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The latest ABS full-time adult ordinary earnings average for New South Wales is $2,108.80 a week in May 2026, about $109,658 a year when multiplied by 52. This is before tax and excludes employer super and overtime.
Start with the statewide figure
The NSW average is $25.10 a week above the matching Australian average of $2,083.70. That is about 1.2% higher. The comparison uses the same May 2026 measure for both places, so the difference does not come from mixing a full-time figure with an all-worker figure.
The annual equivalent is a way to compare a weekly statistic with a salary offer. It does not mean the ABS tracked each employee for a year or included every annual bonus. The release was published on 13 August 2026 and is the latest available at 2 October 2026.
| Area | Weekly | Annual equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $2,108.80 | $109,658 |
| Australia | $2,083.70 | $108,352 |
The mean covers full-time adult employee jobs. It is before tax and excludes employer super, overtime and salary sacrifice. It is not the personal income of all residents. Annual equivalents are conversions rather than measured annual salaries.
Sydney and the rest of NSW have separate context
A statewide average should not be renamed the average Sydney salary. The separate August 2025 household survey puts median main-job earnings at $1,500 a week in Greater Sydney and $1,300 in the rest of NSW. These figures include part-time employees.
That local split is useful when you are choosing the comparison. It still covers many jobs, ages and working patterns. A regional specialist role can pay more than a city role, and one Sydney occupation can pay much more than another. Look for comparable duties and hours before treating a location label as a salary target.
| Area | Weekly median |
|---|---|
| NSW | $1,464 |
| Greater Sydney | $1,500 |
| Rest of NSW | $1,300 |
These medians come from a different survey, period and employee population from the May 2026 means. Their difference is not a measured mean-to-median gap for one population.
Put an offer on the same footing
Ask whether the quoted salary is cash pay plus super or a total package. A $112,000 package containing only cash salary and 12% employer super gives $100,000 cash salary. Comparing the whole package with an earnings figure that excludes employer super would make the offer look larger than it is.
Check ordinary hours, recurring allowances and the expected bonus separately. The ABS ordinary earnings measure can include regular shift and penalty payments, while overtime is excluded. A base salary offer and a rostered job with allowances may therefore need more detail than one headline number.
Test the job you would actually live with
For a move within NSW, compare the take-home result with your own housing, travel and work costs. Use the rent or mortgage, fares, parking and days in the workplace that apply to the offer. This guide does not assume that a statewide salary buys the same lifestyle in every town.
Add the time as well as the spending. A higher offer can come with a longer commute or more unpaid hours. Use the real hourly wage tool to compare that trade, then keep career progression, leave and flexibility beside the money result.
Common questions
Is this the average salary in Sydney?
It is the NSW statewide full-time adult ordinary earnings mean. The Sydney median shown separately comes from an August 2025 household survey and includes part-time employees.
Does moving to NSW change the salary tax brackets?
Australian resident income tax brackets apply nationally. Your salary, deductions, HELP and Medicare circumstances change take-home pay; the NSW label does not create a separate salary tax rate.
Sources you can check
Sources checked for this page on 2 October 2026. Statistics keep their own measurement dates.