Median monthly earnings of employees in Australia
Australia: Median monthly earnings of employees was 5,000 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Median monthly earnings of employees in Australia, 2001–2021
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for median monthly earnings of employees in Australia is 5,000, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 33.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, median monthly earnings of employees in Australia peaked at 5,000 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2,500, in 2001.
That places Australia 46th out of 92 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Median monthly earnings of employees in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,500 | — |
| 2002 | 2,560 | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 2,600 | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 2,740 | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 2,881 | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 3,040 | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 3,200 | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 3,417 | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 3,600 | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 3,700 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 3,744 | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 3,961 | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 3,976 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 4,000 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 4,000 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 4,228 | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 4,400 | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 4,410 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 4,600 | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 4,800 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 5,000 | +4.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 5,000 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,720, 1.3× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Australia's 5,000 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 180,000, 3% of the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,949 | 2,500 | 3,600 | 9 |
| 2010s | 4,102 | 3,700 | 4,600 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,900 | 4,800 | 5,000 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More work & labour data for Australia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4907 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.5202 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9895 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8931 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 30,186 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3,001 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 21,642 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 21,502 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 43,144 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is median monthly earnings of employees in Australia?
- Median monthly earnings of employees in Australia was 5,000 in 2021, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest median monthly earnings of employees recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 5,000 in 2021.
- What is the lowest median monthly earnings of employees recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,500 in 2001.
- How does Australia rank for median monthly earnings of employees?
- Australia ranks 46th out of 92 countries with data for 2021.
- Is median monthly earnings of employees rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Median monthly earnings of employees (Local currency). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. The earnings of employees relate to the gross remuneration in cash and in kind paid to employees, as a rule at regular intervals, for time worked or work done together with remuneration for time not worked, such as annual vacation, other type of paid leave or holidays. Earnings exclude employers' contributions in respect of their employees paid to social security and pension schemes and also the benefits received by employees under these schemes. Earnings also exclude severance and termination pay. The median is the middle value, with half of employees earning less and half earning more. Data are converted to U.S. dollars as the common currency, using exchange rates or using purchasing power parity (PPP) rates for private consumption expenditures. The latter series allows for international comparisons by taking account of the differences in relative prices between countries. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.