What is the average salary in Melbourne? A 2026 guide to take-home pay
The average full-time ordinary time earnings in Victoria are $106,137 per year ($2,041.10 per week), while the median employee income in Greater Melbourne is $63,274 per year (2022-23 data).
What is the average salary in Melbourne?
If you're looking for the average salary in Melbourne, the most current figure comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). For full-time adults in Victoria, average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,041.10 in May 2026 . That works out to $106,137 per year. This is the figure most commonly quoted as the "average salary" for full-time workers in Melbourne and Victoria.
But the average can be skewed by high earners. A better measure of what a typical employee earns is the median. For Greater Melbourne, the median employee income was $63,274 in 2022-23 (the latest available from the ABS) . That means half of all employees in Melbourne earn less than $63,274, and half earn more. The mean (average) employee income for Greater Melbourne was $76,405.
How these figures compare to national benchmarks
The national minimum wage, set by Fair Work, is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 per year). The Victoria full-time average of $106,137 is more than double that. Even the Melbourne median of $63,274 is about 21% above the minimum wage annualised.
For context, the ABS reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings across Australia were $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year) in May 2026. Victoria's figure of $2,041.10 is slightly below the national average, but still well above the national minimum.
Take-home pay from the average salary in Melbourne
What actually reaches your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy? On the Victoria full-time average of $106,137, your take-home pay is approximately $81,653 per year (2026-27 tax rates, no HELP debt). That's about $3,140.50 per fortnight. This estimate uses the resident tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, then 15c per dollar up to $45,000, 30c per dollar up to $135,000, plus the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) and the 2% Medicare levy.
The Medicare levy is a flat 2% of taxable income for full-time workers. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013 – if your income is below the lower threshold you pay no Medicare levy, but full-time salaries are well above that.
What about superannuation?
Super is not included in the average salary figures above. The ABS earnings data is before employer super contributions. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% on earnings up to $270,830. So if you earn $106,137, your employer must pay an extra $12,736 into your super fund. That's on top of your salary, not deducted from it. When comparing job offers, check whether the advertised salary is "plus super" or "including super".
How the average salary in Melbourne varies by area
Within Greater Melbourne, incomes vary by region. The highest-earning part is Inner South with a median employee income of $70,450, while the lowest is South East at $59,150. Outside Melbourne, the rest of Victoria has a median of $55,741. These figures are from the ABS Personal Income in Australia release (2022-23).
Using this information for your job search
When evaluating a salary offer, compare it to both the average and median for your role and location. The Average pay guide on this site can help you understand where a specific figure sits. Use the Take-home pay calculator to see what you'd actually receive after tax and Medicare. And remember that the Tax and Medicare rules change each year – the 2026-27 rates apply here.
Questions
What is the average salary in Melbourne after tax?
On the Victoria full-time average of $106,137, your take-home pay after income tax and Medicare levy is approximately $81,653 per year (2026-27 rates, no HELP debt). This is based on the average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,041.10 reported by the ABS for May 2026.
How does the average salary in Melbourne compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 per year). The Victoria full-time average of $106,137 is more than double the minimum wage. Even the median employee income in Greater Melbourne ($63,274) is well above the minimum.
What is the median salary in Melbourne?
The median employee income in Greater Melbourne is $63,274 per year (2022-23 ABS data). This means half of all employees earn less than this amount. The median is lower than the average because high earners pull the average up.