What Is a Good Salary in Sydney in 2026?
A good salary in Sydney in 2026 is around $120,000 gross per year — roughly $94,530 after tax ($7,878/month). That puts you comfortably above the city's median salary of about $90,000 and covers typical living costs of roughly $3,930/month with room to save.
Sydney's median full-time salary of roughly A$90,000 comes with mandatory 12% employer superannuation on top — a meaningful hidden benefit. Housing is the pressure point: Sydney is consistently among the least affordable property markets in the world relative to income.
Salary levels in Sydney (2026)
Gross benchmarks from national statistics and salary surveys; net figures calculated with 2026 Australia tax brackets and social contributions.
What a good salary actually buys in Sydney
Typical monthly costs for a single professional in Sydney — city-centre one-bedroom rent, groceries, eating out, transport, and utilities — add up to roughly $3,930. On the comfortable benchmark of $120,000 gross, your net month of $7,878 leaves about $3,948 for savings, travel, and everything else. On the median salary of $90,000, the margin narrows to $2,233 per month.
Mining-adjacent engineering, finance, and senior tech roles commonly pay A$150,000–A$250,000+.
See the full cost of living breakdown for Sydney →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good salary in Sydney in 2026?
A good salary in Sydney in 2026 is around $120,000 gross per year — roughly $94,530 after tax ($7,878/month). That puts you comfortably above the city's median salary of about $90,000 and covers typical living costs of roughly $3,930/month with room to save.
What is the median salary in Sydney?
The median gross salary in Sydney is approximately $90,000 per year in 2026, which works out to about $73,950 after income tax and social security ($6,163/month net).
Is $130,000 a good salary in Sydney?
Yes — $130,000 places you in the top 25% of earners in Sydney. After tax it leaves approximately $101,390 per year ($8,449/month), an effective tax rate of 22.0%.