Average Weekly Earnings

Plain-English definition. Average Weekly Earnings is an Australian Bureau of Statistics measure of average gross employee earnings at a point in time. The commonly reported full-time adult ordinary-time figure covers a narrower group than all employees and excludes overtime from the ordinary-time measure.

How the ABS measure works. The survey produces several series, including full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, full-time adult total earnings and all-employees total earnings. Results are available as original, seasonally adjusted and trend estimates. The choice of series changes the answer, so the label and reference period should travel with the number.

Concrete example. In May 2026, seasonally adjusted full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 a week. All-employees total earnings averaged $1,579.20. The lower all-employees figure covers a broader employee group that includes part-time workers.

Multiplying $2,083.70 by 52 gives $108,352.40, but that is only an annualised version of the weekly average. It is not a median salary, a personal income estimate or proof of income for a home loan.

Common confusion. Average earnings can change because pay changes or because the mix of jobs, hours, industries and employee types changes. The measure does not say what a particular occupation, suburb or applicant earns.

Read the May 2026 ABS earnings update for the current figures and the Borrowing Power Calculator for a general scenario based on entered personal assumptions. A calculator result is not a lender assessment or approval.

Sources. ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 and ABS Average Weekly Earnings methodology, checked 16 August 2026.

This entry is general information. It is not financial advice, credit advice, income verification or an estimate of what a lender will accept.

Last updated: 16 August 2026.