General Australian Wage Information

Each Industry in Australia will have determined the minimum conditions and wages payable to its workers, and these agreements are called Employment Awards

An important aspect of these Awards is that they cover the minimum rate of pay that can be made to an employee.

These Awards must be at least equal to any State minimum wage, and at least equal to the Federal minimum wage.

Wages in Australia are mainly paid either fortnightly or monthly, weekly payments are not very common.

As in the UK, wages are paid after deduction of Tax and National Insurance (called Medicare Levy in Australia).

The employer normally also has to pay an extra 9%, on top of your basic salary, into a super fund of your choice.

Employers can pay more than the 9% if they wish, but not less.

Average Wages February 2009

Figures released on 21st May 2009 show the February 2009 average wages as follows:

Trend Estimates (before the addition of the 9% Super)

• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings $1,183.10 pw (5.9% rise in last 12 months)
  
• Full-time adult total earnings $1,230.50 pw ($63,986 pa) (5.3% rise in last 12 months)
  
• Male Full Time Total Earnings $1,328.10 pw (69,061 pa)
  
• Female Full Time Total Earnings $1,063.80 pw ($55,317 pa)
  
Full-time adult total earnings rose by 5.7% for males and 5.1% for females, in the twelve months to February 2009

Average Wages November 2008

Figures released on 27th Feb 2009 show the November 2008 average wages as follows:

Trend Estimates (before the addition of the 9% Super)

• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings $1,164.90 pw (5.2% rise in last 12 months)
  
• Full-time adult total earnings $1,214.50 pw ($63,154 pa) (5.0% rise in last 12 months)
  
• Male Full Time Total Earnings $1,313.60 pw (68,307 pa)
  
• Female Full Time Total Earnings $1,049.30 pw ($54,563 pa)
  
Full-time adult total earnings rose by 5.7% for males and 4.6% for females, in the twelve months to November 2008

May 2008 Average Weekly Earning Comparisons

Australian Average Income = $1,183.10 pw (+9% Super) at May 2008

Source: www.abs.gov.au




UK Median wage £479 pw at April 2008

These median earnings were broken down as follows


• full-time Male £521 per week
• Fullitime Female £412 per week

Source: www.statistics.gov.uk


More information at: Australian Wage Statistics

Superanuation

The employer has to pay an extra 9%, of a persons wage, into a compulsory Superannuation scheme of the employees choice, as long as they earn more than $450 per month.

On a wage of about $50,000 per year, this can be effectively increased by $4,500, although this extra money is tied up until the relevant retiring date.

When quoting Salaries, some employers may quote a Salary Package of $54,500, meaning $50,000 + super, whilst another may quote; $50,000 Salary, which would then have the 9% super in addition, therefore totalling $54,500.

Ensure that you compare apples with apples, and that you know if the super has been included in the figure or not.

I would prefer them to always say "Salary package of $xx + Super" That way, if the government increases it further from 9%, then there would be no
questioning that they would have to pay the extra, instead of reducing the salary to accommodate the extra cost.

Minimum Wage in Australia

• The Australian Fair Pay Commission is an independent body responsible for adjusting federal minimum wages.
  
  • http://www.fairpay.gov.au
• As at 1 October 2008, the Federal Minimum Wage will increase to $14.31 per hour, or $543.78 per week
• www.fairpay.gov.au/....2008decision.htm
• As at Oct 2007 the Federal Minimum Wage was $13.74 per hour. or $522.12 per week.
• Each State also has its own Minimum Wage level and Conditions
• The Federal Minimum wage is the MINIMUM for the whole of Australia and wages cannot be set lower, in any of the individual States.
• The compulsory Superannuation contributions, currently 9%, are payable by the employer are on top of that minimum wage payment.

Links

Nurses (Queensland Health) Certified Agreement on Pay Rates:


• http://www.health.qld.gov.au/hrpolicies/wage_rates/nursing.asp

Regional Wage and Salary Earner Statistics, Australia - 2004-05


• www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/.../2004-05

State Award Web Sites

Two government websites showing some of the most common Awards throughout each State in Australia are:

• www.workplaceauthority.gov.au/rates-of-pay/most-searched-for-awards.asp
• www.workplaceauthority.gov.au/rates-of-pay/find-pay-scale.asp

List of each States Governemnt website that would deal with Employment Awards

• Queensland State Government State Awards Index
  • http://www.wageline.qld.gov.au/awardsacts/awards_sums_index.html
• QLD Minimum Pay rate: 2008 = $552.00 per week for full-time adult employees.
  
  • http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/industrial/rights/conditions/minpay/index.htm
• New South Wales State Government State Awards Index
• http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/awards
• West Australia State Government State Awards Index
• http://www.wairc.wa.gov.au
• South Australia State Government State Awards Index
• http://www.eric.sa.gov.au/show_page.jsp?id=2598
• Tasmania State Government State Awards Index
• http://www.pat.tas.gov.au/industrial/default.html
• Victoria State Government State Awards Index
• http://www.vic.gov.au/employment-workplace.html
• Federal Wage Awards Index provided by the Australian Commonwealth Government
• http://www.wagenet.gov.au/WageNet/HomePage/HomePage.asp

Salary Surveys

• The PeopleBank (Ambit) Salary Index encompasses the IT&T, Engineering, Executive and Sales & Marketing industries and is compiled by recruitment specialists based in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney; drawing upon job offers and employment activity data in each individual city.
• http://www.peoplebank.com.au/client_centre/what_salary.html
• The Hays Salary Survey is compiled from information collected from over 100 branches in our network throughout Australia and New Zealand.
• http://www.hays.com.au/salary/default.aspx
• Ambit Engineering's Quarterly National Salary Index Survey
• http://www.ambitengineering.com.au/salaryindex

Some Example Actual Wages

• August 2008
  • ALDI Supermarket vacancies
    • Area Manager $79,600 (inc Super) = $73,000 + super
    • Assistant Store Manager $49,450 to $65,000
    • Retail Assistant Permanent Part Time $19.40 per hour
    • Limited Roster Retail Assistant Permanent Part Time $18.45 per hour
  • Local Council Vacancy S.E. QLD
    • Budget & Management Reporting Officer $53,030 to $56,820 + up to 12% super
  • Budget & Management Reporting Officer
    Brisbane | Redland City Council. | $53,030 to $56,820 + up to 12% super
  • Psychologist (Dementia Care Program)
    Brisbane | QLD Health | $48,216 - $70,870 FTE (Full Time Equivalent)
  • Visiting Medical Specialist.
    Paediatric Services, Brisbane Southside Health Service District.
    Remuneration rates: $146.54 - $160.31 p.h., plus employer contribution to superannuation (up to 12.75%),

Income Tax Comparison between UK and Australia

• Based on 0.8 Times each countries average wage at April 2008, using 2008/09 Tax Rates
  
  • UK
    £20,000.00 Gross Pay
    £ 4,395.15 Total Deductions = 21.98% of gross
    £21,864.32 Total Employer Cost = 109.32% of gross
    
  • AUS
    $50,000.00 Gross Pay
    $ 9,750.00 Total Deductions = 19.50% of gross
    $54,500.00 Total Employer Cost = 109.00% of gross
    
  
  
• Based on 1.6 Times each countries average wage at April 2008, using 2008/09 Tax Rates
  
  • UK
    £40,000.00 Gross Pay
    £10,595.15 Total Deductions = 26.49% of gross
    £44,424.32 Total Employer Cost = 111.06% of gross
    
  • AUS
    $100,000.00 Gross Pay
    $ 27,500.00 Total Deductions = 27.50% of gross
    $109,000.00 Total Employer Cost = 109.00% of gross
    
  
  
• Based on 3.2 Times each countries average wage at April 2008, using 2008/09 Tax Rates
  
  • UK
    £80,000.00 Gross Pay
    £26,832.15 Total Deductions = 33.54% of gross
    £89,544.32 Total Employer Cost = 111.93% of gross
    
  • AUS
    $200,000.00 Gross Pay
    $ 70,000.00 Total Deductions = 35.00% of gross
    $218,000.00 Total Employer Cost = 109.00% of gross
    

Note: The employer cost includes:

• Aus: Gross Wage + compulsory contributions made by employer into Individual employee Super/Pension schemes.
  
• UK: Gross Wage + the extra NHI contributions made by the employer towards State pension etc.