Average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults were $2,010.00 in May 2025, according to new seasonally adjusted figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Sean Crick, ABS head of labour statistics, said: 'This is the first time that average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults have been greater than $2,000.
'The growth of 1.7 per cent in average weekly earnings for full-time adults for the six months to May 2025 was similar to the rise of 1.8 per cent in the Wage Price Index for the same period.
'Annual growth in May 2025 remained high at 4.5 per cent, a rise of $86.60 a week from May 2024. This was just below the annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent in the year to November 2024.
'Average weekly earnings growth for full-time adults was stronger in the private sector, with annual growth of 4.6 per cent, compared with the public sector's 3.6 per cent.
'The gender pay gap in average weekly ordinary full-time earnings narrowed slightly from 11.9 per cent to 11.5 per cent.
'This is the equal lowest gender pay gap in this series, with female average earnings rising faster than male earnings.'
The gender pay gap in average weekly ordinary full-time earnings is the most commonly cited of the gender pay gap measures.
| Males ($) | Females ($) | Persons ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May-15 | 1,591.60 | 1,309.80 | 1,483.10 |
| Nov-15 | 1,603.60 | 1,327.60 | 1,500.50 |
| May-16 | 1,613.50 | 1,352.10 | 1,516.00 |
| Nov-16 | 1,631.90 | 1,370.30 | 1,533.40 |
| May-17 | 1,637.20 | 1,386.60 | 1,543.20 |
| Nov-17 | 1,665.00 | 1,410.80 | 1,569.60 |
| May-18 | 1,677.10 | 1,433.40 | 1,585.30 |
| Nov-18 | 1,696.50 | 1,456.50 | 1,605.50 |
| May-19 | 1,727.70 | 1,485.50 | 1,634.80 |
| Nov-19 | 1,750.80 | 1,508.30 | 1,658.40 |
| May-20 | 1,812.00 | 1,558.40 | 1,713.90 |
| Nov-20 | 1,804.20 | 1,562.00 | 1,711.60 |
| May-21 | 1,837.00 | 1,575.50 | 1,737.10 |
| Nov-21 | 1,846.50 | 1,591.20 | 1,748.40 |
| May-22 | 1,872.90 | 1,609.00 | 1,769.80 |
| Nov-22 | 1,907.10 | 1,653.60 | 1,807.70 |
| May-23 | 1,938.30 | 1,686.00 | 1,838.10 |
| Nov-23 | 1,982.80 | 1,744.80 | 1,888.80 |
| May-24 | 2,014.30 | 1,782.80 | 1,923.40 |
| Nov-24 | 2,072.70 | 1,826.40 | 1,975.80 |
| May-25 | 2,106.40 | 1,864.10 | 2,010.00 |
Average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time workers were highest in the Australian Capital Territory ($2,236.60) and Western Australia ($2,154.70), and lowest in Tasmania ($1,793.00) and South Australia ($1,894.10).
Workers in the Mining industry remained the highest paid on average, at $3,174.50 a week for full-time employees, followed by Information media and telecommunications ($2,560.70).
The lowest paid full-time worker averages were in Accommodation and food services ($1,459.70) and Retail trade ($1,504.40).
| Industry | Persons ($) | Males ($) | Females ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining | 3,174.50 | 3,257.80 | 2,838.50 |
| Manufacturing | 1,788.70 | 1,828.50 | 1,660.20 |
| Electricity, gas, water & waste services | 2,366.80 | 2,441.90 | 2,134.10 |
| Construction | 1,957.60 | 1,973.30 | 1,852.90 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,883.60 | 1,966.60 | 1,683.80 |
| Retail trade | 1,504.40 | 1,539.70 | 1,452.00 |
| Accommodation & food services | 1,459.70 | 1,527.20 | 1,370.70 |
| Transport, postal & warehousing | 1,925.70 | 1,954.20 | 1,817.80 |
| Information media & telecommunications | 2,560.70 | 2,713.10 | 2,217.90 |
| Financial & insurance services | 2,323.70 | 2,580.20 | 2,039.30 |
| Rental, hiring & real estate services | 1,875.50 | 2,000.00 | 1,714.80 |
| Professional, scientific & technical services | 2,327.60 | 2,516.90 | 2,032.80 |
| Administrative & support services | 1,818.40 | 1,962.60 | 1,584.50 |
| Public administration & safety | 2,103.30 | 2,142.30 | 2,055.70 |
| Education & training | 2,098.30 | 2,191.40 | 2,048.80 |
| Health care & social assistance | 1,978.80 | 2,372.60 | 1,826.40 |
| Arts & recreation services | 1,802.50 | 1,946.20 | 1,610.50 |
| Other services | 1,521.20 | 1,513.40 | 1,533.90 |
| Total all industries | 2,010.00 | 2,106.40 | 1,864.10 |
Average earnings for all employees also continued to grow, rising by 4.1 per cent over the year to May 2025, lower than the 5.5 per cent seen in November 2024.
The ABS would like to thank businesses in Australia for their continued support in responding to our surveys.
