What is the average salary in Australia? Understanding your take-home pay

What is the average salary in Australia? It depends on how you measure

When you search for "what is the average salary in australia", you will find several different figures. The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes two key benchmarks: all employees average weekly total earnings ($1,579.20 per week, or $82,118 a year) and full-time adult ordinary time earnings ($2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 a year). The national minimum wage, set by Fair Work Ombudsman, is $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week.

But these are gross figures. What matters to you is the amount that reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. That is your take-home pay.

Gross salary versus package versus take-home

A common mix-up happens when a job ad says "$100,000 package". This usually includes your base salary plus the employer's superannuation contribution (12% from 1 July 2026). Your actual gross salary might be around $89,286 before super. Then income tax and Medicare are deducted from that gross salary, not from the package.

If the ad says "$100,000 plus super", the $100,000 is your base salary. The employer adds super on top. Your take-home will be calculated from the $100,000.

To see how much you keep, use our Take-home pay guide or the Clearance tool for a quick estimate.

How tax and Medicare affect your take-home

For the 2026–27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:

• Up to $18,200: nil
• $18,201 to $45,000: 15 cents per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30 cents per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 to $190,000: $31,020 plus 37 cents per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45 cents per $1 over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which can reduce tax by up to $700 for incomes up to $37,500, then phases out.

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, with reduced rates for low earners. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. Full-time salaries typically pay the full 2%.

Example: take-home on the average full-time salary

If you earn the full-time ordinary time average of $108,352, your tax before offsets would be about $31,020 plus 30 cents per dollar over $45,000 – but that's a rough guide. After Medicare levy (2% of $108,352 = $2,167) and LITO phase-out, your total deductions might be around $26,000 to $27,000, leaving a take-home of roughly $81,000 to $82,000 a year. This is an estimate, not a tax assessment.

Why the mix-up matters

When comparing jobs, always clarify whether the figure is base salary, total package (including super), or take-home. The Average pay page explains the different benchmarks. And remember that super is not deducted from your pay if it is quoted as "plus super".

For more details on how tax and Medicare apply to your situation, see our Tax and Medicare guide.

Key takeaways

• The average full-time salary is $108,352 a year before tax, but your take-home is lower.
• The minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week.
• Medicare levy is 2% for most full-time workers, with low-income thresholds at $28,011 and $35,013.
• Always check if a salary is quoted as base, package, or take-home.

Use our Benchmarks page to compare different measures.