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Am I Rich or Poor? — Where Does Your Salary Rank?

Enter your salary and instantly see your percentile ranking among all Australians. Compare your income across cities and find out if you're rich, middle class, or below average.

Last verified: 1 July 2025

What salary makes you rich in Australia?

The median full-time Australian salary is around $78,000, and the average (pulled up by high earners) is about $100,168. Thresholds by percentile: top 27% at $100,000; top 14% at $150,000; top 10% at $180,000; top 5% at $200,000; top 1% above roughly $350,000. Middle-class bands sit between $65,000-$120,000 for an individual; median household ~$100-110k combined. Source: ATO taxable income tables; ABS Characteristics of Employment.

Worked example. On $100,000 gross → take-home ~$76,800/yr (~$1,478/wk) — top third of earners. On $150,000 → take-home ~$109,000/yr (~$9,100/mo) — top ~14%. On $200,000 → take-home ~$139,500/yr — top 5%. Location matters: $100k in Sydney has roughly the purchasing power of $80k in Brisbane or $75k in Adelaide due to housing. "Comfortable" single-life estimates: $70-90k in most capitals; $90-110k in Sydney. Family of four: $130-180k household.
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Your Income Ranking

Top 45%

You earn more than 55% of Australians

Above Average
Low IncomeAverageTop 1%

How You Compare

Your salary$85,000.00
Median Australian salary$78,000.00
Average Australian salary$100,168.00
Difference from median+$7,000.00

Your Salary Across Cities

Adjusted for cost of living — what your purchasing power equals in each city.

CityEquivalent SalaryCost Index
Sydney$70,833.00+20%
Melbourne$77,273.00+10%
Brisbane$85,000.000%
Perth$80,952.00+5%
Adelaide$92,391.00-8%
Canberra$78,704.00+8%
Hobart$89,474.00-5%
Darwin$75,893.00+12%

A higher cost index means your salary buys less in that city.

Australian Income Thresholds

Top 1%$350,000.00
Top 5%$200,000.00
Top 10%$180,000.00
Top 20%$130,000.00
✓ Median (50th percentile)$78,000.00
✓ 25th percentile$50,000.00

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary is considered rich in Australia?
In Australia, earning over $180,000 per year puts you in roughly the top 10% of individual income earners. To be in the top 5%, you need to earn above $200,000, and to be in the top 1%, you need over $350,000. However, 'rich' is relative — it depends heavily on where you live (Sydney is far more expensive than Adelaide), your household size, and your debts. A salary of $200,000 in Sydney with a large mortgage may feel less wealthy than $150,000 in Brisbane with no debt.
What is middle class income in Australia?
Middle class income in Australia is generally considered to be around $65,000 to $120,000 per year for an individual. The median (middle) Australian full-time salary is approximately $78,000, while the average is around $100,168 — the average is pulled up by high earners. If you earn between these figures, you are squarely in the Australian middle class. Household income gives a different picture: a median household earns around $100,000–$110,000 combined.
What percentage of Australians earn over $100,000?
Approximately 27% of full-time Australian workers earn over $100,000 per year. This means earning $100K puts you in the top third of income earners. The percentage drops sharply at higher thresholds: about 14% earn over $150,000, roughly 8% earn over $180,000, and only around 3-4% earn over $250,000. These figures are based on ATO taxable income data and ABS earnings surveys.
Am I rich or poor compared to other Australians?
The simplest way to find out is to compare your salary to the median Australian income of $78,000. If you earn above this, you earn more than at least half of all Australians. Use our tool above to enter your exact salary and see your precise percentile ranking — it will tell you what percentage of Australians earn less than you and give you a clear label from 'Below Average' to 'Top 1%'.
What is the average salary in Australia in 2025?
The average Australian full-time salary is approximately $100,168 per year (before tax) as of the latest ABS data. However, the median salary is a more useful benchmark at around $78,000, because the average is skewed upward by very high earners. Part-time workers earn significantly less — the average across all workers (including part-time) is around $72,000.
Is $150,000 a good salary in Australia?
$150,000 is an excellent salary in Australia — it puts you in approximately the top 14% of individual income earners. After tax, you would take home roughly $109,000 per year or about $9,100 per month. In most Australian cities this provides a very comfortable lifestyle, though in Sydney you may still find housing costs stretch your budget, particularly if buying property. In Brisbane, Adelaide, or Perth, $150K goes significantly further.
How does cost of living affect whether I'm rich or poor?
Cost of living makes a huge difference to how far your salary stretches. A salary of $100,000 in Sydney has roughly the same purchasing power as $80,000 in Brisbane or $75,000 in Adelaide due to differences in housing, transport, and everyday costs. Our tool adjusts your salary for different Australian cities so you can see the real-world equivalent of your income in each location.
What income do you need to live comfortably in Australia?
Most financial benchmarks suggest a single person needs $70,000–$90,000 per year to live comfortably in a major Australian city, assuming modest housing costs. In Sydney, this figure rises to $90,000–$110,000 due to higher rents and property prices. For a family of four, comfortable living typically requires a household income of $130,000–$180,000 depending on the city. 'Comfortable' generally means covering essentials, saving 10-20% of income, and having money for leisure.

General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with a licensed adviser or the ATO.

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