Employee earnings

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Weekly earnings of employees classified by socio-demographic and employment characteristics, such as full-time/part time status, age, education

Reference period

August 2020

Released

11/12/2020

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Release date and time

11/12/2020 11:30am AEDT

Key statistics

Median employee earnings was $1,150 per week, up $50 (4.5%) since August 2019.
Median hourly earnings was $36/hr, up $3.50/hr (10.8%) since August 2019.

Prior to August 2020, information on employee earnings was published in Characteristics of Employment.

From August 2020, statistics from the Characteristics of Employment survey are now published in three topic-based releases - this Employee earnings release, as well as:

Employee earnings, working arrangements and trade union membership data from the Characteristics of employment survey for 2014 to 2020 will be available in TableBuilder from 16 December 2020. TableBuilder enables the creation of customised tables and graphs.

Weekly earnings

	August 2020	August 2019	August 2015	2019 to 2020 (% change)	2015 to 2020 (% change p.a.)
Men	$1300	$1280	$1185	1.6%	1.9%
Women	$1000	$950	$850	5.3%	3.3%
Total	$1150	$1100	$1000	4.5%	2.8%

In August 2020, median weekly earnings for employees was $1,150, increasing from $1,100 in 2019. Median weekly earnings increased at a slower rate for men than women over the past 5 years, in part because the proportion of men working part-time increased.

Median weekly earnings, by sex and full-time or part-time status
	Women full-time ($)	Men full-time ($)	Women part-time ($)	Men part-time ($)
Aug-15	1,127	1,300	500	400
Aug-16	1,150	1,333	500	416
Aug-17	1,190	1,368	533	431
Aug-18	1,239	1,431	550	465
Aug-19	1,250	1,476	571	500
Aug-20	1,342	1,500	700	550

Median weekly earnings, by sex and full-time or part-time status

["\t","Women full-time","\tMen full-time","\tWomen part-time","\tMen part-time"]

[["Aug-15","Aug-16","Aug-17","Aug-18","Aug-19","Aug-20"],[[1127],[1150],[1190],[1239],[1250],[1342]],[[1300],[1333],[1368],[1431],[1476],[1500]],[[500],[500],[533],[550],[571],[700]],[[400],[416],[431],[465],[500],[550]]]

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Hourly earnings

	August 2020	August 2019	August 2015	2019 to 2020 (% change)	2015 to 2020 (% change p.a.)
Men	$37.20	$34.20	$30.30	8.8%	4.2%
Women	$35.00	$31.20	$27.50	12.2%	5.0%
Total	$36.00	$32.50	$28.80	10.8%	4.6%

Distribution of earnings

The lowest weekly earnings quantile grew faster than median in 2020. Earnings for the 10th and 25th percentile increased by 6.3% per annum (p.a.) and 3.4% p.a. respectively, and the 90th percentile by 3.2% p.a., compared to 2.8% p.a. growth in the median over the last 5 years.

	August 2020	August 2019	August 2015	2019 to 2020 (% change)	2015 to 2020 (% change p.a.)
10th Percentile	$408	$347	$300	17.6%	6.3%
25th Percentile	$750	$700	$635	7.1%	3.4%
50th Percentile	$1,150	$1,100	$1,000	4.5%	2.8%
75th Percentile	$1,740	$1,657	$1,500	5.0%	3.0%
90th Percentile	$2,500	$2,420	$2,134	3.3%	3.2%

There were significant changes to the distribution of earnings in August 2020. 920,000 employees were earning between $700 and $799 per week, which was higher than the 580,000 earning the same amount in August 2019. Most of this increase was from workers who earned $750 per week, which are likely to include employees who received the $1500 per fortnight JobKeeper supplement (before the payments were reduced in September).

Weekly earnings distribution
	Aug-19	Aug-20
$0 to $99	212.8	188.38
$100 to $199	342.77	259.63
$200 to $299	322.13	248.7
$300 to $399	367.34	278.86
$400 to $499	463.79	329.18
$500 to $599	432.85	387.95
$600 to $699	499.38	432.97
$700 to $799	575.71	919.92
$800 to $899	621.23	577.43
$900 to $999	695.2	601.12
$1000 to $1099	743.2	682.24
$1100 to $1199	600.23	544.52
$1200 to $1299	625.44	589.4
$1300 to $1399	447.01	416.74
$1400 to $1499	387.55	390.08
$1500 to $1599	466.83	471.37
$1600 to $1699	302.8	328.06
$1700 to $1799	331.95	329.8
$1800 to $1899	231	267.57
$1900 to $1999	230.43	218.35
$2000 to $2099	260.92	283.59
$2100 to $2199	166.55	189.43
$2200 to $2299	127.69	160.69
$2300 to $2399	156.97	170.48
$2400 to $2499	98.22	103.4
$2500 to $2599	144.88	146.91
$2600 to $2699	68.71	74.62
$2700 to $2799	85.27	88.84
$2800 to $2899	78.26	74.89
$2900 to $2999	36.59	53.65
$3000 to $3099	59.39	82.05
$3100 to $3199	29.16	31.78
$3200 to $3299	47.43	51.33
$3300 to $3399	20.27	32.32
$3400 to $3499	44.43	49.02
$3500 to $3599	32.15	31.15
$3600 to $3699	26.15	28.92

Weekly earnings distribution

["","Aug-19","Aug-20"]

[["$0 to $99","$100 to $199","$200 to $299","$300 to $399","$400 to $499","$500 to $599","$600 to $699","$700 to $799","$800 to $899","$900 to $999","$1000 to $1099","$1100 to $1199","$1200 to $1299","$1300 to $1399","$1400 to $1499","$1500 to $1599","$1600 to $1699","$1700 to $1799","$1800 to $1899","$1900 to $1999","$2000 to $2099","$2100 to $2199","$2200 to $2299","$2300 to $2399","$2400 to $2499","$2500 to $2599","$2600 to $2699","$2700 to $2799","$2800 to $2899","$2900 to $2999","$3000 to $3099","$3100 to $3199","$3200 to $3299","$3300 to $3399","$3400 to $3499","$3500 to $3599","$3600 to $3699"],[[212.8],[342.77],[322.13],[367.34],[463.79],[432.85],[499.38],[575.71],[621.23],[695.2],[743.2],[600.23],[625.44],[447.01],[387.55],[466.83],[302.8],[331.95],[231],[230.43],[260.92],[166.55],[127.69],[156.97],[98.22],[144.88],[68.71],[85.27],[78.26],[36.59],[59.39],[29.16],[47.43],[20.27],[44.43],[32.15],[26.15]],[[188.38],[259.63],[248.7],[278.86],[329.18],[387.95],[432.97],[919.92],[577.43],[601.12],[682.24],[544.52],[589.4],[416.74],[390.08],[471.37],[328.06],[329.8],[267.57],[218.35],[283.59],[189.43],[160.69],[170.48],[103.4],[146.91],[74.62],[88.84],[74.89],[53.65],[82.05],[31.78],[51.33],[32.32],[49.02],[31.15],[28.92]]]

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Compositional changes during the COVID-19 period

The COVID-19 period has seen rapid and large-scale change in the composition of the labour market. These changes in the make-up and structure of the labour market need to be considered when analysing the earnings data and the growth observed since August 2019.

Losses in jobs and employment during 2020 were not evenly distributed across the labour market, with most losses observed in casual work, younger age groups and industries with typically lower earnings. Those that remained employed had typically higher earnings or were provided the JobKeeper payment, which has partly contributed to the rise in earnings.

Changes to hours worked and the number of hours paid for have also contributed to changes in the employee earnings data, particularly the derived measure of hourly earnings. In some cases, a reduction in the number of hours paid for has resulted in an increase hourly earnings.

Refer to Spotlight - increases in average weekly earnings - compositional changes during the COVID-19 period for more information.

Other labour statistics can provide important insights into these compositional changes, to support the informed use of employee earnings measures during this period. These include:

State and territory

The state or territory with the highest median weekly earnings was the Australian Capital Territory at $1,450 per week, followed by Western Australia and the Northern Territory whose median earnings were $1,250 and $1,200 respectively. The lowest were Tasmania ($1,000 per week) and South Australia ($1,050 per week).

Median weekly earnings, by state and territory
	Aug-15 ($)	Aug-20 ($)
Australian Capital Territory	1,256	1,450
Western Australia	1,090	1,250
Northern Territory	1,200	1,200
New South Wales	1,000	1,150
Victoria	950	1,150
Queensland	1,000	1,100
South Australia	958	1,050
Tasmania	880	1,000

Median weekly earnings, by state and territory

["","Aug-15","Aug-20"]

[["Australian Capital Territory","Western Australia","Northern Territory","New South Wales","Victoria","Queensland","South Australia","Tasmania"],[[1256],[1090],[1200],[1000],[950],[1000],[958],[880]],[[1450],[1250],[1200],[1150],[1150],[1100],[1050],[1000]]]

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Of the state capital cities, Perth had the highest median weekly earnings at $1,250 per week, follow by both Sydney and Melbourne at $1,200 per week.

Outside the capital cities, the highest median weekly earnings was regional Western Australia at $1,250 per week, and the lowest was regional Tasmania at $990 per week.

Occupation

In August 2020, the occupations with highest median weekly earnings were Managers ($1,765 per week) and Professionals ($1,540 per week), while the lowest were Community and personal service workers ($750 per week) and Sales workers ($675 per week).

Managers ($50) and Professionals ($49.9) recorded the highest hourly rate, while Sales workers ($26.3) and Labourers ($26.2) were the lowest hourly rate. The gap between the median hourly rates for occupations is smaller than for the weekly measure, partly due to the difference in hours typically worked for each occupation.

Median hourly earnings, by occupation and skill level
	Aug-15 ($ per hour)	Aug-20 ($ per hour)
Managers	39.50	50.00
Professionals	41.10	49.90
Clerical and administrative workers	28.00	34.20
Technicians and trades workers	27.90	33.50
Machinery operators and drivers	26.30	30.50
Community and personal service workers	25.00	30.00
Sales workers	21.50	26.30
Labourers	22.50	26.20

Skill Level 1	41.86	50.00
Skill Level 2	31.07	39.53
Skill Level 3	27.36	32.89
Skill Level 4	25.67	31.25
Skill Level 5	21.57	25.86

Median hourly earnings, by occupation and skill level

["","Aug-15","Aug-20"]

[["Managers","Professionals","Clerical and administrative workers","Technicians and trades workers","Machinery operators and drivers","Community and personal service workers","Sales workers","Labourers","","Skill Level 1","Skill Level 2","Skill Level 3","Skill Level 4","Skill Level 5"],[[39.5],[41.1],[28],[27.9],[26.3],[25],[21.5],[22.5],[null],[41.86],[31.07],[27.36],[25.67],[21.57]],[[50],[49.9],[34.2],[33.5],[30.5],[30],[26.3],[26.2],[null],[50],[39.53],[32.89],[31.25],[25.86]]]

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1. Data is coded to ANZSCO ver 1.2. For more information on Occupations and Skill level, refer to ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

Industry

In August 2020, the industries with the highest median weekly earnings were:

Mining ($2,325 per week)
Electricity, gas, water and waste services ($1,714 per week)
Financial and insurance services ($1,539 per week)
Public administration and support services ($1,500 per week).

The industries with the lowest median weekly earnings were:

Accommodation and food services ($650 per week)
Retail trade ($750 per week)
Arts and recreation services ($788 per week).

Median weekly earnings, by industry
	Aug-15 ($)	Aug-20 ($)
Mining	2,071	2,325
Electricity, gas, water and waste services	1,500	1,714
Financial and insurance services	1,265	1,539
Public administration and safety	1,300	1,500
Professional, scientific and technical services	1,300	1,491
Information media and telecommunic-ations	1,246	1,475
Construction	1,200	1,280
Education and training	1,100	1,266
Manufacturing	1,058	1,200
Wholesale trade	1,000	1,200
Transport, postal and warehousing	1,100	1,200
Health care and social assistance	903	1,063
Rental, hiring and real estate services	1,000	1,061
Other services	879	1,000
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	871	932
Administrative and support services	899	900
Arts and recreation services	806	788
Retail trade	646	750
Accommodation and food services	494	650

Median weekly earnings, by industry

["","Aug-15","Aug-20"]

[["Mining","Electricity, gas, water and waste services","Financial and insurance services","Public administration and safety","Professional, scientific and technical services","Information media and telecommunic-ations","Construction","Education and training","Manufacturing","Wholesale trade","Transport, postal and warehousing","Health care and social assistance","Rental, hiring and real estate services","Other services","Agriculture, forestry and fishing","Administrative and support services","Arts and recreation services","Retail trade","Accommodation and food services"],[[2071],[1500],[1265],[1300],[1300],[1246],[1200],[1100],[1058],[1000],[1100],[902.8],[1000],[879.4],[870.6],[899.3],[805.7],[645.8],[493.5]],[[2324.8],[1714],[1538.7],[1500],[1490.8],[1474.6],[1280],[1266],[1200],[1200],[1200],[1062.6],[1061.2],[1000],[932.4],[900],[788],[750],[650]]]

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1. For more information on Industries, refer to Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)

Educational qualifications

In August 2020, the highest median weekly earnings were for employees with a postgraduate degree ($1,600 per week), while the lowest were those without non-school qualifications ($850 per week). The largest increases in median weekly earnings, compared to August 2015, were for employees with a graduate diploma/graduate certificate (up $215 per week and a bachelor degree (up $170 per week).

Median weekly earnings, by highest educational qualification
	Aug-15 ($)	Aug-20 ($)
Postgraduate degree	1,512	1,600
Graduate diploma/Graduate certificate	1,356	1,571
Bachelor degree	1,230	1,400
Advanced diploma/Diploma	1,035	1,150
Certificate III/IV	1,000	1,140
Certificate I/II and Other	900	1,043
No non-school qualifications	800	850

Median weekly earnings, by highest educational qualification

["","Aug-15","Aug-20"]

[["Postgraduate degree","Graduate diploma\/Graduate certificate","Bachelor degree","Advanced diploma\/Diploma","Certificate III\/IV","Certificate I\/II and Other","No non-school qualifications"],[[1511.6],[1355.73],[1230],[1035],[1000],[900],[800]],[[1600],[1570.7],[1400],[1150],[1140],[1043.2],[850]]]

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1. For more information on educational attainment, refer to Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED)

Data downloads

Table 1a - Median earnings for employees by sex, state and full-time or part-time, 2004–2020

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Table 1b - Median earnings for Employees by sex, state and status of employment, 2004–2020

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Table 1c - Median earnings for employees by state, full-time or part-time and status of employment, 2004–2020

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Table 1d - Median Earnings by full-time or part-time, state and trade union members in main job

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Table 2 - Median earnings for employees by demographic characteristics and full-time or part-time

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Table 3 - Distribution of earnings for employees by industry

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Table 4 - Distribution of earnings for employees by occupation and skill level

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Table 5 - Distribution of earnings for employees by educational qualification

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Table 6 - Median earnings for employees by industry, occupation and educational qualification

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Table 7 - Median earnings for employees and OMIEs by working arrangements

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Table 8 - Median earnings for employees and OMIEs by demographic characteristics

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Table 12 - Median earnings for employees by duration (length) of current trade union membership

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Table 13 - Median earnings for employees by status of labour hire and demographic characteristics

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All 2020 data cubes

Data files

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Historical data: Table 2 - Median earnings for employees by demographic characteristics and full-time or part-time

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Historical data: Table 3 - Distribution of earnings for employees by industry

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Historical data: Table 4 - Distribution of earnings for employees by occupation and skill level

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Historical data: Table 5 - Distribution of earnings for employees by educational qualification

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Historical data: Table 6 - Median earnings for employees by industry, occupation and educational qualification

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Historical data: Table 7 - Median earnings for employees and OMIEs by working arrangements

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Historical data: Table 8 - Median earnings for employees and OMIEs by demographic characteristics

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Historical data: Table 12 - Median earnings for employees by duration (length) of current trade union membership

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Historical data: Table 13 - Median earnings for employees by status of labour hire and demographic characteristics

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Previous catalogue number

This release uses ABS catalogue number 6337.0*.
Data from this release was previously published in Characteristics of Employment (catalogue number 6333.0**).

Prior to 2014, distribution of employee earnings data was published in Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia (catalogue number 6310.0).

*Note: Catalogue number 6337.0 was previously used for Working Hours Arrangements, Australia (Preliminary), Feb to May 1981.

**Note: Catalogue number 6333.0 was previously used for Working Conditions, Australia (Preliminary), Feb to May 1979.

Methodology

Characteristics of Employment, Australia methodology, August 2020

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APA

Employee earnings

APA

Key statistics

Weekly earnings

Hourly earnings

Distribution of earnings

Compositional changes during the COVID-19 period

State and territory

Occupation

Industry

Educational qualifications

Data downloads

Table 1a - Median earnings for employees by sex, state and full-time or part-time, 2004–2020

Table 1b - Median earnings for Employees by sex, state and status of employment, 2004–2020

Table 1c - Median earnings for employees by state, full-time or part-time and status of employment, 2004–2020

Table 1d - Median Earnings by full-time or part-time, state and trade union members in main job

Table 2 - Median earnings for employees by demographic characteristics and full-time or part-time

Table 3 - Distribution of earnings for employees by industry

Table 4 - Distribution of earnings for employees by occupation and skill level

Table 5 - Distribution of earnings for employees by educational qualification

Table 6 - Median earnings for employees by industry, occupation and educational qualification

Table 7 - Median earnings for employees and OMIEs by working arrangements

Table 8 - Median earnings for employees and OMIEs by demographic characteristics

Table 12 - Median earnings for employees by duration (length) of current trade union membership

Table 13 - Median earnings for employees by status of labour hire and demographic characteristics

All 2020 data cubes

Historical data: Table 2 - Median earnings for employees by demographic characteristics and full-time or part-time

Historical data: Table 3 - Distribution of earnings for employees by industry

Historical data: Table 4 - Distribution of earnings for employees by occupation and skill level

Historical data: Table 5 - Distribution of earnings for employees by educational qualification

Historical data: Table 6 - Median earnings for employees by industry, occupation and educational qualification

Historical data: Table 7 - Median earnings for employees and OMIEs by working arrangements

Historical data: Table 8 - Median earnings for employees and OMIEs by demographic characteristics

Historical data: Table 12 - Median earnings for employees by duration (length) of current trade union membership

Historical data: Table 13 - Median earnings for employees by status of labour hire and demographic characteristics

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

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