How Rich Are You In Australia? Income & Net Worth Compared

Most Australians probably don’t think of themselves as rich.

That makes sense. Mortgages are expensive, groceries keep climbing, and depending on where you live, it can feel like everyone around you owns a million-dollar home and a brand-new ute.

But statistically, you might be doing a lot better than you think.

So, what does it actually take to be rich in Australia?

Based on Australian income and household wealth data, earning around $156,500 a year puts you in the top 10% of earners, while a household net worth of around $2.26 million puts you in the wealthiest 10% of Australian households.
But income and wealth are very different things.

What is a good income in Australia?

According to the ATO, in August 2025 the median Australian worker earns around $74,300 a year when both full-time and part-time workers are included.

Full-time workers earn more, with median earnings of roughly $90,780 a year.

So if you earn around $75,000 to $90,000, you’re probably not behind. You’re actually sitting relatively close to the middle of the Australian workforce.

Once your income moves above $100,000 though, you start climbing the rankings quickly.

What income puts you in the top 10% in Australia?

Here’s roughly what you need to earn to reach some of Australia’s highest income brackets:

• Top 25%: around $111,000
• Top 10%: around $156,500
• Top 5%: around $230,000
• Top 2%: around $372,300
• Top 1%: around $643,200

Adjusted ATO figures, latest data as of June 2024 extrapolated using ABS wage price index.

That means someone earning more than $156,500 is earning more than roughly nine out of every 10 Australian workers.

The jump at the top is enormous.

Going from the top 10% to the top 5% requires roughly another $75,000 of annual income. Moving from the top 2% to the top 1% requires almost another $270,000.

So while a $150,000 salary might not feel extraordinary in some professional circles, nationally it is already very high.

Why don't high earners always feel rich?

Because earning a lot of money and having a lot of money are not the same thing.

Someone earning $300,000 a year might have a huge mortgage, expensive childcare and very little invested.

Meanwhile, someone earning $100,000 might own a mortgage-free home and have $1 million sitting in superannuation and investments.

That’s why net worth is arguably a better measure of wealth.

What is the average Australian household worth?

According to the 2019-20 comprehensive ABS household wealth data, the median Australian household had a net worth of around $579,200.

That includes property, superannuation, savings, shares and other assets, minus debts.

For many Australians, the family home makes up a huge portion of that wealth.

Interestingly, as households become wealthier, their assets also tend to become more diversified. Property remains important, but shares, super, businesses and other financial assets make up a larger proportion of their overall wealth.

What net worth puts you in the top 10% in Australia?

To be among Australia's wealthiest households, the ABS thresholds are:

• Top 20%: $1.45 million
• Top 10%: $2.26 million

At the very top, age starts to matter a lot.

For households aged 25 to 40, around $1.6 million puts you in the top 5%, while roughly $3.1 million puts you in the top 1%.

For households aged 41 to 64, the 1% threshold rises to approximately $7.7 million.

And finally, for households aged 65+, the 1% threshold is $10.9 million.

Are Australians rich compared with the rest of the world?

Globally, Australians are extremely wealthy.

The UBS 2025 Global Wealth Report found that more than 80% of adults worldwide had a net worth below US$100,000, while only around 1.6% had more than US$1 million. Australia also ranked near the top globally for median wealth. That creates an interesting disconnect.

You might feel completely average living in Sydney, Melbourne or another expensive Australian city while still being extraordinarily wealthy compared with most of the world.

So, are you rich?

It depends on what you mean by rich.

If you're earning more than $156,500, you're already in roughly the top 10% of Australian earners.

If your household has more than $2.26 million in net assets, you're roughly in the top 10% by wealth.

But neither number guarantees you'll actually feel rich.

That’s because people rarely compare themselves with the whole country. We compare ourselves with our neighbours, coworkers, friends and the people we see online.

And the goalposts keep moving.

Reach the top 10% and suddenly the top 5% looks rich. Reach the top 5% and the top 1% becomes the target.

A better goal is probably to work out how much money you need to feel financially secure, have choices and live the life you actually want.

That number matters a lot more than whether you technically qualify as “rich”.

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