Accounting Salary Guide 2026-27: What You Take Home After Tax
The median full-time accounting salary in Australia is $2,003 per week before tax, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
Introduction
If you are looking for a clear picture of the accounting salary landscape in Australia, you have come to the right place. This guide uses the latest official data from Jobs and Skills Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Fair Work to show you what accountants actually earn, how much reaches your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy, and where the figures sit against national benchmarks.
What the data shows
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time earnings for Accountants (ANZSCO 2211) are $2,003 per week before tax, or about $104,156 per year. This is based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025). The median hourly rate is $53. About 84% of accountants work full time, averaging 43 hours per week.
These figures are for non-managerial adult employees and exclude part-time workers, so they reflect the typical full-time accounting salary in the market.
How accounting salary compares
Compared to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), the median accounting salary is roughly double. It also sits above the all-occupations median of $1,852 per week. However, it is slightly below the full-time adult ordinary time average of $2,083.70 per week (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This means accountants earn well above the floor but are in line with other professional roles.
Take-home pay after tax and Medicare
Using the 2026-27 tax rates, your take-home pay on the median accounting salary of $104,156 would be:
- Income tax: $21,767
- Medicare levy (2%): $2,083
- Total deductions: $23,850
- Take-home pay: $80,306 per year ($1,544 per week)
This estimate uses the latest single-person Medicare thresholds ($28,011 and $35,013) and includes the Low Income Tax Offset (which phases out completely at this income). It does not include HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary sacrifice. For a personalised estimate, use our Take-home pay tool.
Award-free and minimum wage
Accountants are not covered by a modern award. The Fair Work Ombudsman confirms that accountants working for an accounting firm or in other industries are award-free unless their employer’s award has a matching classification. This means the legal minimum is the National Minimum Wage: $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026. In practice, the accounting salary is far above this floor, but it is important to know your rights regarding leave, notice, and redundancy under the National Employment Standards.
Super and salary packaging
Employer superannuation contributions are paid on top of your salary at 12% from 1 July 2026 (up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830). If a job advertisement says “$104,156 plus super”, your total remuneration package is higher. You may also be able to salary package items like laptops or car parking, which can reduce your taxable income. See our Super and Salary packaging guides for more details.
Questions
What is the take-home pay for an accountant earning the median salary?
For the median accounting salary of $104,156 per year, your estimated take-home pay after income tax and the Medicare levy is about $80,306 per year, or $1,544 per week. This uses 2026-27 tax rates and assumes no HELP/HECS debt or salary sacrifice.
Are accountants covered by an award?
No. Accountants are award-free, meaning there is no modern award that sets minimum pay or conditions for professional accounting work. The legal floor is the National Minimum Wage ($26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026). Actual accounting salaries are far higher.
How does the accounting salary compare to the national average?
The median full-time accounting salary of $2,003 per week is above the all-occupations median of $1,852 per week. It is also about double the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week, but slightly below the full-time adult ordinary time average of $2,083.70 per week.