Fastest in your first 10 years, then much more slowly. In our 2026 Salary Survey, median base pay doubled over the first decade of a career, delivering two thirds of career pay growth, and 80% of it was done by Year 15. After 15 years, pay rises come from changing jobs or moving into executive roles.
How does pay grow with experience?
| Years of experience | Median base pay |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1 | $78K |
| 1 to 2 | $80K |
| 2 to 3 | $95K |
| 3 to 5 | $110K |
| 5 to 7 | $130K |
| 7 to 10 | $147K |
| 10 to 15 | $165K |
| 15 to 20 | $185K |
| 20 plus | $185K |
Median base pay of people at each stage, from The Aussie Corporate 2026 Salary Survey. It compares different people at different stages and does not track one person's pay over time.
From Year 15 the median stops moving, at $185K.
Why do pay rises slow down after 10 years?
Partly because of the kind of role you are in. Finance, HR, IT, Legal and Risk keep pace with front office pay for a decade, then fall 10% behind. Front office roles are 60% more likely to clear $200K, with a median of $205K at 20+ years against $185K in support roles.
Support staff are more likely to work from home (40% against 29%) and work 5 fewer hours a week. Front office earns more per year and less per hour.
Does working from home slow down your pay rises?
It slows promotions. The more days people worked from home, the longer they stayed at the same level. 40% of fully remote workers hadn't moved up in three years or more, compared with 22% of those who come into the office four or five days a week. The people in the office more often paid for it with longer weeks and more stress.
Do you get paid more in Sydney than Melbourne or Brisbane?
Yes, for the same job and the same experience. With the same employer type and the same years in, Sydney beats Melbourne 4 times out of 5.
| Experience | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | $100K | $92K | $88K |
| 5 to 10 years | $147K | $140K | $140K |
| 10 to 15 years | $180K | $166K | $161K |
| 15 plus years | $200K | $185K | $184K |
Moving from Melbourne to Sydney is about a 5% pay rise for the same job. Brisbane to Sydney is about 8%. Perth beats Sydney in one industry, Mining, by $22K.
Do longer hours lead to higher pay?
Up to a point. A 60-hour week pays 20% less per hour than a 40-hour week. 1 in 4 people work 45 hours or more a week, and only 1 in 5 of them earn more than $180K a year. 89% of those working 60+ hours rate their stress at 4 or more out of 5.
How much of your pay will come from a bonus?
Often less than the target. 1 in 3 people receive no bonus at all. Bonuses come with tenure. 59% of people under one year in get nothing, dropping to 27% by Years 10 to 15. The typical target bonus is 15% of base pay, and most people only get 79% of that, around $15,000. 7 in 10 people don't achieve their target bonus.
How do you know if your pay is keeping up?
If you feel underpaid, you probably are. Across employer types, a median of 32% say their pay is unfair. At the Big 4 it is 51%, mostly juniors, because Big 4 staff are paid about $25K less than peers early on and overtake after 10 years.
Check your pay against the market with AusCorp Vault, our free salary benchmark. The full 2026 Salary Survey results cover base pay, hours, bonuses and pay fairness across corporate Australia.
This article draws on our Big Conversation 10 things nobody tells you about your pay, which has the original slides.
Source: The Aussie Corporate 2026 Salary Survey, data as at September 2026. Spotted an error? Correct something.
