Salary Intelligence
Salaries in Australia by profession
National median, after-tax net, and purchasing power for 38 professions in Australia — anchored to a primary-sourced median wage (2025 data).
What is a good salary in Australia?
Key facts
- National median: ~$64,650 gross ~$50,731 after tax (2025 data, 78% kept).
- Highest-paying role: CTO / Technology Director ~$156,589/yr net for a mid-level cto / technology director.
- Purchasing power the median net is worth ~$45,504 in PPP-equivalent (US price) terms.
- 38 professions estimated each = the national median × the role's skill premium, netted via the tax engine.
National median (2025)
$64,650 gross · $50,731 after tax · $45,504 PPP-equivalent. Source & methodology
Estimated pay by profession in Australia
By take-home, the highest pay in Australia is estimated for a 🏢 cto / technology director — $156,589 net after tax (3.9× the local median).
| Profession | Est. gross | Est. net |
|---|---|---|
| CTO / Technology Director | $249,465 | $156,589 |
| Doctor (Physician) | $246,187 | $154,852 |
| Dentist | $182,402 | $121,045 |
| Senior Software Engineer | $180,257 | $119,909 |
| Engineering Manager | $174,218 | $116,709 |
| AI Engineer | $168,965 | $113,924 |
| Product Manager | $146,608 | $102,075 |
| Pharmacist | $144,848 | $101,142 |
| Data Engineer | $141,232 | $99,226 |
| Software Engineer | $137,649 | $97,327 |
| Cloud Engineer | $135,426 | $96,128 |
| DevOps Engineer | $135,021 | $95,881 |
| Cybersecurity Specialist | $130,270 | $92,983 |
| Management Consultant | $125,355 | $89,984 |
| Data Scientist | $116,938 | $84,850 |
| Sales Manager | $116,608 | $84,649 |
| General Manager | $108,782 | $79,875 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $108,467 | $79,683 |
| Marketing Manager | $106,008 | $78,183 |
| Project Manager | $106,008 | $78,183 |
| Civil Engineer | $105,744 | $78,022 |
| Physiotherapist | $102,338 | $75,944 |
| Operations Manager | $101,197 | $75,248 |
| UX Designer | $99,892 | $74,452 |
| HR Manager | $96,179 | $72,171 |
| Business Analyst | $95,252 | $71,541 |
| University Lecturer | $89,602 | $67,700 |
| Finance Analyst | $89,523 | $67,646 |
| Remote Freelancer | $76,159 | $58,558 |
| Content Writer | $75,371 | $58,022 |
| Accountant | $74,686 | $57,556 |
| Hospitality Manager | $73,042 | $56,438 |
| Nurse | $69,909 | $54,308 |
| Teacher | $69,790 | $54,227 |
| Plumber | $68,104 | $53,081 |
| Electrician | $67,380 | $52,588 |
| Chef | $65,492 | $51,305 |
| Graphic Designer | $64,457 | $50,600 |
“vs median” = estimated gross ÷ Australia's national median gross. Tap a role for the full country-by-country ranking. Regulated professions (medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, teaching) require local credential recognition before you can practise.
Australia salary estimates · Source: Australia national median wage (national statistical office / Eurostat, 2025) + WhereNext tax engine · Last verified Jun 22, 2026
Modelled estimate, not survey data. Each profession figure is the country's national median wage scaled by the role's skill premium — a directional model, not a per-role salary survey. Singapore is the exception: its figures are the Ministry of Manpower's June 2025 occupational medians. It is for a mid-level professional and varies widely by employer, seniority, bonus, equity, contract type and tax regime. Net is modelled via WhereNext's tax engine and is not tax or employment advice — verify with an employer or qualified advisor before making decisions.
Where the money goes: CTO / Technology Director in Australia
Gross pay erodes to take-home after tax, then adjusts for local prices — a mid-level estimate, every step sourced.
Updated · National medians (Eurostat / national stats) · US BLS OEWS May 2024 · World Bank ICP 2021 (PPP)
- Gross$249,465
- Income tax−$92,876
- Net (after tax)$156,589
- Local prices−$16,135
- Real value$140,454
Keep rate 63% · net $156,589 · real value $140,454 (local prices eat into it)
| Step | USD/yr | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $249,465 | Estimated gross for the role. |
| − Income tax & social | −$92,876 | Resident tax brackets; you keep 63%. |
| Net (after tax) | $156,589 | Take-home in nominal USD. |
| − Local prices (PPP) | −$16,135 | Pricier than the US — your net buys less. |
| Real value (PPP-equiv. net) | $140,454 | What the net is worth in US price terms. |
Thinking about moving to Australia?
Australia salary questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good salary in Australia?▾
The national median is about $64,650 gross (~$50,731 after tax) for 2025. A "good" salary is typically well above the median — many skilled professions here estimate above $109,612 net. Cost of living matters as much as the headline number.
Which jobs pay the most in Australia?▾
Among the roles modelled, the highest after-tax pay in Australia is estimated for cto / technology director, doctor (physician), dentist. These are directional estimates — actual pay varies by employer, seniority and sector.
Does WhereNext estimate net salary after tax in Australia?▾
Yes. Net figures are computed with WhereNext's tax engine using Australia's domestic resident income tax brackets and social contributions — not expat regimes. Verify your own situation with a qualified advisor.
How reliable are these Australia salary figures?▾
The national median is primary-sourced (national statistical office / Eurostat, 2025 data). Per-profession figures are a model — the national median × the role's skill premium, not a per-role salary survey — so treat them as a planning guide, not a quote.