THE PRACTITIONER’S COMPANION
Monday 24 November 2025

Pocket change: Aussies wages up 5.7 per cent – ABS

Australians collectively earned $1.3 trillion in pre-tax personal income for the financial year ending 2023, the latest Bureau of Statistic data has reveals. It was a 5.7% hike over the year prior. But earning the smallest piece of that was the accommodation and food service industries.

Published November 24, 2025 2 min read
The food service industry accounted for the smallest wage earning group, the ABS reveals.

THE median personal income of Australians has risen 5.7% to $58,216, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data.

Aussies earned a collective $1.3 trillion in pre-tax personal income during 2022-23, based on latest ABS personal income figures released on November 14.

Mining was the highest earner by far, with a median employment income of $149,362, followed by electricity, gas, water and waste services, $105,158.

The accommodation and food services industry had the lowest median employment income of $22,270, along with arts and recreation services, $37,057.

For most people, employment income was their main source of income, however more people are getting income from investments.

A total of 11.8% had investment income as their main income source, compared with 11.3% in 2021-22.

However, fewer people are relying on their own business income as their main income source, dipping from 6.7% to 6.5%.

Only 1.2% of people received superannuation income as their main income source, down slightly from 1.3% in 2021-22.

Jobwise, professionals earned a median income of $95,657, followed by managers who made $90,000, while technicians and trade workers made $68,548.

Sales workers had the lowest, at $37,518.

Middle-aged Australians were the highest earners, with the 45-54 cohort enjoying a median total income of $80,926, followed by those aged 35-44, $77,912.

Younger people, aged 24 years and under, had the lowest, at $23,840.

In every age group, men enjoyed higher median incomes compared with women.

For example, men aged 35-44 earned a median of $92,266 a year, compared with $64,602 for women. For those aged 45-54, men earned $95,400 while women earned $68,570.

Across the nation, workers in the Australian Capital Territory enjoyed the highest median total income, at $75,643, while in Tasmania they received the lowest at $53,479.

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