10 named sources read in full publish a figure; 6 publish none, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, measure average weekly ordinary time earnings, full-time adults: median 2,083.70 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, measure median weekly earnings, all employees: median 1,436 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, measure median weekly earnings in main job: median 1,425 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, measure wage price index, annual growth: median 3.20 percent across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, state Australian Capital Territory: median 1,600 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, state Northern Territory: median 1,510 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, state Northern Territory: median 2.80 percent across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, state South Australia: median 3.60 percent across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, occupation Managers: median 2,072 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, occupation Professionals: median 1,900 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, occupation Chief Executives, General Managers and Legislators: median 3,223 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, occupation Food Preparation Assistants: median 448 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, industry Mining: median 2,761 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, industry Electricity, gas, water and waste services: median 2,000 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, industry Accommodation and food services: median 700 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- Earnings Benchmark AU, industry Retail trade: median 900 AUD across 1 source, read 12 October 2026.
- The median is up 164 AUD since 26 September 2026 (was 1,436 AUD across 3).

Cite as: "employeecostaustralia.com Earnings Benchmark AU", updated 2026-10-25, https://employeecostaustralia.com/datasets/earnings-benchmark-au/.

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