Workers in the mining industry enjoy the highest median employment income while those in the accommodation and food industries have the lowest, according to new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data
The ABS’ latest personal income figures, released on Friday, show the median annual income in mining was $149,362, followed by electricity, gas, water and waste services at $105,158.
The accommodation and food services sector reported the lowest median annual employment earnings at $22,270, while the arts and recreation services sector followed with $37,057.
Employment remains the primary income source for the majority of Australians, but there is a notable increase in those deriving income from investments. Currently, nearly 12% of the population earns from investments, an increase from the previous year’s 11% during the 2021-22 financial period.
The data, which draws on incomes from the 2022-23 financial year, showed total personal pre-tax income across the country was $1.3 trillion.
Conversely, there has been a slight decline in individuals earning income from their own businesses, decreasing from 6.7% to 6.5%.
The national median income for individuals stands at $58,216.
Source: SBS News
Workers in the Australian Capital Territory have the highest median total income at $75,643, followed by the Northern Territory at $66,831 and Western Australia at $62,207.
It was the lowest in Tasmania at $53,479.
The national personal median income was $58,216.
The highest income inequality was recorded in Cottesloe, Perth, where 84 per cent of the income was received by the top 10 per cent of earners. The median income in Cottesloe was $83,861.
This was followed by Walgett in northern NSW (45 per cent of income received by top 10 per cent of earners) and Flinders in north-west Queensland (37 per cent of income received by top 10 per cent of earners).
The median income in Walgett in 2022-23 was $43,197 a year, and in Flinders $56,165 a year.
Men enjoy higher median incomes across the board
Middle-aged Australians (aged 45-54) received the highest median total income at $80,926, followed by those aged 35-44 years at $77,912.
Younger Australians — aged 24 years and under — had the lowest at $23,840.
In every age group, men enjoyed higher median incomes compared with women.
In the 35-44 years age range, for example, men earned a median income of $92,266 a year compared with $64,602 for women.
In the 45 to 54 years age range, it was $95,400 for men and $68,570 for women.
Migrants to Australia received over $300 billion in income
Australia’s 4.4 million migrants, both temporary and permanent, generated $324.7 billion in total personal income.
Almost half of that income — $153.4 billion— was received by 1.6 million skilled migrants.
Those on humanitarian visas received $8.6 billion in income.
