Understanding the average NBA salary: Gross pay, package, and take-home pay in Australia

Introduction

When you hear about the average NBA salary, it’s easy to assume that figure is what the player takes home. But in Australia, the number you see in a headline or a contract is almost always the gross amount before tax, Medicare, and other deductions. Understanding the difference between gross salary, total package, and take-home pay is essential for anyone comparing job offers or planning their budget.

Gross salary vs total package vs take-home pay

Gross salary

Your gross salary is the base amount agreed in your employment contract. It does not include superannuation (super) or any benefits. For example, if the ABS reports full-time adult ordinary time earnings at $2,083.70 per week, that is a gross figure .

Total package

Many Australian employers advertise a “total package” that includes your gross salary plus the compulsory super guarantee (currently 12% from 1 July 2026). Super is paid into a fund on your behalf and is not available as cash in your bank account. If you see a job ad saying “$120,000 package”, the super component (about $12,857) is not part of your take-home pay.

Take-home pay

Take-home pay is what lands in your account after your employer deducts income tax, the Medicare levy, and any other authorised deductions (e.g., union fees, salary sacrifice arrangements). The Australian Taxation Office provides tax tables that employers use to calculate withholding. You can estimate your take-home using the MoneySmart tax calculator .

How tax and Medicare affect your net income

For the 2026–27 financial year, Australian residents pay tax according to these brackets:

• $0 – $18,200: Nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
• $190,001 and over: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which can reduce your tax bill. The Medicare levy adds 2% of your taxable income for most full-time workers. The latest published single-person Medicare thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your taxable income is below $28,011, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, a shading-in rate of 10c per $1 over the lower threshold applies. Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%.

Putting it together: Example with a high salary

Suppose you earn a gross annual salary of $200,000 – a figure that might be comparable to a modest NBA salary (though the actual average NBA salary varies and is not supported by Australian data). Using the 2026–27 rates:

• Tax on first $190,000: $51,370
• Tax on remaining $10,000 at 45c: $4,500
• Total income tax: $55,870
• Medicare levy (2% of $200,000): $4,000
• Total deductions: $59,870
• Take-home pay: $140,130 per year, or about $5,389 per fortnight (before any other deductions).

This example ignores LITO (which phases out above $66,667) and assumes no HELP/HECS or salary sacrifice. Your actual take-home may differ due to rounding in payroll tax tables.

Why the average NBA salary is not a useful benchmark for most Australians

The term “average NBA salary” often appears in global sports news, but it reflects US contracts, taxes, and cost of living. In Australia, the ABS provides more relevant benchmarks: the average weekly total earnings for all employees is $1,579.20, and for full-time adults it’s $2,083.70. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. These figures are what you should compare your own salary against.

Key takeaways

• Gross salary is before tax and super.
• Total package includes super, which is not cash in hand.
• Take-home pay is what you actually receive after tax and Medicare.
• The average NBA salary is a US figure and not directly applicable to Australian workers.
• Use the Take-home pay guide and Tax and Medicare resources to estimate your net income accurately.