Ever wondered how your income stacks up in Australia? We've compiled a comprehensive overview to help you grasp the range of average salaries across different regions of the country. Our analysis sheds light on average salaries by state and territory, as well as earnings in some of Australia's key industries.
Overall, full-time workers in Australia earn an average weekly wage of $1,838, based on the latest data released by the ABS in August 2023. This represents a yearly increase of 3.9%, equivalent to $68 per week, according to Bjorn Jarvis, head of labour statistics at the ABS. Jarvis noted that aside from a brief surge in average earnings during the early stages of the pandemic, driven by impacts on lower-paying jobs, this marks the strongest annual growth since May 2013.
Here's a breakdown of the current average salaries for full-time workers across Australia by state:
New South Wales: Full-time adults in NSW earn an average weekly wage of $1,831.90, slightly below the national average. Men earn $1,924.80, while women earn $1,697.00 on average.
Victoria: In Victoria, full-time workers earn an average of $1,832.90 per week, with men earning $1,933.50 and women earning $1,683.70 on average.
Queensland: The average weekly earnings in Queensland are $1,791.00, with men earning $1,887.80 and women earning $1,637.80 on average.
South Australia: Full-time workers in South Australia earn an average of $1,677.80 per week, with men earning slightly more at $1,717 and women earning $1,601.80.
Western Australia: Western Australia boasts the highest average weekly earnings at $2,039.30, with men earning $2,216.30 and women earning $1,741.70 on average.
Tasmania: In Tasmania, full-time workers earn an average of $1,619.30 per week, with men earning $1,652.10 and women earning $1,565.70 on average.
Northern Territory: Full-time workers in the Northern Territory earn an average of $1,775.90 per week, with men earning $1,912.10 and women earning $1,614.10 on average.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT): The ACT records an average weekly earnings of $2,022.90, with men earning $2,192.00 and women earning $1,911.40 on average.
Comparing salaries across occupations and regions:
Average Teacher Salary: Nationwide, teachers earn between $90,000 to $95,000 annually, with Tasmania offering the highest potential salary at $110,000.
Average Miner Salary: Miners in Australia earn between $120,000 to $140,000 annually, with consistent figures across Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Average Lawyer Salary: Lawyers in Australia earn between $85,000 to $105,000 annually, with higher averages in Western Australia and lower averages in South Australia and Tasmania.
Average Nursing Salary: Nurses in Australia earn between $75,000 to $95,000 annually, with variations in different states and territories.
Average Site Supervisor Salary: Site supervisors in Australia earn between $100,000 to $120,000 annually, with notable differences across regions.
Average Retail Sales Assistant Salary: Retail sales assistants in Australia earn between $55,000 to $65,000 annually, with varying averages across different states and territories.
In the wake of the pandemic, salary considerations have become increasingly vital for Australians. According to recent research from SEEK, 40% of job seekers prioritise salary and compensation.
Consequently, companies are recognising the necessity to offer competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain talent, contributing to the observed rise in average weekly salaries nationwide.