Median income per year (after tax) in Australia
Australia: Median income per year (after tax) was 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 4.6%
World rank
9th
of 47 countries
All-time high
38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2020
All-time low
22,551 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1995
Years of data
13
1981–2020
Median income per year (after tax) in Australia, 1981–2020
Source: Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2020, median income per year (after tax) in Australia stood at 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, median income per year (after tax) in Australia peaked at 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 22,551 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1995.
That places Australia 9th out of 47 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Median income per year (after tax) in Australia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 24,419 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1985 | 24,331 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 24,563 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 22,551 international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.2% |
| 2001 | 25,310 international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 25,622 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 28,355 international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 34,883 international-$ in 2021 prices | +23.0% |
| 2010 | 34,655 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 37,269 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 36,780 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 37,193 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 24,438 international-$ in 2021 prices | 24,331 international-$ in 2021 prices | 24,563 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
| 1990s | 22,551 international-$ in 2021 prices | 22,551 international-$ in 2021 prices | 22,551 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
| 2000s | 28,543 international-$ in 2021 prices | 25,310 international-$ in 2021 prices | 34,883 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
| 2010s | 36,474 international-$ in 2021 prices | 34,655 international-$ in 2021 prices | 37,269 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
| 2020s | 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices | 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices | 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 6 Austria 41,753 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 7 Canada 40,884 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 8 Netherlands 40,372 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 10 Belgium 37,870 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 11 Germany 36,469 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 12 Denmark 35,598 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 2.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9365 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 60,991 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1.45 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 94,238 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 1.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.8814 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is median income per year (after tax) in Australia?
- Median income per year (after tax) in Australia was 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020, according to Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest median income per year (after tax) recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 38,901 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest median income per year (after tax) recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 22,551 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1995.
- How does Australia rank for median income per year (after tax)?
- Australia ranks 9th out of 47 countries with data for 2020.
- Is median income per year (after tax) rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Luxembourg Income Study (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Median income per year (after tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of income per year below which 50% of the population live.