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Choose a figure that matches your work
The full-time headline is a sensible starting point for someone comparing a full-time role. The broader all-employee average also includes people working part-time, so it answers a different question. Neither number tells you what the middle employee earns.
The May 2026 figures below are from the same ABS release. The annual column simply multiplies a weekly amount by 52. It helps you compare units, but it should not be read as a forecast of every employee’s yearly pay.
| Earnings measure | Per week | 52-week equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time adult ordinary earnings | $2,083.70 | $108,352 |
| All-employee total earnings | $1,579.20 | $82,118 |
May 2026. ABS original-series figures. These two measures also appear unchanged in the seasonally adjusted table because they are not seasonally adjusted. The all-employee total includes overtime and both full-time and part-time employees.
Compare the salary before adding super
Look for “plus super” or “including super” in a job advertisement. For example, an illustrative offer of $100,000 including super at 12% contains about $89,286 in salary and $10,714 in super. An offer of $100,000 plus super contains $100,000 in salary. Those offers have the same headline number but different money available for everyday spending.
This simple example assumes super is 12% of the whole salary and no other benefits sit inside the package. At higher pay levels, the employer’s super arrangements need a separate check. Ask for the salary, employer super, expected bonus and other benefits as individual amounts.
Use the average to start a better comparison
For a pay discussion, put your role, experience, location and normal hours beside the national figure. A position with regular weekend work may pay more because of its roster. A role with a higher annual salary may still pay less for each hour if it expects substantially longer weeks.
Write down your guaranteed salary first, then show overtime and possible bonuses separately. That gives you a useful comparison even when two employers describe their offers differently. Use the median salary guide for the middle of the employee earnings range, and the take-home calculator to turn your own offer into a spending figure.
Common questions
Does the average include super?
The headline full-time ordinary earnings measure excludes employer super. A job package may include it, so check the wording before comparing the two.
Is $108,352 the typical Australian salary?
It is the 52-week equivalent of a full-time adult average. A median describes the middle employee more directly, and a part-time worker needs a comparison that also reflects their hours.
Are these 2026 figures?
The average earnings reference period is May 2026. The ABS released the figures on 13 August 2026.
Sources you can check
Sources checked for this page on 2 October 2026. Statistics keep their own measurement dates.