Ruqayyah Snyder
Accountants in Australia earn a higher-than-average income, with the average accountant salary being $95,000 per year or $48.72 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $80,000 per year, while experienced workers can make up to $118,738 per year. The highest-paid accountants in Australia are those with specialised knowledge and experience, such as financial controllers and heads of tax, who can earn up to $315,000 and $300,000 respectively. Graduate accountants in Australia earn between $45,000 and $62,000 per year, with a national average of $52,000. While accountants in Australia earn a good income, when compared to equally skilled counterparts in other industries, their wages lag behind.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average salary for an accountant in Australia | $95,000 per year or $48.72 per hour |
| Entry-level accountant salary | $80,000 per year |
| Experienced accountant salary | Up to $118,738 per year |
| Highest salary for a graduate accountant | $62,000 per year |
| Lowest salary for a graduate accountant | $45,000 per year |
| Average salary for a graduate accountant | $52,000 per year |
| Highest pay for an accountant | $89k per year |
| Lowest pay for an accountant | $50k per year |
| Average full-time weekly income for accountants | Higher than the Australian average |
| Highest-paying roles in accountancy and finance | Head of tax and head of internal audit ($300k), Group financial controllers ($315k) |
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What You'll Learn
Graduate accountant salaries
Accountants in Australia earn a higher-than-average income. However, when compared to equally skilled counterparts in other industries, an accountant’s wage lags behind. Australians with Skill Level 1 qualifications (commensurate with a bachelor’s degree or higher) earn $1.10 for every dollar earned by an accountant.
The national average salary for a graduate accountant in Australia is $52,000 per year. The lowest salary for a graduate accountant in Australia is $45,000 per year, while the highest is $62,000 per year. However, some sources state that the average graduate accountant salary in Australia is $66,997 per year, with entry-level positions starting at $60,000 per year and experienced workers making up to $79,629 per year.
In Melbourne, the average salary for a graduate accountant is $57,525 per year, with the lowest salary being $51,000 per year and the highest being $64,613 per year.
As a graduate accountant, you will typically be responsible for managing and processing the financial requirements of the company, as well as conducting monthly and weekly financial transactions and reporting as directed by the Company Accountant.
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Gender pay gap
While accountants in Australia earn a higher-than-average income, there is still a significant gender pay gap in the profession. Sex discrimination, longer interruptions in women's careers, and occupational segregation have been identified as the leading drivers of the gender pay gap in Australia.
In 2025, a government report found that the median pay gap for the year to March 2024 was 18.6% in favour of men, a slight improvement from 19% the previous year. The finance, mining, and construction industries showed the biggest differences. The report also revealed that 72.2% of employers had a gap favouring men, while 21.3% had a gap within the target range of +/-5%. Large listed companies with big pay gaps in favour of men included the country's top investment bank, Macquarie Group.
The gender pay gap in the accounting industry is part of a broader issue of gender inequality in the field. Historically, the accounting profession has been male-dominated, and women were prohibited from joining professional accounting bodies until 1919. Despite progress, women in accountancy still face challenges such as underrepresentation in leadership roles and a pay gap of around 23% compared to men in the same finance roles, according to a Censuswide survey.
To address these issues, various initiatives and measures are being implemented. The Workplace Gender Equality Act of 2012 established the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, which promotes and improves gender equality in Australian workplaces. Companies are now mandated to report their gender pay gaps, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set positive diversity targets. Additionally, firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) are taking proactive steps, such as implementing Equal Paid Parental Leave Policies and creating Gender Balance Networks to foster valuable conversations on gender and equality.
While the gender pay gap in Australia has narrowed slightly, more work is needed to achieve pay equality and ensure that women in accounting have equal opportunities for career advancement and representation in senior positions.
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$14.99
Location-based salaries
An accountant's salary in Australia varies depending on their level of experience and location. While the average annual salary for an accountant in Australia is $95,000, or $48.72 per hour, salaries differ across the country.
Location plays a significant role in determining salary levels for accountants in Australia. Typically, larger and busier cities offer higher salaries compared to regional areas with a lower cost of living. For example, in Melbourne, the financial hub of Australia, accountants can expect to earn higher wages due to the higher demand for talent and the higher cost of living. On the other hand, in regional areas or smaller cities with a lower cost of living, accountant salaries may be relatively lower.
The salary range for accountants in Australia also varies with their level of experience. Entry-level accountants can expect to earn an average annual salary of around $80,000, while senior-level accountants with over eight years of experience can earn an average of up to $141,825 per year.
It is worth noting that salary estimates may be based on surveys and job advertisements, and actual salaries may vary depending on various factors, including the specific location, industry, and size of the company. Therefore, accountants in Australia should consider not only the location-based differences but also their experience level and the specific opportunities available in their desired locations to maximize their earning potential.
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Qualifications and skills
While you don't necessarily need a degree to work in an accounting role in Australia, there are three professional bodies that regulate the accounting industry in the country: the CPA, ICAA, and IPA. One way to become an accountant is to complete a Bachelor of Commerce major in Accounting, which is accredited by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia. This degree allows students to complete a double major, with a range of combinations.
Alternatively, you could study accounting and bookkeeping with Swinburne Open Education, which can be a pathway into a degree program. A Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping can provide the skills to start or develop existing knowledge of accounting, and it can be studied flexibly alongside existing commitments. The University of Adelaide also offers postgraduate degrees for those wishing to gain expert knowledge in a particular field.
To become a CPA, you must hold a degree that is equivalent to an Australian bachelor's degree or a postgraduate degree with a minimum of eight subjects. The CPA Program combines both education and practical experience to deliver current and internationally relevant content. It requires the successful completion of four compulsory subjects and two elective subjects, with an exam at the end of each semester. There are also core competency requirements that need to be covered before commencing the program, which are frequently covered by the subjects in an accounting degree. If your degree didn't cover all the requirements, you can complete Foundation exams to cover these gaps.
Accountants in Australia perform financial calculations for companies in a wide variety of fields, so skills in financial reporting, general ledger accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and financial analysis are likely to be important.
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Job roles and responsibilities
Accountants in Australia earn a higher-than-average income, with salaries ranging from $45,000 to $89,000 per year. However, when compared to equally skilled counterparts in other industries, their wages are lower.
The job roles and responsibilities of accountants vary depending on the employer and client needs. They typically revolve around financial calculations and reporting, such as creating sales and cash flow reports, administering payroll, keeping balance sheets, and managing budgets.
Accountants also play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with government regulations and maintaining the financial health of an organisation. They monitor the efficiency of accounting procedures, review financial documents for discrepancies, and conduct financial investigations and
Some accountants choose to remain as generalists, handling various aspects of financial management and taxation. Others specialise in areas like tax accounting, management accounting, forensic accounting, auditing, financial accounting, or government accounting.
Forensic accountants, for example, investigate financial discrepancies and fraud. They review financial records, ensure compliance with regulations, and may even serve as witnesses in litigation.
To excel in their roles, accountants need a combination of technical and soft skills. They must be able to prepare, interpret, and communicate complex financial data and insights to stakeholders. Strong commercial awareness, ethics, data analytics skills, and experience with accounting tools are also valued by employers.
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Frequently asked questions
The average salary for an accountant in Australia is $95,000 per year or $48.72 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $80,000 per year, while experienced workers can make up to $118,738 per year. The lowest salary for an accountant in Australia is $50,000 per year, while the highest is $89,000 per year.
Accountants earn a higher-than-average income in Australia. However, when compared to equally skilled counterparts in other industries, an accountant's wage lags behind.
The national average salary for a graduate accountant in Australia is $52,000 per year. The lowest salary for a graduate accountant is $45,000 per year, while the highest is $62,000 per year.
Some of the highest-paying roles in accounting and finance in Australia include head of tax and head of internal audit ($300K), tax manager ($250K), and group financial controllers ($315K if based in Sydney, with an average range across Australia of $153K to $280K).
Accountants in the nation's capital earn the most, 15% more than accountants in the Northern Territory. With the rise of remote work, the wage disparity between states is expected to decrease over the next decade.
