WPI 2026 Q1 160.4 +3.3% yr  ·  CPI +4.1% yr  ·  NEXT WPI RELEASE 19 AUG 2026  ·  ABS 6345.0 / 6401.0
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Wage growth › Private sector

Wage growth in Private sector, Australia

Wages in Australia's private sector rose 3.2% over the year to the March quarter 2026 on the ABS Wage Price Index (seasonally adjusted), compared with 3.3% all sectors nationally.

The slowest annual pace since June quarter 2022.

Permalink: https://wagepriceindex.com/wage-growth/private-sector/

Over the year
3.2%
to the March quarter 2026
Over the quarter
+0.8%
index 159.7 (2026 Q1)
Nationally, all sectors
3.3%
over the year

Index over time

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Rebased to 100 at March 2021
Private sectorAustralia (all sectors)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics — Wage Price Index, Australia (cat. 6345.0), Table 1, series A2713846W; March quarter 2026 release (mar-2026).
Where these numbers come from
Private sector ABS Wage Price Index (cat. 6345.0), total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses, seasonally adjusted — Quarterly Index ; Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses ; Private ; All Industries ; Seasonally Adjusted ; Australia — release, Table 1, series A2713846W (spreadsheet · API query)
National Quarterly Index ; Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses ; Private and Public ; All Industries ; Seasonally Adjusted ; Australia — release, Table 1, series A2713849C (API query)

The other sector

Public sector 3.3%

Figures from the March quarter 2026 WPI release · Run your wage against Private sector in the calculator · All states, industries and sectors · Latest releases