Australian incomes vary significantly across age groups, reflecting career progression, experience accumulation, and workforce participation patterns. Income typically rises through the twenties and thirties as workers gain skills and advance in their careers, peaks during the forties and early fifties, then declines as older workers transition to part-time employment or retirement.
ATO Taxation Statistics provide the most comprehensive source of income data in Australia, drawn from individual tax returns lodged each financial year. The statistics cover taxable income by age group, gender, occupation, and state, providing a detailed picture of income distribution across the Australian workforce.
Average income figures include salary and wages, business income, investment income, and other taxable income sources. They do not include tax-free government payments or superannuation contributions.
The gender pay gap means that average incomes differ between men and women across all age groups, with the gap typically widening in the late thirties and forties when career breaks and part-time work patterns are most prevalent.
Data sourced from ATO Taxation Statistics individual tables covering the 2022-23 financial year. Updated annually when new ATO statistics are released.