Can Perth Salaries Keep Up With Rent? A 2026 Data Comparison
Perth's median weekly rent reached $750 for a house and $700 for a unit in the latest REIWA data reviewed on 27 August 2026. Against the latest ABS median employee earnings of $1,500 a week in Perth, that is equivalent to 50.0% or 46.7% of one person's gross pay. This helps explain why salary has become central to decisions about jobs in Perth.
Last fact-checked: 27 August 2026. Fees, wage rates and regulatory requirements can change. Follow the linked government source before paying or applying.
Rent as a share of weekly gross earnings
| Weekly earnings benchmark | House rent: $750 | Unit rent: $700 |
|---|---|---|
| Perth median employee earnings: $1,500 | 50.0% | 46.7% |
| 2026 National Minimum Wage: $1,004.90 | 74.6% | 69.7% |
| 2026 WA State Minimum Wage: $998.30 | 75.1% | 70.1% |
Perth median earnings 50.0%
National minimum wage 74.6%
WA state minimum wage 75.1%
Jobs In Perth calculation: median weekly rent divided by gross weekly earnings. Rent is a dwelling-level measure while earnings are individual-level, so this is a stress test—not a household affordability rate. Tax, benefits, other income, sharing and dwelling size are excluded.
The key figures and their dates
| Measure | Value | Observation period |
|---|---|---|
| Perth median house rent | $750 per week | REIWA data updated 26 August 2026; rolling rental data through July |
| Perth median unit rent | $700 per week | Same source and period |
| Perth median employee earnings | $1,500 per week | ABS, August 2025 |
| National Minimum Wage | $1,004.90 per 38-hour week | From first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 |
| WA State Minimum Wage | $998.30 per 38-hour week | From first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 |
Why “average salary” can mislead
The ABS figure used here is a median: half the measured employees earned more and half earned less in their main job. A mean or average can be pulled upward by a smaller number of high earners. Perth and WA also have a large resources sector, which makes the difference especially important.
The same ABS release showed median weekly earnings of $2,761 in mining nationally, compared with $700 in accommodation and food services and $900 in retail. Those are national industry medians, not Perth occupation salaries, but they demonstrate why one city-wide number cannot describe every worker's capacity to rent.
Mining $2,761
Construction $1,500
Health care and social assistance $1,300
Retail $900
Accommodation and food services $700
ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025. National industry data, employees' main job; it is not a Perth vacancy salary survey.
A single earner faces the sharpest arithmetic
A worker on either adult award-free minimum would have about one quarter of gross weekly pay left after paying the median house rent, before income tax, food, utilities, transport and every other expense. That is not a statement that all minimum-wage workers rent a median house alone. It shows why sharing, dual incomes, smaller dwellings, longer commutes or housing assistance become part of the employment decision.
Part-time workers can face an even larger mismatch because rent does not fall with hours. Search part-time jobs in Perth using expected weekly hours and the applicable award rate, not just the headline hourly rate.
What job seekers can do with this data
- Convert salary to usable weekly income. Account for tax, super treatment, unpaid travel and variable bonuses.
- Price the commute. A cheaper outer-suburb rent may add fuel, parking or public-transport costs and hours of travel.
- Ask for the range. Compare the offered base with the site's Perth salary guides and the legal award minimum.
- Check guaranteed hours. A high casual rate may still produce unstable weekly income.
- Compare total conditions. Hybrid work, predictable rosters, leave and employer-paid training can change the real value of a role.
What employers should learn
When rent absorbs a large share of gross earnings, vague salary advertisements create more risk for applicants. Employers can improve trust and conversion by publishing the salary range, expected weekly hours, location, parking or transport conditions, roster and work-from-home arrangements. Those details help candidates decide whether the job is financially workable before both sides spend time interviewing.
This comparison forms part of the Perth Jobs Market data hub. It should be updated when either the ABS releases a newer city earnings estimate or REIWA's rental series materially changes.