Property Manager Salary: Award Rates, National Minimum, and What You Take Home

Understanding the property manager salary floor

When researching a property manager salary, it is important to separate the legal minimum from survey averages and negotiated rates. The legal minimum for most property managers in Australia is set by the Real Estate Industry Award 2020 (MA000106), which covers employees in real estate agencies. The Fair Work Commission determines the national minimum wage, but the award overrides it for covered employees. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides and enforces compliance.

From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the award provides these minimum weekly rates for full-time adult employees:

• Level 1 (associate) – first 12 months: $1,010.60 per week ($26.59 per hour)
• Level 1 (associate) – after 12 months: $1,063.90 per week ($28.00 per hour)
• Level 2 (representative): $1,119.10 per week ($29.45 per hour)
• Level 3 (supervisory): $1,231.00 per week ($32.39 per hour)
• Level 4 (in-charge): $1,287.30 per week ($33.88 per hour)

Casual employees receive a 25% loading, so the hourly rates are higher. For example, a casual Level 2 representative earns $36.81 per hour. These rates are before tax and superannuation.

Award rates for property managers

A property manager’s classification depends on their duties and level of responsibility. The award defines four levels. A typical property manager handling a portfolio of rental properties may fall under Level 2 (representative) if they work under supervision, or Level 3 (supervisory) if they lead a team. Employers must classify employees correctly. If an enterprise agreement or individual contract offers a higher rate, that rate applies. The award is a minimum, not a ceiling.

Junior employees (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate. For example, a 19-year-old property manager at Level 2 receives 70% of the adult rate, which is $783.37 per week ($20.62 per hour). Apprentices and trainees may have different rates under the National Training Wage schedule in the Miscellaneous Award.

How tax and super shape your weekly packet

Your take-home pay is the award rate minus tax and the Medicare levy. For a property manager earning $1,119.10 per week, annualised that is about $58,193. Using 2026–27 tax rates with the full tax-free threshold and an estimated Medicare levy of 2%, the weekly tax and Medicare would be roughly $175–$200, depending on your exact circumstances. This is a guide only; use the ATO’s tax withheld calculator for your situation.

Superannuation is an employer contribution on top of your ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%. So on $1,119.10 per week, the employer must add $134.29 into your super fund. This is not part of your take-home pay but is a compulsory retirement saving. The award requires employers to make super contributions to avoid the super guarantee charge.

Comparing the award rate with broader earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes average earnings data. For May 2026, the average total earnings of all employees was $1,579.20 per week. However, that figure includes managers and part-time workers. The median full-time non-managerial earnings for property managers from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) is not publicly available in the search results, but the award rate for a Level 2 property manager ($1,119.10) is below the all-employees average. Many property managers earn above the award through commissions, bonuses, or experience.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that 72% of property managers work full-time, with average full-time hours of 42 per week. The award’s ordinary hours are 38 per week, so overtime or additional hours may attract penalty rates.

For more detail on how minimum wages apply to different situations, see our Rate tables and How the figures work pages.

Important distinctions

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) for award-free employees. However, most property managers are covered by the Real Estate Industry Award, which sets higher rates. The award’s lowest adult rate ($26.59) is already above the national minimum. Introductory rates for the first six months of employment under some awards can be lower, but the award for real estate does not have a general introductory rate; the Level 1 first 12 months rate is the entry level.

Always check the specific classification that matches your duties. If you are unsure, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or your employer association. An enterprise agreement can set a higher rate, but never lower than the award.