Salary Guide

Australia enters FY2026-27 in a stronger position than anticipated at the start of the year. Inflation is easing, the labour market remains resilient, and artificial intelligence is driving business investment and job evolution rather than widespread displacement.

Hiring conditions are now the most favourable for employers in four years, with recruitment difficulty falling eight points over the year to 42%. The Reserve Bank held the cash rate at 4.35% in August, offering relief to mortgagees and business borrowers after a difficult run of rate rises.

The recovery is real, but not without pressure — prolonged global conflicts, elevated energy prices and subdued private investment continue to temper the pace of improvement. The economy is rebalancing rather than retrenching, with structural demand across health, infrastructure, defence, resources and technology continuing to support employment.

For organisations of all types, understanding the economic climate and the state of their industries is of paramount importance.

To help navigate this, the 2026-27 Salary Guide provides an authoritative overview of wages and salaries across key occupations and industries from our experts in the field. It comprises data, insights and information that will help inform the critical recruitment decisions that are vital for success.

In a rapidly changing economic environment, this information will be more important than ever.

We trust that the 2026-27 Salary Guide helps firms to better understand the conditions in their industry sectors and assists them to navigate the year ahead.