Real wages fell 0.55 percentage points
Wages grew 3.2% and prices rose 3.8% in the year to Q2 2026. Real wage growth is the difference: -0.55 percentage points.
Wages vs Inflation
Whether Australian pay is keeping up with prices: the ABS Wage Price Index against the Consumer Price Index, nationally, by state and by industry.
Wages rose 3.2% and prices rose 3.8% in the year to Q2 2026, so real wages fell 0.55 percentage points.
Valid: Q2 2026 · Source: ABS Wage Price Index (6345.0) and Consumer Price Index (6401.0)
Wage Price Index (WPI)
+3.2%
Year to Q2 2026
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
+3.8%
Year to Q2 2026
Real wage growth
−0.55 pts
WPI YoY % minus CPI YoY %
Wages against prices over time
The Wage Price Index and the Consumer Price Index, both rebased to 100 at Q1 2025. Where the CPI line sits above the WPI line, prices have risen more than wages since that quarter. Hover for quarterly detail.
Wage Price Index (WPI)
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Both rebased to 100 at Q1 2025
Wage growth by state
Annual WPI growth in each state against national CPI (+3.75%). Real wage growth is the difference between the two.
| State | WPI | CPI | To scale | Real wage growth | Against CPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SA South Australia | +3.65% | +3.75% | −0.10% | Below CPI | |
| QLD Queensland | +3.37% | +3.75% | −0.38% | Below CPI | |
| ACT Australian Capital Territory | +3.29% | +3.75% | −0.46% | Below CPI | |
| WA Western Australia | +3.27% | +3.75% | −0.48% | Below CPI | |
| NSW New South Wales | +3.09% | +3.75% | −0.66% | Below CPI | |
| VIC Victoria | +3.06% | +3.75% | −0.69% | Below CPI | |
| TAS Tasmania | +2.93% | +3.75% | −0.82% | Below CPI | |
| NT Northern Territory | +2.84% | +3.75% | −0.91% | Below CPI |
Wage growth by industry
Annual WPI growth by industry, Australia, year to Q2 2026. The marker on each bar shows national CPI (+3.75%).
- Health Care and Social Assistance +3.80% Above CPI
- Public Administration and Safety +3.64% Below CPI
- Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services +3.61% Below CPI
- Mining +3.51% Below CPI
- Transport, Postal and Warehousing +3.47% Below CPI
- Information Media and Telecommunications +3.39% Below CPI
- Other Services +3.39% Below CPI
- Construction +3.35% Below CPI
- Arts and Recreation Services +3.32% Below CPI
- Manufacturing +3.31% Below CPI
- Wholesale Trade +3.17% Below CPI
- Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services +3.14% Below CPI
- Retail Trade +2.86% Below CPI
- Education and Training +2.84% Below CPI
- Accommodation and Food Services +2.76% Below CPI
- Financial and Insurance Services +2.68% Below CPI
- Administrative and Support Services +2.68% Below CPI
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services +2.53% Below CPI
The marker shows national CPI (+3.75%). Industries with bars past it had wage growth above inflation.
The latest figures in brief
Calculated from the ABS Wage Price Index and Consumer Price Index, Q2 2026.
Health Care and Social Assistance had the fastest wage growth
Wages in Health Care and Social Assistance grew 3.8% over the year, 0.05 percentage points above national CPI of 3.75%. The slowest was Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, at 2.5%.
South Australia had the highest wage growth
Wages in South Australia grew 3.65% against national CPI of 3.75%. Northern Territory had the lowest, with wages up 2.84%.
Data sources
ABS Wage Price Index (6345.0)
Quarterly measure of changes in wages and salaries. Index type: total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses. Covers all industries and sectors, by state.
ABS WPIABS Consumer Price Index (6401.0)
Monthly CPI All Groups measure, used here as the inflation benchmark and aligned to quarters (March = Q1, June = Q2, September = Q3, December = Q4).
ABS CPI