Australian salaries 2026 — what the 805 entries actually say.
National median $90,000. Mining tops industries at $135k. Sydney pays a 28–57% premium in Tech, Finance and Telecommunications. Senior roles earn 164% more than Junior.
First-party dataset compiled from anonymous user submissions cross-referenced against Hays, Robert Walters, Robert Half and APS Pay Scales. Every figure below is computed live from the public dataset at /data.js. Use freely with attribution.
- 805 salary entries spanning 425 distinct job titles, 25 industries and 22 Australian cities. Submission cohorts: 722 entries captured 2026, 83 captured 2025.
- National median base salary: $90,000. National mean: $107,861 (pulled higher by senior + specialist roles). Median total compensation including bonus: $95,000.
- Highest-paying industry: Mining at $135,000 median across 30 entries. Lowest: Retail at $60,000 across 21 entries — a $75,000 gap.
- Sydney pays a premium of +57.1% in Telecommunications, +28.3% in Technology, +28.2% in Finance, +26.6% in Insurance, +23.3% in Marketing. The premium concentrates in white-collar and professional services; Property, Healthcare and Energy show much smaller Sydney premiums.
- The Senior → Junior gap is 164% ($145,000 median vs $55,000). Mid-level sits at $85,000 — roughly the national median.
- Remote work is rare in 2026: only 4.1% of entries report fully remote, 28.9% hybrid, 67.0% office. Down significantly from peak-pandemic estimates.
By industry
Median base salary by industry, sorted high to low. Coverage varies — Healthcare and Technology are best-represented, several niche industries sit at 20-30 entries.
| Rank | Industry | Median | Entries | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mining | $135,000 | 30 | $90k–$220k |
| 2 | Technology | $130,000 | 91 | $52k–$320k |
| 3 | Consulting | $120,000 | 19 | $52k–$350k |
| 4 | Legal | $110,000 | 23 | $58k–$450k |
| 5 | HR | $105,000 | 25 | $52k–$250k |
| 6 | Engineering | $100,000 | 23 | $65k–$200k |
| 7 | Finance | $95,000 | 52 | $54k–$380k |
| 7 | Energy | $95,000 | 21 | $52k–$180k |
| 9 | Government | $92,000 | 27 | $65k–$230k |
| 10 | Transport | $90,000 | 20 | $52k–$220k |
| 10 | Science | $90,000 | 25 | $55k–$148k |
| 10 | Creative | $90,000 | 23 | $48k–$135k |
| 13 | Insurance | $89,000 | 20 | $52k–$175k |
| 14 | Healthcare | $88,000 | 107 | $48k–$420k |
| 15 | Construction | $85,000 | 47 | $34k–$170k |
| 15 | Education | $85,000 | 36 | $45k–$180k |
| 15 | Marketing | $85,000 | 29 | $55k–$250k |
| 15 | Property | $85,000 | 27 | $50k–$200k |
| 19 | Telecommunications | $84,000 | 18 | $50k–$180k |
| 20 | Agriculture | $82,000 | 25 | $42k–$125k |
| 21 | Automotive | $75,000 | 23 | $52k–$125k |
| 22 | Manufacturing | $72,000 | 20 | $48k–$150k |
| 23 | Community Services | $70,000 | 21 | $48k–$110k |
| 24 | Hospitality | $65,000 | 32 | $38k–$140k |
| 25 | Retail | $60,000 | 21 | $42k–$95k |
By city
Median base salary by city. Capital cities and major regional centres covered. Small-sample cities (≤6 entries) are shown but should be read as indicative, not authoritative.
| City | Median | Entries | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional WA | $155,000 | 6 | Mining/FIFO concentration — small sample |
| Canberra | $115,000 | 17 | APS + senior public service |
| Alice Springs | $115,000 | 6 | Remote allowances drive median up |
| Perth | $112,500 | 52 | Mining + energy + finance hub |
| Wollongong | $102,500 | 6 | Steel + uni |
| Townsville | $96,500 | 6 | Regional centre + defence |
| Sydney | $95,000 | 315 | Largest sample; sector mix moderates median |
| Regional VIC | $95,000 | 8 | |
| Darwin | $95,000 | 22 | Remote-allowance loaded |
| Geelong | $93,500 | 6 | |
| Sunshine Coast | $91,500 | 6 | |
| Cairns | $90,500 | 6 | |
| Melbourne | $88,000 | 187 | Second-largest sample |
| Newcastle | $88,000 | 7 | |
| Regional NSW | $85,000 | 13 | |
| Regional TAS | $85,000 | 6 | |
| Regional QLD | $82,500 | 10 | |
| Brisbane | $82,000 | 65 | |
| Adelaide | $78,000 | 28 | |
| Gold Coast | $78,000 | 9 | |
| Hobart | $78,000 | 18 | |
| Regional SA | $78,000 | 6 | Smallest sample at the floor |
Sydney pays a premium — but only in some industries
The headline city medians above mix sectors and obscure where the Sydney premium actually lives. When you compare same-industry medians for Sydney vs all-other-cities, the gap is concentrated in white-collar and professional services. Property, Healthcare and Energy show much smaller premiums; some blue-collar industries pay close to flat regardless of city.
Method: for each industry with at least 3 Sydney entries and 3 other-city entries, we compute the median for each set, then express the Sydney premium as a percentage. The Telecommunications +57.1% number reflects 7 Sydney entries at $110k median vs 11 other-city entries at $70k median — the highest premium in the dataset because telco corporate concentrates heavily in Sydney while regional telco roles are largely entry-level field work.
By career level
The Senior → Junior pay gap is the single largest spread in the dataset. Mid-level roles cluster at roughly the national median.
| Level | Median | Mean | Entries | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior (0–2 yrs) | $55,000 | $56,860 | 100 | $34k–$98k |
| Mid (3–7 yrs) | $85,000 | $89,070 | 466 | $50k–$160k |
| Senior (8+ yrs) | $145,000 | $159,920 | 239 | $70k–$450k |
Highest-paid roles in the dataset
Roles with at least 3 entries, ranked by median. Single-observation roles excluded to keep the table robust.
| Role | Median | Entries | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner (Legal) | $380,000 | 3 | $350k–$450k |
| General Practitioner | $220,000 | 13 | $190k–$300k |
| Cloud Architect | $185,000 | 3 | $155k–$200k |
| Product Manager | $170,000 | 3 | $145k–$175k |
| Geologist | $170,000 | 3 | $130k–$175k |
| AI Engineer | $155,000 | 5 | $140k–$200k |
| Forensic Accountant | $155,000 | 3 | $115k–$158k |
| DevOps Engineer | $152,500 | 4 | $135k–$170k |
| Dentist | $150,000 | 5 | $140k–$180k |
| University Lecturer | $148,000 | 3 | $130k–$155k |
| ER/IR Manager | $145,000 | 3 | $140k–$155k |
| Mining Engineer | $140,000 | 5 | $130k–$200k |
Lowest-paid roles in the dataset
Same min-3-entries filter. Several of these are entry-level or front-line service roles where formal salary is supplemented by commission, tips or piece-rates (not captured here).
| Role | Median | Entries | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanic | $70,000 | 5 | $52k–$75k |
| Service Advisor | $68,500 | 4 | $58k–$88k |
| Graduate Engineer | $68,000 | 3 | $65k–$72k |
| Claims Assessor | $67,500 | 4 | $58k–$72k |
| Retail Manager | $62,000 | 5 | $58k–$65k |
| Chef | $61,000 | 8 | $58k–$80k |
| Lab Technician | $58,000 | 3 | $55k–$62k |
| Real Estate Agent (base) | $57,500 | 6 | $50k–$90k |
| Disability Support Worker | $54,000 | 4 | $52k–$58k |
| Retail Assistant | $45,000 | 3 | $45k–$46k |
Work arrangement in 2026
One of the dataset's clearest findings: fully remote work has not stuck as a 2026 norm despite the post-pandemic projections.
Two-thirds of entries report fully on-site work; only 1 in 25 reports fully remote. Hybrid has emerged as the practical compromise. The relevant policy and union conversations about return-to-office mandates are happening against this baseline — a market that's broadly already there.
Methodology and sources
Every figure on this page is computed from /data.js, the live public dataset. The dataset blends two input streams:
- Anonymous user submissions via /submit/. Submitters provide title, industry, city, state, level, years of experience, base, bonus, super contribution, and work arrangement. No identifying information is collected. Submissions are voluntary and unverified — see methodology for the limits this places on the data.
- Cross-referenced published guides for under-represented roles and industries. Sources used in the May 2026 expansion: Hays Salary Guide FY25/26, Robert Walters Salary Survey 2026, Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide, APS Pay Scales (March 2026), and Seek role-salary pages.
Sub-3-entry roles are excluded from the role tables to avoid noise; small-sample cities (≤6 entries) are shown but flagged as indicative. Sydney premium calculations require at least 3 entries in each of "Sydney" and "other cities" for an industry to be included.
What this data does not measure
- Total compensation. The dataset captures base salary, bonus and super contribution percentage — but not equity, share options, long-term incentive plans, vehicle allowances, professional-membership reimbursement, or commission/piece-rate income. For Sales, Real Estate Agent, Chef and Hospitality roles especially, headline base salaries understate total earnings.
- Tenure-adjusted comparisons. Two "Mid" entries can mean 3 years and 7 years of experience. Differences within levels are not de-trended.
- Cost-of-living adjustments. Sydney $145k and Hobart $100k may have similar disposable income after housing — the dataset reports gross, not net of cost of living.
- Gender breakdowns. Submissions do not collect gender, so gender pay gap analysis isn't computable from this dataset. ABS reports remain the canonical source on the national gender pay gap (currently 11.5% as of November 2025).
- Casual vs full-time. The dataset assumes full-time-equivalent annual salaries.
Refresh cadence
Monthly batches. Each released as a new dataset version (v.26.05 is the current release, captured 16 May 2026). Reactive on the major industry-guide release windows: Hays publishes in May, Robert Walters in February, Robert Half in November, APS Pay Scales adjust March + August. Subscribe at the homepage or follow /browse/ for new entries as they land.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median salary in Australia in 2026?
National median base salary in the SalaryThread dataset is $90,000. The mean is $107,861, pulled higher by senior and specialist roles. Including bonus, median total compensation is $95,000.
Which industry pays the most in Australia?
Mining at $135,000 median (30 entries), followed by Technology at $130,000 (91 entries) and Consulting at $120,000 (19 entries). Retail has the lowest median at $60,000 — a $75,000 gap between top and bottom industry.
Does Sydney pay more than other Australian cities?
Yes, but only in some industries. The Sydney premium runs +57.1% in Telecommunications, +28.3% in Technology, +28.2% in Finance, +26.6% in Insurance, +23.3% in Marketing — concentrated in white-collar and professional services. Property (+5.9%), Healthcare (+9.2%) and Energy (+11.4%) show much smaller premiums.
How much more does a Senior earn than a Junior in Australia?
164% more — $145,000 median vs $55,000 — across the SalaryThread dataset. Mid-level roles sit at $85,000 median. The career arc is roughly $55k → $85k → $145k, with the Senior step adding +71% over Mid.
How many Australian workers are fully remote in 2026?
Only 4.1% of entries in this dataset report fully remote work. Hybrid arrangements run at 28.9%, full-time office at 67.0%. The post-pandemic remote-as-default projection has not held up; hybrid is the dominant non-office arrangement.
Where does the data come from?
805 entries blending anonymous user submissions with cross-referenced figures from four published guides: Hays FY25/26, Robert Walters 2026, Robert Half 2026, APS Pay Scales March 2026. Full methodology at /about/.
For journalists and researchers
How to cite this dataset
This page is freely citable. Suggested attribution:
Raw data is available at /data.js (JavaScript array, ~64 KB). For a structured CSV with the per-entry breakdown, email hello@salarythread.com — happy to send.
Spot something we got wrong, or have data we should incorporate? Same email.
Related
- Browse all 805 entries — searchable, filterable
- Methodology — what we collect, what we exclude
- File an entry — anonymous; takes 90 seconds