MOMONEYMOFREEHow much you need to be 'rich' in each state
'Rich' isn't a feeling, it's a percentile. Here's the income that puts you in the top 5% — and why it's not the same line everywhere.
the income that clears the top 1% of Australian earners
This week’s 4 charts
tap any chart to preview ↗The top of the income curve
of Australians
Top 10% starts near $130K. Top 1% needs ~$253K. The tail is long.
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics
Top-5% income, by state
Cost of living drags the bar — the ACT and WA sit highest.
Source: ABS Personal Income in Australia (illustrative)
Peak earning years
Median income by age — it tops out at 45–54, then falls.
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics
The top 1% line, over time
The bar to be 'rich' keeps drifting up with inflation.
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics (illustrative)
Stop asking 'is this a good salary?' and start asking 'what percentile is it, where I live?' The second question has an answer — and it's usually kinder than the vibe.
General information only — not financial advice. Figures are drawn from public sources, rounded and illustrative.