Introduction
The average full-time adult ordinary time weekly earnings in Australia reached AUD 2,014.30 in November 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings survey. This translates to an annualised full-time salary of approximately AUD 104,744 before tax. But this headline figure masks enormous variation by industry: full-time workers in mining earn an average of AUD 3,015.30 per week (AUD 156,796 annually), while workers in accommodation and food services earn AUD 1,347.80 per week (AUD 70,086 annually) — a gap of more than two to one. The median full-time weekly earnings (the middle of the distribution, less influenced by very high earners) was approximately AUD 1,750 in late 2025, closer to AUD 91,000 annually. This article breaks down the ABS data by industry, state, and employment type for 2026, drawing on the most recent ABS release (Average Weekly Earnings, November 2025).
Full-Time Adult Ordinary Time Earnings by Industry
The ABS classifies earnings into 19 industry divisions under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). The five highest-paying industries for full-time adult ordinary time employees as at November 2025 were: Mining (AUD 3,015.30 per week, approximately AUD 156,796 annually), Information Media and Telecommunications (AUD 2,458.40 per week, AUD 127,837 annually), Financial and Insurance Services (AUD 2,353.10 per week, AUD 122,361 annually), Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (AUD 2,319.70 per week, AUD 120,624 annually), and Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services (AUD 2,286.40 per week, AUD 118,893 annually).
The five lowest-paying industries were: Accommodation and Food Services (AUD 1,347.80 per week, AUD 70,086 annually), Retail Trade (AUD 1,428.40 per week, AUD 74,277 annually), Arts and Recreation Services (AUD 1,547.60 per week, AUD 80,475 annually), Administrative and Support Services (AUD 1,601.20 per week, AUD 83,262 annually), and Other Services including repair and maintenance, personal care, and religious organisations (AUD 1,623.30 per week, AUD 84,412 annually).
Industries in the middle of the distribution include: Construction (AUD 1,926.70 per week, AUD 100,188 annually), Health Care and Social Assistance (AUD 1,901.40 per week, AUD 98,873 annually), Education and Training (AUD 1,865.70 per week, AUD 97,016 annually), Public Administration and Safety (AUD 2,019.50 per week, AUD 105,014 annually), Manufacturing (AUD 1,734.60 per week, AUD 90,199 annually), and Transport, Postal and Warehousing (AUD 1,875.30 per week, AUD 97,516 annually).
Earnings by State and Territory
Average full-time adult ordinary time weekly earnings vary significantly by jurisdiction. As at November 2025, Western Australia led the country with average weekly full-time earnings of AUD 2,226.80 (AUD 115,794 annually), driven by the concentration of mining and resources employment. The Australian Capital Territory was second at AUD 2,175.50 per week (AUD 113,126 annually), reflecting the high proportion of public administration, policy, and professional services roles. New South Wales (AUD 2,050.10 per week, AUD 106,605 annually), Victoria (AUD 1,980.40 per week, AUD 102,981 annually), and Queensland (AUD 1,956.30 per week, AUD 101,728 annually) clustered near the national average.
The remaining states and the Northern Territory fell below the national average: Northern Territory AUD 1,887.20 per week (AUD 98,134 annually), South Australia AUD 1,820.60 per week (AUD 94,671 annually), and Tasmania AUD 1,735.90 per week (AUD 90,267 annually). The gap between the highest-earning state (WA) and the lowest-earning state (Tasmania) was approximately AUD 491 per week, or AUD 25,527 per year.
Public vs Private Sector Earnings
Public sector full-time employees earned a higher average (AUD 2,104.50 per week, AUD 109,434 annually) than private sector employees (AUD 1,984.20 per week, AUD 103,178 annually) as at November 2025. The public sector premium was approximately 6.1% on a weekly basis. This gap has narrowed from approximately 8% in 2020, partly due to stronger private sector wage growth in the post-pandemic labour market. Within the public sector, Commonwealth government employees earned substantially more (AUD 2,345.80 per week) than state government (AUD 2,020.10) and local government (AUD 1,781.30) employees, reflecting the higher proportion of policy, regulatory, and specialised professional roles at the Commonwealth level.
The Gender Pay Gap in 2026
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings data for November 2025 showed a national gender pay gap of 11.9% for full-time adult ordinary time earnings. Full-time working men earned an average of AUD 2,133.20 per week, while full-time working women earned AUD 1,879.50 per week — a difference of AUD 253.70 per week, or approximately AUD 13,192 per year. The gap varied significantly by industry: the Financial and Insurance Services sector had the widest gap (21.3%), while Public Administration and Safety had the narrowest (5.2%). The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) publishes employer-level gender pay gap data annually, and as at the February 2025 release, the median total remuneration gap across all reporting employers was 14.1%.
Total Earnings vs Ordinary Time Earnings
It is important to distinguish between “ordinary time earnings” (which exclude overtime) and “total earnings” (which include overtime, bonuses, and other non-ordinary payments). The total earnings figure is higher because it captures penalty rates, overtime, and bonuses. For all employees (including part-time and casual workers), average weekly total earnings were AUD 1,534.10 as at November 2025. The difference between ordinary time and total earnings is largest in industries with significant overtime and penalty rate structures, such as mining (where total earnings can exceed ordinary time earnings by 15-20% due to site allowances and shift loadings) and construction (where overtime and site allowances are common).
FAQ
What is the difference between average and median earnings, and which is more representative?
Average (mean) earnings are the total earnings of all workers divided by the number of workers. This figure is pulled upward by relatively few very high earners. Median earnings represent the middle of the distribution: half of workers earn more and half earn less. For full-time workers in Australia, the median weekly earnings is approximately AUD 1,750 (AUD 91,000 annually), about 13% lower than the mean of AUD 2,014. For most people trying to understand “what a typical Australian earns,” the median is the more representative figure.
How often does the ABS update earnings data?
The ABS releases Average Weekly Earnings data twice a year, with the November release (published in February of the following year) and the May release (published in August). This survey covers approximately 5,200 employers and is distinct from the Wage Price Index (released quarterly), which measures changes in the price of labour rather than the level of earnings.
Which industries have had the fastest wage growth over the past 2 years?
According to the ABS Wage Price Index for the September 2025 quarter, the industries with the highest annual wage growth were Health Care and Social Assistance (4.8% year-on-year), Education and Training (4.4%), and Accommodation and Food Services (4.1%). The slowest wage growth was in Mining (2.9%), reflecting the normalisation of the resources sector after strong growth in 2022-2023.
How do graduate starting salaries compare to these industry averages?
Graduate starting salaries are substantially lower than the industry-wide averages for experienced workers. According to the 2025 QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey, the median full-time starting salary for Australian bachelor’s degree graduates was AUD 71,000, with the highest paid being dentistry graduates (AUD 97,000 median) and the lowest being pharmacy graduates (AUD 55,500 median) and creative arts graduates (AUD 58,000 median). Graduate salaries typically approach industry averages after 5-10 years of experience.
Are Australian salaries high compared to other countries?
In nominal USD terms, Australian full-time average earnings are among the highest in the OECD. As at 2025, Australian average full-time earnings of approximately USD 67,000 (at the prevailing AUD/USD exchange rate) rank behind only the United States, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Iceland within the OECD. When adjusted for purchasing power parity (cost of living), Australia ranks somewhat lower due to high housing and services costs, but remains in the top decile of OECD countries.
Data Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, November 2025 (ABS cat. no. 6302.0)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Wage Price Index, Australia, September 2025 (ABS cat. no. 6345.0)
- Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Employer Gender Pay Gaps Snapshot, February 2025 (wgea.gov.au)
- Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2025 Graduate Outcomes Survey
- OECD, Average Annual Wages 2025 (stats.oecd.org)
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Australian earnings and salary data and does not constitute financial, career, or employment advice. All earnings figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics November 2025 release and related official publications. Industry classifications follow the ANZSIC system. Salary data reflects averages and medians; individual earnings depend on qualifications, experience, location, and employer.