Median salary
$54,000
ANZSCO 3322 · Construction trades workers
Painter salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian painter is $54,000 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $46,122 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$46,122
Fortnightly
$1,774
Tax returns
19,731
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 3322, based on 19,731 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $54,913 | $54,000 | $59,473 |
| Average (mean) | $58,499 | $53,036 | $62,247 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $painter salary
| Gross salary (median) | $54,000 |
| Income tax | −$6,798 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$1,080 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$190 |
| Take-home pay | $46,122 |
| + Employer super | $6,480 |
See the $55,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $54,000 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Construction trades workers
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter and joiner | 91,266 | $73,262 |
| Plumber | 59,982 | $83,232 |
| Plasterer | 14,510 | $61,410 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a painter earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian painter in 2022-23 was $54,000, based on 19,731 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $53,036; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical painter.
What is a painter salary after tax?
On the median $54,000 salary for a painter, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $46,122 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $1,774 per fortnight or $887 per week.
How much tax does a painter pay?
On the median $54,000 salary, a painter in FY2025-26 pays about $7,878 in total tax — $6,798 income tax plus $1,080 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 14.6%.
How many people work as a painter in Australia?
19,731 Australians lodged a tax return as a painter in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 3322 on their return.
What is the average vs median painter salary?
Average (mean): $53,036. Median: $54,000. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical painter earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).