Updated 25 October 2026
Quick answer: In Australia in 2026, the minimum wage is A$26.44/hour (about $3,058 a month full time); an average earner keeps 76% of their pay after income tax and social security; mortgage rates are about 6.49%; the state pension age is 67 (Age Pension). The table below puts 8 everyday money measures for Australia side by side and ranks each one against the other countries in our data, using official figures from national statistics offices, central banks, the OECD and Eurostat.
Most comparisons of Australia look at one number at a time. This page gathers the figures that matter for working, buying a home, paying bills and retiring in Australia, so you can see them together and see how Australia compares. Each section links to our full guide for that topic, which covers every country and lists the original sources, and each dataset can be downloaded free.
Australia at a Glance
| Measure | Australia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | A$26.44/hour (≈ $3,058/month) | 2nd highest of 38 |
| Tax on an average wage | 23.5% (keeps 76%) | 15th lowest of 38 |
| Pay rise forecast 2027 | 3.3% (inflation 4.0%) | 9th lowest of 29 |
| Mortgage rate | 6.49% (average variable, Oct 2026) | 5th highest of 31 |
| State pension age | 67 (Age Pension) | 8th highest of 39 |
| Pension (share of pay) | 53% of net pay | 15th lowest of 50 |
| Bank deposit protection | A$250,000 per person, per bank | — |
| Inheritance tax (children) | None | — |
Rank compares Australia with the other countries in each dataset; "highest" means the largest value. "—" means the measure isn't ranked.
Minimum Wage in Australia (2026)
The legal minimum wage in Australia is A$26.44/hour. For a month of full-time work that is about $3,058 at current exchange rates, 2nd highest of 38 countries in our comparison. A$1,004.90 a week (38 hours) from 1 July 2026, up about 6%.
Full table for every country, with sources: Minimum Wage by Country 2026: Hourly and Monthly Rates in US Dollars. Download the data (CSV).
Income Tax and Take-Home Pay in Australia
A single worker on the average wage in Australia (about $79,000 at purchasing-power parity) pays 23.5% of gross pay in income tax and employee social security, so they keep 76%. That is 15th lowest of 38 countries, against an OECD average of 25.1%.
Income tax and employee social security take 23.5% of pay at the average wage, 19.3% at two-thirds of it and 28.7% at 1.67 times it. Including employer contributions, the total tax wedge is 27.9% of labour costs.
Full table for every country, with sources: Income Tax by Country 2026: How Much of Your Salary You Keep in 38 Countries. Download the data (CSV).
Pay Rises in Australia: 2027 Forecast
Employers in Australia expect to raise salaries by 3.3% in 2027 (median of the major pay surveys), after 3.4% in 2026. With inflation at 4.0% (Aug), that is a real cut of about 0.7 points unless inflation falls.
Full table for every country, with sources: Salary Increase Forecasts 2027 by Country: Every Major Survey in One Table. Download the data (CSV).
Mortgage Rates in Australia (2026)
The typical mortgage rate in Australia is 6.49% (average variable, Oct 2026), 5th highest of 31 countries.
Canstar's estimate after the RBA raised the cash rate to 4.60% on 29 September 2026. Per A$100,000 over 25 years: A$675 a month.
Full table for every country, with sources: Mortgage Rates by Country 2026: Where Buying a Home Costs the Most. Download the data (CSV).
Retirement Age in Australia
The state pension age in Australia is 67 (Age Pension) for people reaching it in 2026; the earliest you can claim is 60 (superannuation). Future change: none legislated. Super can be accessed from the preservation age of 60 after retiring.
Full table for every country, with sources: Retirement Age by Country 2026: State Pension Ages in 39 Countries. Download the data (CSV).
How Much the State Pension Pays in Australia
A full-career average earner in Australia can expect a mandatory pension worth about 53% of their previous net pay, 15th least generous of 50 countries (OECD average 63.2%). Low earner (half the average wage): 83%. High earner (twice the average): 38%.
Full table for every country, with sources: State Pension Amounts by Country 2026: How Much Retirees Actually Get. Download the data (CSV).
How Much of Your Money Is Protected in Australia
Bank deposits in Australia are protected up to A$250,000 per depositor, per bank (about $175,600), under the Financial Claims Scheme scheme. Money in payment apps and e-money wallets is usually not covered.
Full table for every country, with sources: Deposit Insurance Limits by Country 2026: How Much of Your Money Is Protected. Download the data (CSV).
Inheritance Tax in Australia
Australia has no inheritance tax for children. Abolished in the late 1970s; heirs take on the capital gains tax position of the assets.
Full table for every country, with sources: Inheritance Tax by Country 2026: Thresholds, Rates and Who Pays. Download the data (CSV).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2026?
The minimum wage in Australia is A$26.44/hour, about $3,058 a month for full-time work. That is 2nd highest of 38 countries. A$1,004.90 a week (38 hours) from 1 July 2026, up about 6%.
How much tax do you pay in Australia?
On the average wage, income tax plus employee social security in Australia take 23.5% of gross pay, so a single worker keeps 76% (OECD average: 25.1%).
What is the average pay rise in Australia for 2027?
Pay surveys forecast an average salary increase of 3.3% in Australia for 2027, against inflation of 4.0%.
What are mortgage rates in Australia right now?
Mortgage rates in Australia are about 6.49% (average variable, Oct 2026). Canstar's estimate after the RBA raised the cash rate to 4.60% on 29 September 2026. Per A$100,000 over 25 years: A$675 a month.
What is the retirement age in Australia?
The state pension age in Australia is 67 (Age Pension) in 2026, with the earliest claim at 60 (superannuation). Legislated change: None legislated.
How much is the state pension in Australia?
In Australia, mandatory pensions replace about 53% of an average earner's net pay after a full career, against an OECD average of 63.2%.
How much money is insured in a bank in Australia?
Deposits in Australia are insured up to A$250,000 per person, per bank.
Is there inheritance tax in Australia?
No. Australia does not tax inheritances passed to children. Abolished in the late 1970s; heirs take on the capital gains tax position of the assets.
Compare Australia With Other Countries
See every country side by side in Compare Countries 2026: Minimum Wage, Tax, Mortgage Rates, Energy and Pension Age in 35 Countries, or open a country page: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States.
Related Guides
- Minimum Wage by Country 2026: Hourly and Monthly Rates in US Dollars
- Income Tax by Country 2026: How Much of Your Salary You Keep in 38 Countries
- Salary Increase Forecasts 2027 by Country: Every Major Survey in One Table
- Mortgage Rates by Country 2026: Where Buying a Home Costs the Most
- Retirement Age by Country 2026: State Pension Ages in 39 Countries
- State Pension Amounts by Country 2026: How Much Retirees Actually Get
- Deposit Insurance Limits by Country 2026: How Much of Your Money Is Protected
- Inheritance Tax by Country 2026: Thresholds, Rates and Who Pays
- How Much Emergency Fund Do You Need? (With Calculator)
Figures checked against the official sources listed in each linked guide in October 2026. Exchange-rate conversions are approximate. This page is for information and isn't financial or legal advice.
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