What is the average salary Brisbane? Take-home pay explained

What is the average salary Brisbane?

If you are looking for a job or negotiating a pay rise, knowing the average salary Brisbane helps you benchmark your offer. The most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that full-time adults in Queensland earn an average of $2,039.70 a week in ordinary time earnings, which works out to $106,064 a year . For Greater Brisbane specifically, the median employee income was $62,853 in 2022–23, and the mean was $74,246 . These figures are the starting point for understanding what you can expect to take home.

What changes your fortnight: tax brackets, Medicare, and super

Your take-home pay is not the same as your salary. Three things reduce the amount that lands in your bank account each fortnight: progressive income tax, the Medicare levy, and (if your salary is quoted as inclusive) super contributions. Here is how they work on the average Brisbane salary.

Income tax brackets for 2026–27

The Australian tax system is progressive. On $106,064, you pay:

• Nothing on the first $18,200
• 15 cents for each dollar from $18,201 to $45,000
• 30 cents for each dollar from $45,001 to $135,000

That gives a tax bill of $22,339.20. The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) does not apply at this income level.

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For a single person, the full 2% applies once you earn above $35,013 (the latest published threshold). On $106,064, that is $2,121.28. Combined with income tax, the total deduction is $24,460.48, leaving $81,603.52 a year. Over 26 fortnights, that is $3,138.62 per fortnight.

Super contributions

Employer super is 12% from 1 July 2026. If your salary is quoted as ‘plus super’, the super is paid on top and does not reduce your take-home. If it is ‘including super’, the super component is deducted from the quoted figure before you receive the rest. Always check which way your offer is phrased. For more on how super affects your pay, see our Super guide.

How the average salary Brisbane compares

The national full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year), so Brisbane is slightly below the national average. However, the cost of living and housing are lower than in Sydney or Melbourne, so your purchasing power may be higher. The minimum wage is $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week, set by Fair Work from 1 July 2026. If you earn the average Brisbane salary, you are well above that floor.

Take-home pay on different incomes

Your fortnightly amount changes depending on where you sit in the tax brackets. For example:

• On the national minimum wage ($52,255 a year), take-home is about $42,700 a year or $1,642 a fortnight.
• On the all-employees average ($82,118 a year), take-home is about $65,200 a year or $2,508 a fortnight.
• On the full-time ordinary time average ($108,352 a year), take-home is about $83,100 a year or $3,196 a fortnight.

Use our Take-home pay calculator to see your exact numbers.

The Medicare levy thresholds

If you earn less than $28,011 as a single, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, the levy is reduced at 10 cents per dollar. Above $35,013, the full 2% applies. Most full-time salaries, including the average salary Brisbane, are above the upper threshold, so you pay the full 2%. See Tax and Medicare for more details.

What the average salary Brisbane means for you

The average is a useful benchmark, but your actual take-home depends on your personal circumstances. If you have a HELP debt, you will pay an additional 1% to 10% of your income. If you salary sacrifice, your taxable income is lower. And if you work part-time, your earnings will be below the full-time average. The median of $62,853 for all Brisbane employees (including part-time) gives a more realistic picture for many workers.

For a full breakdown of how your pay is calculated, visit our Average pay page. And remember, the figures here are estimates only – not a tax assessment.