Average Wage in Australia 2026: National Figures vs Perth and WA
The average full-time wage in Australia is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, before tax. That's average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults in the ABS May 2026 release, up 3.7% on a year earlier. Western Australia sits above the national figure at about $2,228 a week, second only to the ACT. The typical worker earns less than either figure, because a small number of very high earners pull averages up.
Figures from ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 (released 13 August 2026). The ABS website was offline for maintenance on 21 October 2026; the state figure is taken from the ACT Treasury summary of the same release.
Average wage in Australia at a glance
| Measure (May 2026) | Weekly | Yearly (× 52) |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time adults, ordinary time earnings (the headline "average wage") | $2,083.70 | $108,352 |
| Full-time adults, total earnings (incl. overtime) | $2,160.00 | $112,320 |
| All employees, total earnings (incl. part-time and casual) | $1,579.20 | $82,118 |
| Western Australia, full-time adult ordinary time earnings | about $2,228 | about $115,800 |
Yearly figures are a straight weekly × 52 calculation by Jobs In Perth, before tax and excluding superannuation.
Which "average wage" should you use?
Each figure answers a different question:
- Comparing a full-time job offer? Use full-time ordinary time earnings ($2,083.70 a week). It excludes overtime, so it's the fairest comparison with a base salary.
- Working part-time or casual? The all-employees figure ($1,579.20 a week) reflects fewer hours, not a lower hourly rate.
- Want the "typical" worker? Use the median, below.
Average vs median: why most people earn less than average
The average adds everyone's pay and divides by the number of people, so a mining engineer on $250,000 lifts it far more than a café worker on $55,000 lowers it. The median is the middle earner: half earn more, half earn less. In the ABS's August 2025 Employee Earnings data, median weekly earnings in Perth were $1,500 for employees in their main job. That's well below the full-time average because it includes part-time and casual workers and isn't skewed by top earners. Our Perth salaries vs rent analysis uses that median.
Why WA wages sit above the national average
Mining and resources lift WA's average. In the same ABS August 2025 data, median weekly earnings in mining were $2,761 nationally, against $900 in retail and $700 in accommodation and food services. WA has a larger share of its workforce in mining, construction and FIFO roles than most states, which raises its average. A Perth office or retail worker shouldn't expect WA's average just because they live in WA.
How the minimum wage compares
From 1 July 2026 the National Minimum Wage is $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week (about $52,255 a year). WA's State Minimum Wage for state-system employees is $998.30. A full-time minimum-wage worker earns a little under half the national full-time average. Our WA minimum wage guide explains which applies to you.
What does your job pay in Perth?
National averages are a benchmark, not a pay offer. For role-by-role ranges, see our salary guides and the average salary in Perth breakdown by job. To act on it, browse current Perth jobs, where many listings show the salary range.
Sources
- ABS: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026 (national figures, growth).
- ACT Treasury: AWOTE summary, May 2026 (state comparison).
- ABS: Employee Earnings, August 2025 (medians by city and industry).
- Fair Work Ombudsman: 2026 National Minimum Wage.