A complete, sourced guide to salaries, taxes, and cost of living in Australia — built for job seekers, professionals, students, expats, employers, and researchers comparing pay across 500+ professions and 15 industries.
Figures above are illustrative national averages — see Methodology for how they're calculated.
Australia combines a resource-driven economy (mining and energy, concentrated in Western Australia and Queensland) with strong services sectors in Sydney and Melbourne. Wages are supported by one of the highest statutory minimum wages in the world and strong union coverage in several industries.
Sydney generally leads on both salary and cost of living, while Perth and Brisbane offer strong resource-sector and services pay respectively, often at a somewhat lower cost of living.
All figures on this page are shown in USD for cross-country comparison and represent national average estimates. Actual pay depends heavily on state, industry, and experience.
| Profession | Industry | Avg. Monthly | Avg. Annual | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Technology | $8,900 | $106,800 | $76,900 – $165,500 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $9,250 | $111,000 | $79,900 – $172,000 |
| Product Manager | Technology | $10,000 | $120,000 | $86,400 – $186,000 |
| Web Developer | Technology | $6,750 | $81,000 | $58,300 – $125,600 |
| IT Support Specialist | Technology | $4,450 | $53,400 | $38,400 – $82,800 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $6,300 | $75,600 | $54,400 – $117,200 |
| Physician (General) | Healthcare | $17,700 | $212,400 | $152,900 – $329,200 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $14,100 | $169,200 | $121,800 – $262,300 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $10,400 | $124,800 | $89,900 – $193,400 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $7,650 | $91,800 | $66,100 – $142,300 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $7,250 | $87,000 | $62,600 – $134,800 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $7,450 | $89,400 | $64,400 – $138,600 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $8,000 | $96,000 | $69,100 – $148,800 |
| Electrician | Construction | $5,200 | $62,400 | $44,900 – $96,700 |
| Plumber | Construction | $5,000 | $60,000 | $43,200 – $93,000 |
| Construction Worker | Construction | $3,650 | $43,800 | $31,500 – $67,900 |
| Architect | Construction | $6,950 | $83,400 | $60,000 – $129,300 |
| Teacher (K-12) | Education | $4,650 | $55,800 | $40,200 – $86,500 |
| University Professor | Education | $7,250 | $87,000 | $62,600 – $134,800 |
| School Administrator | Education | $6,550 | $78,600 | $56,600 – $121,800 |
| Retail Sales Associate | Retail | $2,700 | $32,400 | $23,300 – $50,200 |
| Retail Store Manager | Retail | $4,450 | $53,400 | $38,400 – $82,800 |
| Chef | Hospitality | $4,250 | $51,000 | $36,700 – $79,000 |
| Waiter / Waitress | Hospitality | $2,500 | $30,000 | $21,600 – $46,500 |
| Hotel Manager | Hospitality | $5,200 | $62,400 | $44,900 – $96,700 |
| Factory Worker | Manufacturing | $3,300 | $39,600 | $28,500 – $61,400 |
| Production Manager | Manufacturing | $6,850 | $82,200 | $59,200 – $127,400 |
| Government Administrator | Government | $5,300 | $63,600 | $45,800 – $98,600 |
| Police Officer | Government | $5,100 | $61,200 | $44,100 – $94,900 |
| Truck Driver | Transportation | $4,150 | $49,800 | $35,900 – $77,200 |
| Logistics Manager | Transportation | $6,650 | $79,800 | $57,500 – $123,700 |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing | $8,000 | $96,000 | $69,100 – $148,800 |
| Digital Marketing Specialist | Marketing | $5,200 | $62,400 | $44,900 – $96,700 |
| Corporate Lawyer | Legal | $12,500 | $150,000 | $108,000 – $232,500 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $4,650 | $55,800 | $40,200 – $86,500 |
| Sales Representative | Sales | $4,850 | $58,200 | $41,900 – $90,200 |
| Account Executive | Sales | $6,650 | $79,800 | $57,500 – $123,700 |
| Customer Service Representative | Customer Service | $3,200 | $38,400 | $27,600 – $59,500 |
| Call Center Manager | Customer Service | $5,500 | $66,000 | $47,500 – $102,300 |
| Accountant | Finance | $6,000 | $72,000 | $51,800 – $111,600 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $7,050 | $84,600 | $60,900 – $131,100 |
| Investment Banker | Finance | $13,700 | $164,400 | $118,400 – $254,800 |
| HR Manager | Various | $7,800 | $93,600 | $67,400 – $145,100 |
| Graphic Designer | Various | $4,550 | $54,600 | $39,300 – $84,600 |
Figures are illustrative national average estimates rounded for readability, not exact statistical values. See Methodology for how these are calculated.
Australia's high minimum wage and strong average salaries support solid savings potential in most cities, though Sydney's housing costs — among the highest in the world relative to income — significantly narrow that margin for residents there compared to Perth, Adelaide, or Brisbane.
National average asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment is roughly $1,200–$1,500/month, but can exceed $2,200/month in central Sydney and drop below $1,000/month in Adelaide or regional areas.
Median house prices are among the highest in the world relative to income — Sydney often exceeds $700,000 USD, while Perth, Adelaide, and regional centres remain considerably more affordable, often under $450,000 USD.
Cities such as Adelaide, Hobart, and regional centres in Queensland offer significantly lower housing costs than Sydney or Melbourne while still providing solid job markets.
Australia provides universal healthcare through Medicare, funded through general taxation and the Medicare Levy, covering free or subsidized treatment at public hospitals and subsidized out-of-hospital medical services.
Medicare covers most essential care; many Australians also carry private health insurance for faster access to elective procedures and a choice of specialists, encouraged by tax incentives (and penalties for higher earners who opt out).
Public hospital treatment is free for Medicare-eligible residents. GP visits may involve a gap payment depending on whether the doctor 'bulk bills' (charges Medicare directly). Private health insurance premiums vary by coverage level and age.
Public school education is free and funded by state and federal governments. Private and Catholic school options are also widely used, with fees ranging from modest to very substantial at elite private schools.
Domestic student tuition is subsidized under the Commonwealth-supported place system, with most students able to defer payment via the HECS-HELP loan system. International student tuition is considerably higher, often $20,000–$45,000 USD/year.
Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have solid public transport networks (trains, trams, buses/ferries), while much of the rest of the country, especially regional areas, is heavily car-dependent given Australia's large geographic size.
Fuel prices are generally moderate by global standards. Long driving distances between cities are common given Australia's size, and car ownership is the norm outside the main urban centres.
The standard full-time workweek is 38 hours. Australian law guarantees a statutory minimum of 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave, plus public holidays, and many awards/agreements provide additional entitlements.
Hybrid work is common, particularly in professional services and technology. Standard benefits include mandatory employer superannuation contributions on top of salary, paid annual and personal/carer's leave, and often long service leave after extended tenure.
Foreign nationals generally need a visa to work in Australia, commonly through employer-sponsored skilled visas or points-tested independent skilled migration visas assessed against factors like age, qualifications, and work experience.
This is general information, not legal advice. For current, authoritative requirements, consult the Department of Home Affairs official visa portal, or a registered migration agent.
Based on the figures shown on this page, the average salary in Australia is approximately $5,600 per month, or around $67,200 per year, though this varies significantly by state, profession, and experience level.
This depends heavily on city. In Sydney, a salary well above the national average is often needed to offset high housing costs, while the same salary goes further in Adelaide or regional areas.
The national minimum wage is A$24.10 per hour, one of the highest statutory minimum wages in the world. Specific industry awards may set different minimum rates for certain roles.
Australia's income tax is progressive, generally from 16% to 45%, plus a Medicare Levy of around 2% for most taxpayers — see the Tax System section above. There is no separate state income tax.
Sydney and Melbourne generally report the highest average salaries, driven by finance, technology, and professional services, though both also carry a higher cost of living.
Adelaide and Hobart are generally considerably more affordable than Sydney or Melbourne, alongside many regional centres.
Core Medicare-covered services, including public hospital treatment, are free or subsidized for Medicare-eligible residents. Many Australians also carry private health insurance for faster access to elective care.
Full-time employees are entitled to a statutory minimum of 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year, plus public holidays.
Technology roles on this page range from around $53,000/year for entry-level IT support roles to over $120,000/year for experienced product managers.
Most foreign nationals need a visa to work in Australia, commonly an employer-sponsored skilled visa or a points-tested skilled migration visa. See our Visa & Employment section for where to find official guidance.
Gross salary is before tax and the Medicare Levy. Take-home pay is what remains after these deductions — note that employer superannuation contributions are paid on top of salary, not deducted from it.
No — the salary figures on this page represent base cash salary. Employer superannuation contributions (currently around 11–12% of salary) are paid in addition, on top of these figures, into a retirement account.
Data on this page is reviewed and updated manually on a regular cycle rather than pulled from a live feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page.
Figures are informed by categories of public sources such as government labour statistics, tax authority publications, and independent compensation surveys. See our Data Sources section below.
Yes — use the Compare tool on the Global Salary Atlas homepage to compare salary, tax, and cost of living between Australia and any other country in our database.
Figures on this page are informed by categories of public sources, including government labour statistics, national tax authority publications, public statistical agencies, and — where relevant for broader economic context — international organizations. These are named here as examples of the type of source we draw on, not as a claim of live or automated data access.
This page is manually reviewed and updated rather than fed by a real-time data feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page, and our full Data Sources and Methodology pages for more detail on how figures across Global Salary Atlas are sourced and verified.
Spotted a figure that looks outdated? Let us know — corrections are reviewed and applied on our regular update cycle.