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Is $45,000/year a Good Salary in Australia?

It's a starter salary by Australia standards. Workable for a single person, especially outside the most expensive cities, but saving requires discipline.

Entry-Level~5th percentile · 40% below median

A gross salary of this level in Australia sits around the 5th percentile — entry-level for the country. After estimated tax, take-home is roughly 39,812 AUD/year.

Net / year
$39,812
Net / month
$3,318
Vs. median
0.60×
Big-city rent
high pressure

What does this salary mean?

In Australia, $45,000 per year lands close to entry-level pay. Essentials are covered; savings and lifestyle spending require active budgeting.

Broken down monthly, that is roughly $3,750 gross per month — and about $3,318/month ($39,812/year) after estimated tax in Australia.

Supporting a family on a single income at this level in Australia is difficult — most households would need a second earner or significant cost-cutting.

Monthly affordability snapshot

Directional pressure across the main spending categories at this income in Australia.

HousingComfortable

Comfortable rent budget across most Australia regions, including Sydney.

Food & basicsManageable

Day-to-day food and household basics are covered without strain.

TransportManageable

Owning a modest car or commuting daily is sustainable.

Savings potentialTight

Realistic savings rate is low single digits — most income is consumed by essentials.

Lifestyle flexibilityTight

Discretionary spending is limited; most months focus on essentials.

Rent pressure

In Sydney, rent would consume about 51% of take-home, leaving a usable but watchful budget. Adelaide feels noticeably easier. These are directional figures based on typical 1-bedroom rent benchmarks; actual rent depends heavily on neighbourhood, size, and timing.

Take-home pay context

Gross pay is what's listed on the offer; net pay is what arrives after income tax and Medicare Levy. For this level in Australia, the combined effective deduction is roughly 12%, leaving about $3,318 per month. Actual take-home varies with state/regional taxes, filing status, retirement contributions, and benefits — treat these as planning figures rather than payroll numbers.

Lifestyle tier

Estimated tier
Survival

Covers only the most essential needs in lower-cost areas. A second income or shared housing is usually required.

Practical interpretation

  • Significantly stronger in lower-cost regions than in Sydney.
  • Solo living is workable mainly with roommates or smaller-unit rentals.
  • A second household income changes the math more than any single deduction.
  • Check rent and transport totals before committing to a city — they dominate the budget.

How it stacks up in Australia

Minimum wage$47,624
National median$75,000
National average$95,000
This salary$45,000
Top 10%$145,000

What this salary means in practice

Family support

Supporting a family on a single income at this level in Australia is difficult — most households would need a second earner or significant cost-cutting.

Saving potential

Realistic savings rate at this level is in low single digits — most income is consumed by essentials.

Renting in the city

Renting in Sydney eats a heavy share of net pay; smaller cities like Adelaide feel much more sustainable.

Sydney vs Adelaide

In Sydney, costs run roughly 35% above the national baseline — so the same salary feels meaningfully different than it does in Adelaide.

What earners at this level can usually afford

Small apartment (solo)Realistic

Realistic in most cities

Used car ownershipRealistic

Affordable with monthly budgeting

1 vacation per yearTight

Possible only by saving over months

Eating out weeklyTight

Occasional, not routine

Mortgage in mid-cost cityTight

Difficult without dual income

Save 20%+ of net payTight

Hard while covering essentials

Premium housing in metroTight

Generally out of range

Adjust the numbers

Try a different country or amount to see how the verdict shifts.

Entry-Level~5th percentile · 40% below median
A gross salary of this level in Australia sits around the 5th percentile — entry-level for the country. After estimated tax, take-home is roughly 39,812 AUD/year.
Minimum wage$47,624
National median$75,000
National average$95,000
This salary$45,000
Top 10%$145,000
Net / year
$39,812
Net / month
$3,318
Big-city rent
high pressure

Compared against Sydney cost-of-living baseline. Estimates only — not financial advice.

Other Australia salary verdicts

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Is $85,000/year good in Australia?
Average · ~55th percentile
Is $110,000/year good in Australia?
Comfortable · ~69th percentile
Is $160,000/year good in Australia?
High Income · ~91th percentile

Go deeper

See full tax breakdownSalary & Tax Calculator
What this means in practice

In Australia, $45,000/year is below the national median — about 40% below the median. After ~12% in income tax and social contributions, take-home is around $3,318/month ($39,812/year). Living costs in Sydney run noticeably higher than the national average, so the same paycheck stretches further in smaller cities.

  • Below national median
  • Tight for single person
  • Tight for family of 4
  • Moderate housing pressure
  • Limited savings room
  • Low tax burden

Compare nearby Australia salaries

Common questions

Last updated: 2026. Verdict uses simplified national statistics. Estimates only — not financial advice.