Australia Income Percentile Calculator: Check Your Salary Percentile (2026)

Use this Australia income percentile calculator to see what percentile your salary falls into across the Australian income distribution. If you’re in the 70th percentile, for example, you earn more than 70% of people and less than 30%. It’s one of the most useful ways to understand where your salary sits in context — and is more informative than comparing only to the average salary in Australia.

Last updated: April 26, 2026 (using ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, the most recently published full-year dataset).

Enter your annual pre-tax income below to see your exact percentile ranking among all Australian individuals.

Need a country comparison? See the US income percentile calculator, the UK income percentile calculator, or the dedicated UK income percentile calculator on PocketWise.

How This Calculator Works

This calculator uses income distribution data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Australia’s most comprehensive source of individual income data. The ATO dataset covers all individuals who lodged a tax return — approximately 16.1 million people — making it one of the most complete income surveys in the country.

Enter your gross annual income before tax — that’s your total salary or wages before income tax and Medicare levy deductions. If you’re a salaried employee, this is the figure on your employment contract or payslip before any PAYG withholding. The calculator compares your income against thresholds for each percentile (1st through 99th) and tells you exactly where you fall in the Australian income distribution.

A few important notes:

• The data covers all tax lodgers, including part-time workers, casual employees, and retirees with taxable income. This is why the 50th percentile ($55,868) is lower than the often-quoted full-time average salary.
• Percentiles are based on individual taxable income, not household income.
• Income is pre-tax (gross) — the number before PAYG withholding, not your take-home pay.
• Superannuation is not included — your employer’s super contributions (currently 11.5% of ordinary time earnings) are paid on top of your salary and are not counted in taxable income figures.

Australian Income Percentile Table

Here’s the full breakdown of income thresholds for every 5th percentile, so you can quickly see where common salary levels fall:

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23

The gap between percentiles widens dramatically at the top. Moving from the 50th to the 60th percentile requires about $18,200 more per year ($55,900 to $74,100). But moving from the 90th to the 99th percentile requires an extra $269,100 ($150,900 to $420,000). This is what statisticians call a “right-skewed” distribution — a small number of very high earners stretch the top end of the scale far beyond the median.

What Does It Take to Be in the Top 1%?

To be in the top 1% of Australian income earners, you need a gross annual income of at least $420,000 before tax. That’s roughly 7.5 times the median taxable income of $55,868 and nearly 5.7 times the average (mean) taxable income of $74,240.

At this income level, you’d be earning well above the top marginal rate threshold of $180,001, meaning all income above $180,000 is taxed at 45% — plus the 2% Medicare levy — giving an effective rate of 47% on that portion. After income tax and the Medicare levy, a $420,000 income yields roughly $240,000–$250,000 in take-home pay. For comparison, the top 1% income threshold in the UK is approximately £200,000 — see top 1% income in the UK for a full breakdown.

Here’s how the top percentiles break down:

Crossing $180,000 has significant tax implications in Australia. Above this threshold, the top marginal rate of 45% (plus 2% Medicare levy) applies — meaning nearly half of every additional dollar goes to the ATO. However, unlike the UK’s personal allowance taper, Australia’s tax-free threshold of $18,200 is not withdrawn at higher incomes.

Many high earners manage their tax liability through salary sacrifice into superannuation, which reduces taxable income. The concessional contributions cap of $30,000 per year (including employer contributions) limits how much can be contributed at the discounted 15% super tax rate — but even maximising this cap can save several thousand dollars in tax annually for earners above $120,000.

The Medicare levy surcharge (an additional 1%–1.5% on top of the standard 2% Medicare levy) also applies to high earners without adequate private hospital cover. Singles earning above $93,000 in 2022-23 who did not hold private hospital insurance were subject to this surcharge.

Average vs. Median Salary in Australia

One of the most common sources of confusion when comparing salaries is the difference between the average (mean) and the median:

Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23

The mean is higher because a small number of very high earners — the top 1% earning $420,000 or more — pull the average upward. The median — the midpoint where exactly half earn more and half earn less — gives a much more accurate picture of what a “typical” Australian earns.

This is why this calculator uses percentiles rather than just comparing to the average. If you earn $60,000, comparing to the mean of $74,240 might make you feel underpaid, but you’re actually slightly above the median for all tax lodgers and close to the employee median of $62,041.

The difference between the all-lodger median ($55,868) and the employee-only median ($62,041) reflects the significant number of part-time workers, casual employees, and retirees who lodge tax returns but earn less than full-time employees across the full year. See our average salary Australia guide for a deeper look at how these figures are calculated and what they mean for different occupations. For a UK comparison, the median individual income in the UK is approximately £35,000 — see average salary UK 2026 for a full breakdown by age, sector and region.

Average Salary by Age in Australia

Since it’s difficult to compare the salary of someone just starting their career to someone at their peak earning years, looking at earnings by age group provides a more meaningful benchmark. Your income percentile within your age group may differ considerably from your overall percentile.

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey estimates

Australian earnings follow a predictable arc: they rise steeply from the early twenties, peak in the 35–54 age range, and then gradually decline toward retirement. The peak earning years (35–54) produce median salaries of $80,000–$82,000 — more than double the starting point for the 15–24 age group.

This means a 28-year-old earning $65,000 is performing well above the median for their age group, even though they sit around the 55th percentile overall. Conversely, a 48-year-old earning $60,000 is below the median for their age cohort, despite being just above the overall all-lodger median.

Several factors drive the decline after age 55: some workers reduce hours as they approach retirement, others transition to lower-paid part-time or casual roles, and many begin drawing superannuation income that reduces their reliance on salary. Understanding the average super balance by age can help frame these decisions alongside your salary percentile.

How Australian Salaries Compare by Percentile Band

To understand what life looks like at different points in the income distribution, here’s what each band typically means in practical terms:

Bottom Quartile (1st–25th Percentile): Up to $28,300

Earners in this range are typically working part-time, in entry-level positions, or in lower-paid sectors like retail, hospitality, aged care, and childcare. Many are earning at or near the national minimum wage — in 2022-23, the Fair Work Commission set the national minimum wage at $21.38 per hour, equating to approximately $40,217 per year for a full-time 38-hour week.

At incomes below $18,200, no income tax is payable (the tax-free threshold). Between $18,201 and $28,300, the 19% marginal rate applies, but effective tax rates remain very low. Workers in this band should be aware that even at part-time rates, employers are required to contribute superannuation on their behalf — at the current 11.5% rate — which builds a retirement nest egg even on modest incomes.

Middle Earners (25th–75th Percentile): $28,300–$101,500

This band covers the broad middle of Australian earners — from $28,300 to $101,500 per year. The median ($55,868) sits right in the centre. Workers here span a wide range of occupations: retail supervisors, healthcare assistants, and experienced tradespeople at the lower end; through to registered nurses, mid-level accountants, and experienced teachers toward the upper end.

At $60,000, you’re roughly at the 52nd percentile — earning close to the all-lodger median and just below the employee median. At $90,000, you’re approaching the 68th percentile, comfortably in the upper half.

One important note for this band: employer superannuation contributions are paid on top of your salary. A $90,000 salary comes with approximately $10,350 in super contributions from your employer (at 11.5%), bringing your total package to around $100,350. Understanding your total remuneration — including super — gives a more complete picture of your compensation than salary alone.

Upper Earners (75th–90th Percentile): $101,500–$150,900

Earning between $101,500 and $150,900 puts you in the top quarter of Australian earners. This range includes experienced professionals, engineers, senior project managers, experienced GPs, and many in finance and technology. At $120,000, you’re around the 85th percentile — earning more than roughly 5 out of 6 Australians.

Earners above $120,000 move into the 37% marginal tax bracket. The Medicare levy surcharge may also apply if you don’t hold adequate private hospital cover. This is where tax planning starts to become genuinely valuable — salary sacrifice into superannuation, maximising concessional contributions, and structuring investment income can all meaningfully reduce your tax liability and build long-term wealth. See our guide to investing in Australia for strategies at this income level.

High Earners (90th–99th Percentile): $150,900–$420,000

The top 10% starts at $150,900 and stretches to $420,000 (the 99th percentile threshold). This range includes senior executives, experienced specialist lawyers, medical specialists in private practice, finance directors, and senior technology leaders. At $200,000, you’re deep in the 96th percentile — earning more than 96% of all Australians who lodged a tax return.

Above $180,000, the top marginal rate of 45% applies plus the 2% Medicare levy — making the effective rate on every additional dollar 47%. At these income levels, maximising concessional super contributions (up to the $30,000 cap) becomes one of the most tax-efficient strategies available. Review the average super balance by age to benchmark your retirement savings alongside your current income percentile.

Top 1% (99th Percentile+): $420,000 and above

The top 1% includes C-suite executives, partners at major law and accounting firms, specialist surgeons and physicians in private practice, tech executives, and high-earning business owners. At this level, income tax planning — including the use of superannuation, family trusts, and investment structures — becomes critical to managing effective tax rates. An income of $420,000 would see a tax bill of approximately $175,000–$180,000 in income tax and Medicare levy alone, underscoring the importance of legal tax minimisation strategies.

Income by State and Territory

Australian income varies significantly by state and territory, which means your income percentile tells a different story depending on where you live. The ACT leads on median full-time salary due to the high concentration of federal public service and government roles. Western Australia benefits from the mining and resources sector.

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey and ATO Taxation Statistics estimates

Someone earning $95,000 in Hobart is comfortably above the Tasmanian median and likely near the top 20% locally. The same salary in Canberra is below the ACT median and sits closer to the 45th–50th percentile regionally. The concentration of public sector, mining, and professional services jobs in certain states drives these differences considerably.

Cost of living also varies substantially: Sydney and Melbourne rental costs are significantly higher than in Adelaide or Hobart, which means your effective purchasing power at any given income level differs considerably by location. A $90,000 salary stretches much further in regional Queensland than it does in inner-city Sydney.

How to Move Up the Income Distribution

If you’re looking to increase your income percentile, the strategies differ depending on where you currently sit:

Early Career (Below 50th Percentile)

• Invest in qualifications — university graduates earn significantly more on average than non-graduates across most industries; vocational qualifications in trades, nursing, and technology also produce strong returns
• Target high-demand sectors — technology, healthcare, mining, engineering, construction, and financial services consistently pay above median
• Negotiate your starting package — don’t focus solely on salary; negotiate super, bonuses, and flexibility that have real dollar value
• Salary sacrifice into super — even modest early contributions build long-term wealth tax-efficiently at the 15% super tax rate, well below the 19%–32.5% marginal rates most early-career workers pay on employment income

Mid-Career (50th–75th Percentile)

• Specialise — generalists plateau more quickly; specialists in high-demand areas (cybersecurity, data science, specialist healthcare, construction management) command premium pay
• Change employers — internal pay rises often lag the market; moving companies frequently yields 10–20% salary increases that would otherwise take years to accumulate
• Consider interstate moves — the ACT, WA, and NSW all offer substantially higher median salaries than SA or TAS; for some roles, a geographic move is the fastest lever available
• Build investment income — investing through superannuation and outside-super portfolios builds long-term wealth alongside employment income; even $500 per month invested consistently compounds meaningfully over a career

High Earners (75th+ Percentile)

• Maximise concessional super contributions — salary sacrifice up to the $30,000 concessional cap reduces taxable income at your marginal rate (37%–47%) and is taxed at only 15% inside super — this is one of the most tax-efficient strategies available to Australian employees
• Consider non-concessional contributions — if you have surplus after-tax savings, up to $120,000 per year in after-tax super contributions can grow in a tax-advantaged environment
• Develop multiple income streams — dividend income, rental income, or business income alongside employment diversifies your total income and can be structured more tax-efficiently
• Focus on net worth growth rather than just income — at higher income levels, how much you keep and invest matters as much as earning more; see our future net worth percentile calculator
• Review private health insurance — earning above $93,000 (singles) without private hospital cover triggers the Medicare levy surcharge, so the cost–benefit calculation often favours taking out a policy

Income vs. Net Worth

Your income percentile is only half the picture. A high income does not automatically mean high wealth — someone earning $150,000 with $200,000 in debt has a lower net worth than someone earning $70,000 with $400,000 in savings and superannuation.

Over time, what matters most is the gap between what you earn and what you spend. A consistent saving and investing habit — even starting with $500 per month — can build substantial wealth over a career. Superannuation is Australia’s built-in wealth-building mechanism: at an 11.5% employer contribution rate, a $90,000 salary generates $10,350 in super contributions per year, which compounds tax-effectively inside the super environment over a full working life.

See our average super balance by age breakdown to understand how superannuation accumulates at different life stages, and our future average net worth by age guide to see how wealth builds alongside career progression.

Use our future net worth percentile calculator to see where your total wealth (assets minus debts, including super) ranks compared to other Australians.

Methodology and Data Sources

The percentile thresholds used in this calculator are derived from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Taxation Statistics 2022-23 — the ATO’s most comprehensive published dataset on individual income. The ATO data covers all individuals who lodged an income tax return or were assessed during the 2022-23 income year.

Key details about this data:

• Coverage: All individuals who lodged an income tax return in 2022-23 — approximately 16.1 million people.
• Income measure: Taxable income (total income minus allowable deductions), before income tax and Medicare levy. For most employees, this is equivalent to gross wages.
• Includes: All types of taxpayers — full-time and part-time employees, casual workers, self-employed individuals, retirees receiving taxable super pensions or other income, and investors.
• Excludes: Individuals with income entirely below the tax-free threshold who are not required to lodge — this means some very low earners may be slightly underrepresented at the bottom of the distribution.
• Superannuation: Employer super contributions are not included in taxable income and are not counted in these percentile thresholds. The figures represent salary and wages, investment income, business income, and other taxable income sources.
• Reference period: 2022-23 income year (the most recently published complete dataset at time of publication).
• Updates: ATO Taxation Statistics are published annually, typically 18–24 months after the reference income year. We update the calculator when new data becomes available.

Because the ATO data includes retirees, part-time workers, and casual employees who earn less than full-year full-time employees, the 50th percentile ($55,868) is substantially lower than the ABS average ordinary time earnings figure of approximately $99,100 for full-time employees. Both figures are correct — they measure different things. The ATO data captures the full income distribution; the ABS figure focuses on full-time workers only.

Compare Income Percentiles by Country

Wealthvieu covers income percentile calculators for every major English-speaking country. See how salaries compare globally:

• United States Income Percentile Calculator
• UK Income Percentile Calculator
• Ireland Income Percentile Calculator
• New Zealand Income Percentile Calculator
• Singapore Income Percentile Calculator

Sources

• Australian Taxation Office. “Taxation Statistics 2022-23.” ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/taxation-statistics/taxation-statistics-2022-23/
• Australian Bureau of Statistics. “Average Weekly Earnings, Australia.” abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia
• Fair Work Commission. “National Minimum Wage.” fwc.gov.au/agreements-awards/minimum-wages-and-conditions/national-minimum-wage
• Australian Taxation Office. “Tax Rates — Residents.” ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/tax-rates-australian-residents

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.