What is the average salary in Australia 2024?

According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, the median full-time adult ordinary earnings in Australia are approximately $78,800 per year. However, this varies significantly by age. Full-time workers aged 40–44 typically earn the most, with a median of around $91,000. Younger workers aged 20–24 earn a median of approximately $52,000 full-time.

How does my salary compare to other Australians my age?

The best way to benchmark your salary is against the median for your specific age group. The ABS data on this page breaks down median and mean full-time salaries by age cohort, from 20–24 through to 55–64. You can also use My Financial Position's free compare tool to see how your income, savings, and net worth stack up against Australian peers your age.

Australian Data

Average Australian Salary by Age — 2024 Data

What is the average full-time salary in Australia? See median and mean salary data by age group from the ABS. Find out where your income sits compared to Australians your age.

$78,800 National median (full-time)

$91,000 Median peak (age 40–44)

~17% Gender pay gap (full-time)

Salary by Age Group

Median & Mean Salary — Australia

All figures in Australian dollars, annual. Source: ABS Employee Earnings and Hours Survey 2023 and ABS Labour Force statistics.

Age Group	Median Full-Time Salary	Mean Full-Time Salary	Median All Workers
20–24	$52,000	$58,000	$38,000
25–29	$68,000	$74,000	$62,000
30–34	$82,000	$91,000	$74,000
35–39	$89,000	$98,000	$78,000
40–44	$91,000	$102,000	$80,000
45–54	$87,000	$98,000	$76,000
55–64	$76,000	$85,000	$62,000

Source: ABS Employee Earnings and Hours Survey (cat. no. 6306.0) and ABS Labour Force Survey. Full-time figures refer to adult ordinary-time earnings for employees working 35+ hours per week. "All workers" median includes part-time workers. Figures rounded to nearest $1,000. Mean figures are higher than medians due to high-income earners pulling the average up.

What this data means

Understanding Australian Salary Data

The gap between "median full-time salary" and "median all workers" is largely explained by part-time work. Australia has one of the highest rates of part-time employment in the OECD, and part-time workers skew heavily female — particularly in the 30–44 age bracket, where many women reduce hours around family commitments. This is why the "all workers" median can look substantially lower than the full-time figure: a significant share of the workforce simply isn't working full-time hours.

Earnings tend to peak in the 40–44 age group, then taper off — partly due to career progression plateauing, and partly because older workers are more likely to transition to part-time arrangements in the lead-up to retirement. The dip in the 55–64 bracket reflects both of these dynamics. If you're in your 30s and seeing your income growing steadily, you're on a typical trajectory: earnings growth is usually fastest between ages 25–40.

The gender pay gap in Australia remains significant. ABS data consistently shows women in full-time employment earn around 83–87 cents for every dollar earned by men, translating to a gap of roughly $14,000–$19,000 per year on a full-time basis. The gap is smaller in younger workers and larger in older cohorts, reflecting both historical discrimination and the compounding effect of career breaks. Superannuation is disproportionately impacted — a lower salary over a 40-year career can mean hundreds of thousands less at retirement.

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, the median full-time adult ordinary earnings in Australia are approximately $78,800 per year. The mean (average) is somewhat higher — around $90,000 — because high earners pull the figure up. These figures refer to full-time workers; when you include all workers (including part-time), both the median and mean are lower. Salaries vary significantly by industry, state, and age group.

$80,000 puts you above the national median for full-time workers, which sits at roughly $78,800. Whether it feels like "enough" depends heavily on where you live. In Sydney or Melbourne, $80,000 can feel tight after rent, transport, and living costs. In regional areas or lower cost-of-living cities like Brisbane, Adelaide, or Perth, it goes considerably further. For workers under 30, $80,000 is a genuinely strong income — well above average for that age cohort.

The table above gives you the median and mean full-time salary for your age group. If you're earning above the median for your bracket, you're ahead of the majority of full-time workers your age. For a deeper comparison — including net worth, savings, and superannuation — use My Financial Position's free compare tool. It uses ABS benchmark data to show you exactly where you stand across multiple financial dimensions.

This page provides educational information only. It does not constitute financial advice. Data sourced from ABS Employee Earnings and Hours Survey and ABS Labour Force statistics. © 2026 My Financial Position.