6524.0.55.002 - Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, Time Series, 2009-10 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/11/2012   
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Introduction
Regional Variations in Average Income
Top Average Total Income Regions

INTRODUCTION

The estimates in this release provide a means of analysing differences in level and composition of personal income in regions. Such analyses can provide a valuable insight into the nature of regional economies and aspects of the economic well-being of the people who live there.

Data for 2009-10 have been sourced from the Australian Tax Office (ATO). They are presented here for a variety of geographic levels such as local government areas (LGAs), Statistical Area Level 2s (SA2) and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSA), using the new Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

Since the last issue (covering 2003-04 to 2008-09) there have been some changes to items included in each income category. The estimates in this issue are not directly comparable to those in the last issue (2003-04 to 2008-09). A new time series of Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas for 2005-06 to 2009-10 will be released in 2013.

While personal income data provide insights into the income in regional economies, wealth is also important to economic well-being, since some people on low incomes may have wealth to draw on, such as property and business assets (Australian Social Trends, 2006, cat. no. 4102.0). Conversely, some people on high incomes may also have high levels of debt. This article has a focus on income, but income alone does not necessarily equate with overall economic well-being.

Further analysis of regional incomes can be undertaken using the data contained in the spreadsheets attached to this article. More information about the ASGS can be found in Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure & Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, July 2011, cat. no 1270.0.55.001.


ESTIMATES OF PERSONAL INCOME

In 2009-10, Total income (from all sources excluding Government pensions and allowances) was $588.1 billion, with Wages and salaries income contributing 81.4% of total income, followed by Investment income (10.2%) and Own unincorporated business income (6.3%).

Table 1. SOURCES OF INCOME, 2009-10 - Australia

Sources of Income
Number of persons
by income source (a)


no.
Total income
by source (b)




$b
Average income
per person
by source



$
Source of income
as % of
Total income



%

Wages & salaries
9 787 143
478.7
48 907
81.4
Own unincorporated business
1 860 729
37.3
20 023
6.3
Investment
7 730 019
60.0
7 760
10.2
Superannuation & annuities
387 481
8.7
22 486
1.5
Other (b)
1 231 045
3 5
2 854
0.6
Total income (b) (c)
12 119 007
588.1
48 530
100.0

(a) Persons may have more than one source of income.
(b) Excludes Government pensions and allowances.
(c) Totals may not exactly match the sum of components due to rounding.

Readers should note that the data for Superannuation and annuities are understated. See Explanatory Notes, paragraph 27.


REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN AVERAGE INCOME

Table 2. AVERAGE INCOME by Source - Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and Rest of State/Territory, 2009-10

Region
Wages & salaries
Own unincorporated business
Investment
Superannuation & annuities
Other Income (excl. Govt pensions & allowances)
Total income from all sources (excl. Govt pensions & allowances)
$
$
$
$
$
$

New South Wales
50 943
21 025
7 901
22 346
3 257
50 328
Greater Sydney
54 354
26 533
8 988
22 091
3 740
55 010
Rest of NSW
43 992
13 595
5 848
22 615
2 262
41 537
Victoria
47 363
19 309
8 758
20 264
2 630
47 623
Greater Melbourne
49 342
23 146
9 345
20 863
2 927
50 413
Rest of Victoria
40 786
11 670
6 872
18 716
1 650
38 995
Queensland
47 054
16 806
6 626
20 677
2 511
45 844
Greater Brisbane
49 251
21 675
6 503
21 160
2 502
48 895
Rest of Queensland
44 835
13 684
6 738
20 222
2 513
42 981
South Australia
44 141
20 042
7 410
24 615
2 333
44 312
Greater Adelaide
45 357
23 130
7 696
25 373
2 512
46 041
Rest of South Australia
39 497
14 029
6 408
21 183
1 674
38 213
Western Australia
53 227
24 757
8 629
22 775
3 534
53 397
Greater Perth
53 864
27 790
9 008
23 333
3 835
54 728
Rest of WA
50 235
17 245
7 032
19 928
2 272
48 234
Tasmania
41 673
16 860
6 077
20 879
2 180
41 542
Greater Hobart
43 863
21 237
6 159
22 287
2 171
44 358
Rest of Tasmania
39 898
14 209
5 791
19 231
2 178
39 216
Northern Territory
50 746
20 294
3 843
27 438
1 958
51 366
Greater Darwin
53 055
23 278
3 800
28 619
2 043
53 747
Rest of NT
46 606
12 602
3 717
23 863
1 331
47 153
Australian Capital Territory (a)
57 749
25 297
4 735
32 657
2 238
58 034
Australia (b)
48 907
20 023
7 760
22 486
2 854
48 530

(a) the whole of the ACT is one GCCSA.
(b) Australia totals include data for the Other Territories.

Table 2 presents average income data for 2009-10 for all sources of income, by state and territory. The Australian Capital Territory recorded the highest average total income of all states and territories ($58,034), followed by Western Australia ($53,397) and the Northern Territory ($51,366). When interpreting these results, it should be noted that some low income earners, for example those receiving Government pensions and allowances, or those under the income threshold for tax form lodgement, are excluded from the data. This can impact on the data story for the Northern Territory, for example.

For Australia, average total income was $48,530. Overall, the Greater Capital City Statistical Areas recorded substantially higher average total incomes than the rest of each state or territory.

Average wage and salary total incomes were highest in the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales. Average individual income from Own unincorporated business was highest in the Australian Capital Territory ($25,297), Western Australia ($24,757) and New South Wales ($21,025). Again, Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs) recorded considerably higher average incomes from this source than the Rest of each state or territory. Victoria recorded the highest average Investment income in 2009-10, followed by Western Australia and New South Wales. The Australian Capital Territory had the highest average income from Superannuation and annuities ($32,657), followed by the Northern Territory ($27,438) and South Australia ($24,615). Map 1 (below) illustrates average total income data for 2009-10 by Statistical Area Level 2 geographies.

Excluding regions with less than one hundred income earners, almost two-thirds (65.8%) of SA2s in Australia had average total incomes lower than the national average ($48,530).

Toorak in Melbourne recorded the highest average total income ($132,252) of all Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) regions, nationally. This was followed by the SA2s of Double Bay - Bellevue Hill ($129,116), Mosman ($126,956), Hunters Hill - Woolwich ($123,869), Woollahra ($120,199), Dover Heights ($115,387) and Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watson's Bay ($115,148) - all in Sydney in New South Wales. The Cottesloe SA2 ($113,892) in western Perth was the only other SA2 in Australia (outside of NSW and Victoria) that had an Average Total income exceeding $110,000.

Outside of the metropolitan/city regions, the SA2s with the highest average total incomes were the mining regions of Western Australia, in particular Karratha ($79,925), Port Hedland ($78,584), Roebourne ($75,316) and Ashburton ($73,645).

Map 1. AVERAGE TOTAL INCOME, Statistical Area Level 2 - Australia, 2009-10

Map 1. AVERAGE TOTAL INCOME, Statistical Area Level 2 - Australia, 2009-10

TOP AVERAGE TOTAL INCOME REGIONS

This section presents data on the five Statistical Area Level 2 regions (SA2s) in each Greater Capital City Statistical Area and the Rest of each state/territory with the highest average total incomes in 2009-10. Readers should note that SA2s with less than 100 income earners have been excluded from the data and percentages presented below, however all SA2s are in the spreadsheets attached to this release.

NEW SOUTH WALES

The SA2 of Double Bay - Bellevue Hill, a harbour-side area in eastern Sydney, had the highest average total income in New South Wales in 2009-10 ($129,116) as shown in Table 3. The SA2 of Mosman on Sydney's north shore, had the state's second highest average total income in 2009-10 ($126,956). Hunters Hill - Woolwich, Woollahra and Dover Heights were also in the top five highest income SA2s in New South Wales. All five SA2s also recorded relatively high proportions of Investment income relative to total income, ranging from 39.6% for Double Bay - Bellevue Hill, to 34.9% for Dover Heights, to 25.6% for Mosman. In contrast, the Investment to total income share for the whole Greater Sydney GCCSA was 10.7%.

Outside of Greater Sydney, Queanbeyan West - Jerrabomberra in the south east of NSW had the highest average Total income ($64,728). Wages and salaries contributed 85.4% of Total income for this region. Other SA2s with high average total income were Merewether - The Junction ($62,296) and Newcastle - Cooks Hill ($61,295) where Wages and salaries contributed 72.6% and 72.2% of total income respectively (compared with 81.4% for Australia).
 
In 2009-10, 25.5% or 132 of SA2s in New South Wales recorded average total incomes above the state average ($50,328). Of these SA2s, twenty were located outside of the Greater Sydney region.

Table 3. TOP AVERAGE INCOMES, New South Wales, 2009-10 (a)

2009-10
Top 5 SA2s
$

Greater Sydney GCCSA
Greater Sydney GCCSADouble Bay - Bellevue Hill
Mosman
Hunters Hill - Woolwich
Woollahra
Dover Heights
129 116
126 956
123 869
120 199
115 387
55 010
Rest of NSW
Queanbeyan West - Jerrabomberra

Merewether - The Junction
Newcastle - Cooks Hill
Singleton
Singleton Region
64 728
62 296
61 295
58 507
58 022
Rest of NSW (b)
41 537
New South Wales (c)
50 328

(a) Excludes SA2 regions with less than 100 income earners.
(b) Excludes 'SA2 unknown'.
(c) Includes 'SA2 unknown'.

VICTORIA

Areas in Greater Melbourne's inner south-east recorded Victoria's highest average total incomes in 2009-10 (Table 4). The SA2 of Toorak recorded the state's highest average ($132,252) followed by Brighton ($101,776) and East Melbourne ($95,349). Greater Melbourne's top five was completed by Albert Park ($ 91,871) and Armadale ($89,534).

Outside of Greater Melbourne, the highest average total incomes were in the SA2s of Newtown in the Geelong area ($56,512) and Woodend in the Macedon Ranges ($50,960). Other regions with high average total incomes were the SA2s of Torquay ($48,553), Geelong ($48,528) and Traralgon ($48,344).

In 2009-10, 28.7% (or 121) of all SA2s in Victoria recorded average total incomes above the state average ($47,623). Five of these SA2s were located outside the Greater Melbourne GCCSA.

Table 4. TOP AVERAGE INCOMES, Victoria, 2009-10 (a)

2009-10
Top 5 SA2s
$

Greater Melbourne GCCSA
Toorak
Brighton
East Melbourne
Albert Park
Armadale
132 252
101 776
95 349
91 871
89 534
Greater Melbourne GCCSA
50 413
Rest of Vic
Newtown

Woodend
Torquay
Geelong
Traralgon
56 512
50 960
48 553
48 528
48 344
Rest of Victoria (b)
38 995
Victoria (c)
47 623

(a) Excludes SA2 regions with less than 100 income earners.
(b) Excludes 'SA2 unknown'.
(c) Includes 'SA2 unknown'.

QUEENSLAND

Individuals in the inner-city areas of Ascot and Hamilton earned higher average incomes than Queenslanders in other regions (Table 5). The SA2 of Ascot recorded the highest average total income in Queensland in 2009-10 ($90,945), followed closely by Hamilton ($90,900). As Table 5 shows, Bulimba, Hawthorne and Bardon completed the top five for the Greater Brisbane GCCSA,

Outside of Greater Brisbane, the highest average total income was found in the Moranbah SA2 ($75,662) - a mining region near Mackay (northern Queensland). Other SA2s with high average total incomes included Broadsound - Nebo ($64,814) and Central Highlands - East ($61,361).

In 2009-10, 37.8% (or 193) of all SA2s in Queensland had average total incomes above the state average ($45,844). Of these SA2s, 119 were located within the Brisbane metropolitan area.

Table 5. TOP AVERAGE INCOMES, Queensland, 2009-10 (a)

2009-10
Top 5 SA2s
$

Greater Brisbane
Ascot
90 945
Hamilton
90 900
Bulimba
74 206
Hawthorne
Bardon
73 928
73 579
Greater Brisbane GCCSA
48 895
Rest of Qld
Moranbah
75 662
Broadsound - Nebo
Central Highlands - East
64 814
61 361
Weipa
Shoal Point - Bucasia
58 958
58 404
Rest of Qld (b)
42 981
Queensland (c)
45 844

(a) Excludes SA2 regions with less than 100 income earners.
(b) Excludes 'SA2 unknown'.
(c) Includes 'SA2 unknown'.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The inner-city SA2s of North Adelaide and Walkerville had the highest annual average total incomes in Greater Adelaide and South Australia - at $75,574 and $74,296 respectively. As Table 6 shows, Glenside - Beaumont, Unley - Parkside and Toorak Gardens also had high average annual incomes.

Roxby Downs, an SA2 in the state's north, and a mining centre, had the highest annual average total income outside of the Greater Adelaide area ($68,359) and the fourth highest average income in the state. Other SA2s with high average income in the rest of state included Whyalla ($48,138), the Outback SA2 in the north of the State ($47,355), Tanunda ($46,039) and Port Augusta ($44,750).

In 2009-10, 31.5% of SA2 regions (or 51) in South Australia had average total incomes above the state average ($44,312). Of these SA2s, 46 were located in the Greater Adelaide region.

Table 6. TOP AVERAGE INCOMES, South Australia, 2009-10 (a)

2009-10
Top 5 SA2s
$

Greater Adelaide GCCSA
North Adelaide
Walkerville
Glenside - Beaumont
Unley - Parkside
Toorak Gardens
75 574
74 296
68 982
66 466
65 999
Greater Adelaide GCCSA
46 041
Rest of SA
Roxby Downs

Whyalla
Outback
Tanunda
Port Augusta
68 359
48 138
47 355
46 039
44 750
Rest of SA (b)
38 213
South Australia (c)
44 312

(a) Excludes SA2 regions with less than 100 income earners.
(b) Excludes 'SA2 unknown'.
(c) Includes 'SA2 unknown'.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Cottesloe, a beach-side SA2 in Perth had the highest annual average total income ($113,892) in Western Australia. Also prominent were the SA2s of Nedlands - Dalkeith - Crawley ($106,981), City Beach ($102,971) and Mosman Park - Peppermint Grove ($99,609).

Outside of Greater Perth, the Pilbara mining regions of Karratha ($79,925), Port Hedland ($78,584), Roebourne ($75,316) and Ashburton ($73,645) had the highest average total income levels.

In 2009-10, 31.6% of all SA2s in Western Australia (or 72) had annual average total incomes that exceeded the State level ($53,397). Of these, 13 SA2s were located outside of Greater Perth.

Table 7. TOP AVERAGE INCOMES, Western Australia, 2009-10 (a)

2009-10
Top 5 SA2s
$

Greater Perth GCCSA
Cottesloe
Nedlands - Dalkeith - Crawley
City Beach
Mosman Park - Peppermint Grove
Claremont
113 892
106 981
102 971
99 609
90 534
Greater Perth GCCSA
54 728
Rest of WAKarratha
Port Hedland
Roebourne
Ashburton
Newman
79 925
78 584
75 316
73 645
72 167
Rest of WA (b)
48 234
Western Australia (c)
53 397

(a) Excludes SA2 regions with less than 100 income earners.
(b) Excludes 'SA2 unknown'.
(c) Includes 'SA2 unknown'.

TASMANIA

The SA2 of Sandy Bay, in the south of Hobart, had the highest average total income in Tasmania in 2009-10 ($59,002). Table 8 shows that the SA2 of Mount Nelson - Dynnyrne had the next highest average total income ($54,660).

Of the areas outside of the Greater Hobart GCCSA, the SA2s of West Coast ($46,606) and Norwood ($44,784) had the highest average incomes in 2009-10.

In 2009-10, 38.9% of all SA2s in Tasmania (or 37) had average annual total incomes above the state average ($41,542). Of these SA2s, 19 were located outside of the Greater Hobart GCCSA.

Table 8. TOP AVERAGE INCOMES, Tasmania, 2009-10 (a)

2009-10
Top 5 SA2s
$

Greater Hobart GCCSA
Sandy Bay
Mount Nelson - Dynnyrne
Taroona - Bonnet Hill
South Hobart - Fern Tree
Hobart
59 002
54 660
51 476
51 129
50 740
Greater Hobart GCCSA
44 358
Rest of Tasmania
West Coast
Norwood
Waverley - St. Leonards
Newstead
Ravenswood
46 606
44 784
44 781
44 780
44 780
Rest of Tasmania (b)
39 216
Tasmania (c)
41 542

(a) Excludes SA2 regions with less than 100 income earners.
(b) Excludes 'SA2 unknown'.
(c) Includes 'SA2 unknown'.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

In 2009-10, the three highest income SA2s in the Northern Territory were located outside of the Greater Darwin area - Anindilyakwa ($73,480), Nhulunbuy ($63,985) and East Arnhem ($63,955). Care should be taken when interpreting these results, as some low income earners, for example those receiving Government pensions and allowances, or those under the income threshold for tax lodgement, are excluded from these results. Moreover, recent data from the 2011 Population Census confirms that one quarter of the combined populations of these SA2s receive between $1-299 a week.

Excluding the top 3 regions, all other SA2s outside of Greater Darwin had average incomes below the Northern Territory average ($51,366).

In Greater Darwin, the central city areas of Stuart Park, Fannie Bay - The Gardens and Ludmilla - The Narrows had the highest average total incomes with $60,979, $60,976 and $60,975 respectively.

Table 9. TOP AVERAGE INCOMES, Northern Territory, 2009-10 (a)

2009-10
Top 5 SA2s
$

Greater Darwin GCCSA
Stuart Park
Fannie Bay - The Gardens
Ludmilla - The Narrows
Darwin Airport and surrounds
Larrakeyah
60 979
60 976
60 975
60 966
60 962
Greater Darwin GCCSA
53 747
Rest of NT




Anindilyakwa
Nhulunbuy
East Arnhem
Mount Johns
Larapinta
73 480
63 985
63 955
50 166
50 158
Rest of NT(b)
47 153
Northern Territory (c)
51 366

(a) Excludes SA2 regions with less than 100 income earners.
(b) Excludes 'SA2 unknown'.
(c) Includes 'SA2 unknown'.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

People living in the inner southern areas of Red Hill and Forrest recorded the highest average incomes in the Australian Capital Territory in 2009-10 ($87,496 and $87,488 respectively). The SA2s of Griffith, Deakin and Yarralumla rounded out the top five, as shown by Table 10.

The Australian Capital Territory had the highest average income of all states and territories in 2009-10 ($58,034).

Table 10. TOP AVERAGE INCOMES, Australian Capital Territory, 2009-10 (a)

2009-10
Top 5 SA2s
$

Red Hill
87 496
Forrest
87 488
Griffith
87 473
Deakin
80 251
Yarralumla
80 238
Australian Capital Territory (b)
58 034

(a) Excludes SA2 regions with less than 100 income earners.
(b) Includes 'SA2 unknown'.