Assistant accountant salary in Australia: what you can expect to take home in 2026–27

What is the typical assistant accountant salary?

If you are looking at an assistant accountant role in Australia, the most common salary figure you will see is around $85,000 a year. That comes from SEEK’s salary data, which aggregates full-time salaries disclosed by employers in job ads. shows that as the typical salary for assistant accountants. This is a useful benchmark, but remember that actual offers can vary by location, experience, and industry.

For context, the broader accountant occupation (including general, management and tax accountants) has a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,003, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to about $104,156 a year – higher than the assistant accountant figure, reflecting the more senior roles included.

How much reaches your bank account after tax and Medicare?

Your take-home pay is what matters most. On an $85,000 assistant accountant salary in 2026–27, here is how the numbers break down:

• Income tax: Using the resident tax rates, you pay $4,020 on the first $45,000, then 30¢ for every dollar over $45,000. That’s $4,020 + $12,000 = $16,020.
• Medicare levy: The full 2% applies because your income is above the single upper threshold of $35,013. That’s $1,700.
• Total deductions: $17,720.
• Annual take-home: $67,280.
• Fortnightly take-home: $67,280 ÷ 26 = $2,588.

This estimate excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and any salary sacrifice arrangements. It also assumes you are a resident for tax purposes and have no other deductions or offsets. The Low Income Tax Offset does not apply at $85,000 because it phases out completely by $66,667.

How does an assistant accountant salary compare?

To see where $85,000 sits, compare it with two key benchmarks:

• National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year (based on 38 hours, 52 weeks). An assistant accountant earns well above this.
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, seasonally adjusted, excluding overtime and employer super). The assistant accountant salary is below this average, which is typical for a junior or support role.

Your take-home of $67,280 is about 62% of the average full-time worker’s gross pay, but remember that your salary is a stepping stone – many assistant accountants progress to management accountant or company accountant roles with higher pay.

Factors that affect your assistant accountant salary

Several things can push your pay above or below the $85,000 mark:

• Location: SEEK data shows that assistant accountants in Sydney and Melbourne often earn more than those in regional areas.
• Industry: Working in banking, finance or mining may attract higher pay than in non-profit or government.
• Experience and qualifications: A degree or part-qualification (e.g., CPA or CA program) can lift your starting salary.
• Award coverage: As Fair Work explains, accountants at accounting firms are award-free, but if you work in an industry covered by an award (like banking or coal mining), your minimum pay may be set by that award. Otherwise, you rely on the national minimum wage.

What about superannuation?

Your employer must pay super on top of your base salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%. On an $85,000 base, that adds $10,200 a year to your super account, making your total employment cost $95,200. Super is not deducted from your take-home pay – it goes into your super fund and you cannot access it until retirement (with limited exceptions).

Your take-home pay in perspective

Knowing your after-tax income helps you budget and compare job offers. For more details on how tax and Medicare affect your pay, see our Tax and Medicare guide. You can also use our Take-home pay calculator to run your own numbers.

Remember: the $85,000 figure is a guide, not a guarantee. Always check the specific job advertisement and ask about super, bonuses, and any salary packaging options. And if you are unsure about your award coverage, Fair Work can help.

Key takeaways

• Typical assistant accountant salary: $85,000 per year (base, excluding super).
• After tax and Medicare: $67,280 annual take-home, $2,588 fortnightly.
• Well above the minimum wage, but below the average full-time earnings.
• Super is extra at 12% – your total package is around $95,200.
• Use the Clearance tool to estimate your own take-home pay for any salary.