Accountant salary in Australia
ANZSCO occupation: Accountants
Last reviewed July 2026
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) · 2025 data. Annual figure derived from median weekly earnings × 52.
See your take-home pay on $104,000 →At a glance
- People employed
- 215,500
- Annual employment growth
- +5,800/yr
- 5-yr projected growth
- +8.4%
- Skills shortage rating
- No national shortage
- Main industry
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
- Works full-time
- 84%
- Avg full-time hours
- 43 hrs/wk
- Works part-time
- 16%
- Female share
- 54%
- Median age
- 42 yrs
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025)
What does a accountant do?
Accountants provide services relating to financial reporting, taxation, auditing, insolvency, accounting information systems, budgeting, cost management, planning and decision-making by organisations and individuals; and provide advice on associated compliance and performance requirements to ensure statutory and strategic governance.
- Assisting in formulating budgetary and accounting policies
- Preparing financial statements for presentation to boards of directors, management, shareholders, and governing and statutory bodies
- Conducting financial investigations, preparing reports, undertaking audits and advising on matters such as the purchase and sale of businesses, mergers, capital financing, suspected fraud, insolvency and taxation
- Examining operating costs and organisations' income and expenditure
- Providing assurance about the accuracy of information contained in financial reports and their compliance with statutory requirements
- Providing financial and taxation advice on business structures, plans and operations
- Preparing taxation returns for individuals and organisations
- Liaising with financial institutions and brokers to establish funds management arrangements
- Introducing and maintaining accounting systems, and advising on the selection and application of computer-based accounting systems
- Maintaining internal control systems
- May appraise cash flow and financial risk of capital investment projects
How to become a accountant
Typical education for this occupation, and courses that lead to it.
Education held by people in this role
Courses to get started
Where accountants are employed
Share of workers by state and territory (employment distribution, not pay).
Accountant jobs
Related occupations
Similar occupations
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountant earn in Australia?
The median accountant earns $104,156 per year ($2,003 per week, or about $53/hour), based on Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025).
What qualifications do you need to be a accountant?
Most accountants hold a bachelor degree (56.4% of workers). Pathways vary — see typical courses above.
Is accountant a job in demand in Australia?
Around 215,500 accountants are employed in Australia. Employment is changing by about +5,800 workers per year.
Earnings, employment and education data: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Employment projections: Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Skills shortage ratings: Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
The ABS median refers to full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate; individual pay varies. Annual figures derived from median weekly earnings × 52. Figures are estimates for guidance only.