Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia

The diagram below shows for employees in scope of the May 2018 Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, the proportion of employees by category of employee.

1. Proportions are based on unrounded estimates. Components may sum to more than 100%
2. See paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Explanatory notes in the Methodology.

In May 2018 there were 10,647,200 employees, of whom 49.9% were male and 50.1% were female. Average weekly total cash earnings was $1,288.70 for all employees, $1,525.40 for male employees and $1,053.30 for female employees. The average age of all employees was 39.8 years.

Full-time employees made up 60.2% of all employees, had average weekly total cash earnings of $1,699.20 and had an average age of 41.0 years. Part-time employees accounted for 39.8% of all employees, had average weekly total cash earnings of $668.30 and had an average age of 38.1 years.

Male employees were predominantly full-time (75.1% of male employees). Full-time males had average weekly total cash earnings of $1,810.90 and an average age of 41.1 years. Part-time male employees had average weekly total cash earnings of $666.00 and were, on average, younger than full-time males with an average age of 36.1 years.

More female employees were employed part-time (54.6%) than full-time (45.4%). Average weekly total cash earnings was $1,515.60 for full-time females and $669.30 for part-time females. There was a smaller gap in the average ages of full-time females (40.8 years) and part-time females (39.0 years) than their male counterparts.

The majority of employees (78.0%) were employed on a permanent or fixed term basis. In May 2018, these employees had average weekly total cash earnings of $1,469.20. Average weekly total cash earnings was $1,692.60 for males employed on a permanent or fixed term basis and $1,229.50 for female permanent or fixed term employees.

Casual employees accounted for 22.0% of employees and had average weekly total cash earnings of $649.20. Male casual employees had average weekly total cash earnings of $814.20 and represent 19.0% of total male employees. Male casual employees had an average age of 34.2 years, younger than the average age of female casual employees (35.0 years). Female casual employees had average weekly total cash earnings of $524.30 and represent 25.0% of total female employees.

The majority of employees were aged 35 years and over (60.2%). Employees aged 20 years and under comprised 6.9% of all employees. Average weekly total cash earnings were highest for employees aged 45 to 54 years of age ($1,544.20) and were lowest for employees aged 20 years and under ($383.70).

Among major occupation groups, Managers had both the highest average weekly total cash earnings ($2,424.50) and the highest average age (45.9 years). Sales workers had the lowest average weekly total cash earnings ($735.90) and average age (33.7 years). Managers comprised 7.1% of all employees and Sales workers comprised 11.7% of all employees.

The largest proportion of employees were Professionals (22.0%) who received average weekly total cash earnings of $1,751.40 and had an average age of 41.9 years. The smallest proportion of employees were Machinery operators and drivers (6.6%) who received average weekly total cash earnings of $1,355.10 and had an average age of 42.8 years.

Average weekly total cash earnings was highest for employees in the Mining industry ($2,674.80), who represented 1.6% of all employees and had an average age of 41.7 years. The lowest average weekly total cash earnings was for employees in the Accommodation and food services industry ($616.20), who represented 7.5% of employees and had the lowest average age of all industries (30.1 years).

The largest proportion of employees were in the Health care and social assistance industry (13.8%), who received average weekly total cash earnings of $1,176.50 and had an average age of 42.6 years. Employees in the Public administration and safety industry had the highest average age (44.5 years).

The average weekly total cash earnings of all employees was highest in the Australian Capital Territory ($1,517.20). The average weekly total cash earnings of all employees was lowest in Tasmania ($1,092.30) and South Australia ($1,153.40).

Average weekly total cash earnings for all employees was higher in the public sector ($1,552.80) than in the private sector ($1,227.10). Private sector employees comprised 81.1% of all employees and public sector employees comprised 18.9% of all employees. The average age of public sector employees was 44.6 years, older than that of their private sector counterparts (38.7 years).

Employees on Award or Collective agreement accounted for 58.9% of all employees in May 2018. Employees paid by Individual arrangement accounted for 37.3% of all employees with the remaining 3.8% of employees being Owner managers of incorporated enterprises.

Businesses with under 20 employees employed 22.3% of all employees excluding Owner managers of incorporated enterprises and 40.9% of employees paid at the apprentice or trainee rate. Average weekly total cash earnings for all rates of pay was lowest in businesses with under 20 employees ($917.30) and highest in businesses with 100 to 999 employees ($1,440.40).

Median weekly total cash earnings was $1,500.00 for all full-time employees paid at the adult rate, and $1,463.00 for all full-time employees. The lowest paid 10% of all full-time employees paid at the adult rate received weekly total cash earnings of $925.00 or less, and the highest paid 10% received $2,771.00 or more.

The inter quartile range (i.e. the middle 50%) of weekly total cash earnings for all full-time employees paid the adult rate was from $1,125.00 to $2,068.00, or for all full-time employees was from $1,093.00 to $2,044.00.

Median weekly total cash earnings for all part-time employees was $577.00. One in 10 part-time employees received weekly total cash earnings of $138.00 or less, and one in 10 part-time employees received $1,244.00 or more.

Data on hours paid for is available for all employees in the non-managerial population. This enables analysis and comparisons of hours paid for and hourly earnings across classifications of interest, with the effect of managerial earnings and hours removed. For example, average weekly total cash earnings may be identical for two categories of employees, however employees in one category may be paid for fewer hours per week and receive higher average hourly earnings.

In May 2018, non-managerial employees received average weekly total cash earnings of $1,227.30. They were paid for an average 31.4 hours per week at an average hourly total cash earnings rate of $39.10.

Permanent full-time non-managerial employees were paid for an average 39.3 hours per week at an average hourly total cash earnings rate of $41.70 and received $1,638.50 average weekly total cash earnings. These employees comprised 54.9% of all non-managerial employees.

Permanent part-time non-managerial employees comprised 21.4% of all non-managerial employees. They were paid for an average of 23.7 total hours per week at an average hourly total cash earnings rate of $34.20, resulting in average weekly total cash earnings of $810.90.

Casual non-managerial employees comprised 23.6% of all non-managerial employees. These employees were paid for an average of 19.9 total hours per week at an average hourly total cash earnings rate of $32.60 to receive average weekly total cash earnings of $649.00.

Permanent full-time males represented 33.1% of all non-managerial employees. They were paid for an average of 40.1 total hours per week at an hourly cash rate of $43.60 to receive average weekly total cash earnings of $1,751.50.

Permanent full-time females represented 21.9% of all non-managerial employees. These employees were paid for an average of 38.0 total hours per week at an hourly cash rate of $38.60 to receive $1,467.60 average weekly total cash earnings.

Managers had the highest average hourly total cash earnings ($60.40), followed by Professionals ($54.00), of all non-managerial employees. Managers were, on average, paid for more total hours per week than Professionals (37.0 hours and 32.1 hours respectively). Managers received average weekly total cash earnings of $2,235.10 compared to $1,730.50 for Professionals. For more information on how the ABS categorises managers as managerial or non-managerial, please refer to Methodology paragraphs 29 and 30.

Sales workers had the lowest average hourly total cash earnings ($28.50) and were paid for an average of 25.6 total hours per week. As a result they also received the lowest average weekly total cash earnings ($729.40) of all occupation groups.

Labourers had the second lowest average hourly total cash earnings ($29.50) and were paid for an average of 29.6 total hours per week. They received higher average weekly total cash earnings ($873.30) than Community and personal services workers ($815.50), who received higher average hourly total cash earnings ($32.00) but were paid for the lowest average total hours of all occupation groups (25.5 hours).

For all non-managerial employees, those in the Mining industry had the highest average hourly total cash earnings ($60.60) and average weekly total hours paid for (43.5 hours), resulting in the highest average weekly total cash earnings ($2,635.90).

Non-managerial employees in the Accommodation and food services industry had the lowest average hourly total cash earnings ($25.90) and average weekly total hours paid for (22.6 hours), resulting in the lowest average weekly total cash earnings ($584.70).

Amongst non-managerial employees, the most common method of setting pay was Collective agreement (40.0%). Non-managerial employees paid by Collective agreement had the highest average hourly total cash earnings ($42.00), and were paid for an average 31.0 total hours per week. As a result these employees received average weekly total cash earnings of $1,302.90.

Employees paid by Individual arrangement accounted for 37.5% of non-managerial employees and received the highest average weekly total cash earnings of $1,410.60. They were paid for the highest average total hours per week (34.4 hours) at an average hourly total cash rate of $40.90.

Employees paid by Award only had the lowest average hourly total cash earnings ($29.40), were paid for the lowest average total hours per week (26.8 hours) and received the lowest average weekly total cash earnings ($787.70). These employees accounted for 22.5% of all non-managerial employees.

For permanent full-time non-managerial employees, the most common method of setting pay was Individual arrangement (48.1%). Most permanent part-time non-managerial employees were paid by Collective agreement (55.4%). For casual non-managerial employees, Award only (45.3%) was the most common method of setting pay.

The highest average hourly total cash earnings received by non-managerial employees were paid to permanent full-time males under a Collective agreement ($46.40). They were also paid for the highest average weekly total hours (40.3 hours), resulting in the highest average weekly total cash earnings ($1,873.20).

For non-managerial employees, the most common method of setting pay was Individual arrangement (44.2%) for males, and Collective agreement (42.2%) for females.

For all methods of setting pay, average weekly total cash earnings for non-managerial female employees was $1,017.80, which was 70.1% of the average received by non-managerial male employees ($1,451.20).

For non-managerial employees, a Collective agreement was the most common method of setting pay for the following five occupation groups: Professionals (48.1%), Community and personal service workers (45.6%), Sales workers (42.2%), Machinery operators and drivers (41.7%) and Labourers (37.9%).

Individual arrangement was the most common method of setting pay for Managers (59.3%), Clerical and administrative workers (50.4%) and Technicians and trades workers (48.5%).

Award only was not the most common method of setting pay for any occupation group. The occupation groups with the largest proportion of non-managerial employees paid by Award only were Community and personal service workers (38.6%), Labourers (34.6%) and Sales workers (30.4%).

The industry with the highest proportion of non-managerial employees paid by Award only was the Accommodation and food services industry (44.9%). The Public administration and safety (82.7%) and Education and training (79.5%) industries had the highest proportion of non-managerial employees paid by Collective agreement. The Professional, scientific and technical services (85.6%) and Wholesale trade (69.7%) industries had the highest proportions of employees paid by Individual arrangement.

Tasmania had the highest proportion of non-managerial employees whose pay was set by Award only (34.7%). The Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of non-managerial employees whose pay was set by Collective agreement (59.5%), and Western Australia had the highest proportion of non-managerial employees whose pay was set by Individual arrangement (41.3%).

For non-managerial employees paid by Collective agreement, the highest average weekly total cash earnings was received by employees in the Northern Territory ($1,615.20) and Australian Capital Territory ($1,545.00). Australian Capital Territory had the highest average weekly total cash earnings for non-managerial employees paid under Individual arrangement ($1,689.10).

Non-managerial employees paid by Award only in the Australian Capital Territory had the lowest average weekly total cash earnings ($551.40) of all states and territories. Of those non-managerial employees paid by Award only, the highest average weekly total cash earnings was received in New South Wales ($898.00).

For non-managerial employees, the most common method of setting pay in the private sector was Individual arrangement (46.0%), followed by Collective agreement (29.4%). The average weekly total cash earnings for private sector non-managerial employees paid by Individual arrangement was $1,404.90 and by Collective agreement was $1,161.40.

83.1% of employees in the public sector were paid by Collective agreement and earned an average weekly total cash earnings of $1,506.80.

Non-managerial employees paid by Award only made up 24.6% of all non-managerial employees in the private sector and 14.0% of all non-managerial employees in the public sector. Non-managerial employees paid by Award only received average weekly total cash earnings of $693.90 in the private sector and $1,456.90 in the public sector.

Of those non-managerial employees paid by Individual arrangement, 37.1% were employed by businesses with under 20 employees. Of all non-managerial employees paid by Award only, 34.2% worked for businesses with under 20 employees. Those non-managerial employees who had their pay set by Collective agreement were mostly employed by businesses with 1,000 and over employees (58.3%).

Non-managerial employees paid by Individual arrangement working for employers with 1,000 and over employees received the highest average weekly total cash earnings ($2,024.40), and those paid by Award only in businesses with under 20 employees received the lowest ($601.20).

Of the 2,232,900 non-managerial employees paid by Award only, 47.6% were casual, 32.2% were permanent full-time and 20.2% were permanent part-time. The average weekly total cash earnings for these employees was $787.70.

The average weekly total cash earnings for permanent full-time non-managerial employees paid by Award only was $1,188.40. They were paid for an average of 38.7 total weekly hours at an average hourly total cash rate of $30.70.

Permanent part-time non-managerial employees paid by Award only were paid for an average of 23.4 total hours a week at an average hourly total cash rate of $28.70. These employees received $671.80 in average weekly total cash earnings.

The average hourly total cash earnings for casual non-managerial employees was $27.90 and they were paid for an average of 20.2 hours. They received $565.70 in average weekly total cash earnings.

Community and personal service workers made up the largest proportion of all non-managerial employees paid by Award only, followed by Labourers (23.9% and 17.3% respectively). Average weekly total cash earnings was $671.30 for Community and personal service workers and $632.70 for Labourers.

Employees in the Health care and social assistance industry made up the largest proportion of all non-managerial employees paid by Award only, followed by the Accommodation and food services industry (20.3% and 15.5% respectively). Average weekly total cash earnings was $1,050.30 for employees in the Health care and social assistance industry and $553.40 for employees in the Accommodation and food services industry.

New South Wales had the largest number of non-managerial employees paid by Award only (904,000 employees). This represented 28.5% of all non-managerial employees in New South Wales. These employees received average weekly total cash earnings of $898.00.

Non-managerial employees paid by Award only comprised 34.7% of all non-managerial employees in Tasmania, making this the state or territory with the largest proportion of non-managerial employees paid by Award only. These employees received $845.60 in average weekly total cash earnings.

Non-managerial employees paid by Award only in the Australian Capital Territory received the lowest average weekly total cash earnings ($551.40). These employees accounted for 14.0% of all non-managerial employees in the Australian Capital Territory, the smallest proportion of all non-managerial employees paid by Award only of any state or territory.

Non-managerial employees paid by Award only made up 24.6% of all non-managerial employees in the private sector compared to 14.0% of all non-managerial employees in the public sector.

Analysis of estimates for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate provides an opportunity to compare earnings and hours paid for by classifications of interest such as sex, method of setting pay, occupation, industry and sector without compositional elements such as the proportion of part-time employees, or employees paid at junior, apprentice or trainee or disability rates. For example, an industry with a large proportion of part-time employees and employees paid at the junior rate will have lower average earnings for all employees than an industry with a small proportion of part-time employees and employees paid at the junior rate.

In May 2018, there were 5,568,700 full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate of whom 60.2% were male and 39.8% were female. The majority of these employees (94.2%) were employed on a permanent or fixed term basis. Of all full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, 5.8% were casual.

Average weekly total cash earnings was $1,665.60 for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate ($1,788.00 for male employees and $1,480.70 for female employees). For these employees, average weekly total hours paid for was 39.4 hours (40.3 hours for males and 38.1 hours for females). Average hourly total cash earnings was $42.20 for all full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate ($44.30 for male employees and $38.90 for female employees).

Among full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, Machinery operators and drivers had the highest average weekly total hours paid for (43.4 hours). Professionals had the lowest average weekly total hours paid for (38.0 hours). Managers had the highest average hourly total cash earnings ($61.10) and Sales workers and Labourers had the lowest ($31.80 and $32.00 respectively).

Average weekly total hours paid for was highest in the Mining industry (43.9 hours) and lowest in the Education and training industry (36.8 hours) for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. The Mining industry also had the highest average hourly total cash earnings of $61.10. Full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate in the Accommodation and food services industry had the lowest average hourly total cash earnings of $29.10.

The Professional, scientific and technical services industry employed the highest proportion of all full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate (9.8%), followed by the Public administration and safety industry (9.7%).

For full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, average weekly total hours paid for was higher in the private sector (39.9 hours) than in the public sector (37.8 hours). In contrast, average hourly total cash earnings was higher in the public sector ($48.50) than the private sector ($40.60). Of all full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, 77.8% were employed in the private sector and 22.2% in the public sector.

The most common method of setting pay for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate was an Individual arrangement (48.5%). The average weekly total cash earnings for these employees was $1,689.20. They were paid for the most total hours per week (39.6) at an average hourly total cash earnings rate of $42.70.

The next most common method of setting pay for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate was Collective agreement (38.4%). These employees had the highest average hourly total cash earnings ($44.90) and, on average, they were paid for a total of 39.4 hours a week. The average weekly total cash earnings for this group of employees was $1,770.50.

The least common method of setting pay for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate was Award only (13.1%). These employees, paid for an average of 39.0 weekly total hours, received the lowest average total cash earnings per week ($1,272.10) and per hour ($32.60).

Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate was $1,460.00. The lowest paid 25% of these employees received $1,116.00 or less in weekly total cash earnings. The next 50% (or inter quartile range) of full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate received weekly total cash earnings between $1,116.00 and $2,000.00.

One in 10 full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate received weekly total cash earnings of $928.00 or less, while one in 10 received weekly total cash earnings of $2,596.00 or more.

Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate was highest for those paid by Collective agreement ($1,644.00) followed by Individual arrangement ($1,442.00). Award only employees received the lowest median weekly cash earnings ($1,100.00).

The inter quartile ranges for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate were: between $1,241.00 and $2,100.00 for those paid by Collective agreement; between $1,130.00 and $2,001.00 for those paid by Individual arrangement; and between $912.00 and $1,432.00 for those employees paid by Award only.

For all full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, the occupation groups with the highest median weekly total cash earnings were Managers ($2,170.00) and Professionals ($1,902.00). Ten percent of Managers received weekly total cash earnings of $3,515.00 or more, and the highest paid 10% of Professionals received $2,986.00 or more.

The occupation groups with the lowest median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate were Sales workers ($1,104.00) and Labourers ($1,126.00).

Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate was higher for males ($1,580.00) than females ($1,320.00). The lowest paid 10% of males received weekly total cash earnings of $974.00 or less compared to $882.00 or less for females. The highest paid 10% of male full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate received weekly total cash earnings of $2,828.00 or more compared to $2,213.00 or more for their female counterparts.

Median weekly total cash earnings was highest for Managers for both males ($2,304.00) and females ($2,000.00).

Both male and female median weekly total cash earnings was lowest for Labourers (males $1,192.00, females $945.00) and Sales workers (males $1,216.00, females $1,034.00). The difference between median weekly total cash earnings for male and female full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate was smallest for Clerical and administrative workers ($158.00) and greatest for Technicians and trades workers ($410.00).

Median weekly total cash earnings for all full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate was highest for those employees in the Mining industry ($2,645.00), which was $796.00 higher than for the next highest industry, Electricity, gas, water and waste services ($1,849.00). One in four full-time non-managerial employees in the Mining industry received weekly total cash earnings of $3,160.00 or more.

In contrast, industries with the lowest median weekly total cash earnings for all full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate were Accommodation and food services ($1,074.00) and Retail trade ($1,099.00).

Median weekly total cash earnings was higher for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate in the public sector ($1,728.00) than the private sector ($1,380.00). In contrast, earnings for the highest paid 10% were higher in the private sector ($2,618.00) than the public sector ($2,514.00).

This release previously used catalogue number 6306.0.