Is a management accountant covered by an award?

It depends on the employer. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, accountants working for an accounting firm are not covered by any award and are entitled only to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards. Accountants employed in industries such as banking, finance, insurance, black coal, electrical power, or rail may be covered by a specific award if their duties match the classifications. The Miscellaneous Award explicitly excludes professional employees like accountants.

What is the minimum salary for a management accountant?

For award-free management accountants, the minimum is the national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission. From 1 July 2026, that is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour. If a modern award or enterprise agreement applies, the rate may be higher. There is no publicly available median salary from the ABS or Jobs and Skills Australia for this occupation.

Does superannuation count as part of the management accountant salary?

No. The superannuation guarantee (currently 12%) is an employer payment on top of ordinary time earnings. It is not part of the salary or wage for the purpose of meeting the national minimum wage or award rates. When comparing job offers, always consider the base salary plus super separately.

Management Accountant Salary: Which Pay Floor Applies in Australia?

The legal minimum for award-free management accountants is the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) from 1 July 2026, plus 12% superannuation.

Management Accountant Salary: What You Need to Know

If you are researching the management accountant salary in Australia, the first thing to understand is which legal pay floor applies. Unlike some occupations where a modern award sets a clear minimum, management accountants often fall outside award coverage. This guide explains the legal minimum, how superannuation works, and why you may not find a single “average” figure.

The Legal Minimum for Award-Free Management Accountants

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, accountants employed by an accounting firm are not covered by any award. They are entitled to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards. The same applies if you work for an employer in an industry not covered by an award that includes accountants, or if your duties do not match a classification in a relevant award.

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week based on a 38-hour ordinary week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the rate to $33.05 per hour. Remember that juniors, apprentices, and trainees may be paid less under special rates.

If you are covered by a modern award (for example, the Banking, Finance and Insurance Award or the Black Coal Award), the award rate will be higher than the national minimum. An enterprise agreement can also set a higher rate. Always check your specific circumstances.

Why There Is No Published Median Salary

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) publishes occupation profiles, but for Management Accountants (ANZSCO 221112) the median weekly earnings are listed as “N/A”. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours does not produce figures for six-digit occupations. This means there is no official survey average for a management accountant salary. Any figure you see online is likely from private salary surveys or job advertisements, not from the ABS or Fair Work.

What we do know from the ABS 2021 Census is that management accountants are highly educated: nearly 90% hold a bachelor degree or higher. They typically work full-time (87%) and the median age is 39. The industries with the most management accountants are Public Administration and Safety, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and Financial and Insurance Services.

Superannuation Is On Top

When discussing a management accountant salary, always separate the base pay from superannuation. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid by the employer on top of the salary. For example, if your base salary is $52,254.80 (the annual equivalent of the national minimum wage), your employer must also contribute $6,270.58 in super. The total employment cost is higher, but the minimum wage test applies only to the base rate.

How the National Minimum Wage Compares

The national minimum wage is a floor, not a target. Most management accountants earn well above it. For context, the ABS May 2026 estimate for all employees’ average total earnings is $1,579.20 per week. However, this figure includes all occupations and is not specific to management accountants. Without a reliable median, it is best to use job advertisements, professional networks, and salary guides from accounting bodies to gauge market rates.

Award Coverage Can Be Tricky

A common mix-up is assuming all accountants are covered by an award. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that the Miscellaneous Award does not cover professional employees, including accountants. If you work in an industry like retail or hospitality, your employer may be covered by an award that has clerical classifications, but those classifications are for bookkeepers or accounts clerks, not for qualified management accountants. Always check the specific award and your duties.

For more details on which minimum wage applies to you, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also explore Rate tables for the latest national minimum wage and award rates.

Final Thoughts

When researching a management accountant salary, focus on the legal minimum first. If you are award-free, the national minimum wage is your floor. If you are covered by an award or agreement, that document sets the rate. Superannuation is additional. And remember: no official median salary exists for this occupation from the ABS or JSA, so treat any single figure with caution.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.