Brief
Melbourne’s highest‑paid workers are men aged 45‑54, data shows
The Age’s latest income data shows a persistent gender gap and highlights the wealthiest suburbs.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Analysis of official income data released by The Age shows that, for the 2022‑23 financial year, men aged 45‑54 in Greater Melbourne earned the highest median pre‑tax income at $96,457, while women in the same age group earned $69,620.
What happened
The dataset covers individual pre‑tax earnings from wages, investments, self‑owned businesses and superannuation, but excludes assets such as housing or shares and does not separate full‑time from part‑time work. Across all age groups, median incomes rise from the early twenties, peak around 45‑54 years, then level off. The overall median annual income for Greater Melbourne was $59,784. Men’s median income city‑wide was $68,312, compared with $52,283 for women – a 31 % gap.
What the reports add
The Age’s interactive tool lets users view median earnings for specific suburbs and age brackets. It identifies Bayside – which includes Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham and Black Rock – as the suburb with the highest median income, where half of earners made at least $86,879. By contrast, the Melbourne City area (CBD, Docklands, Port Melbourne, Parkville) recorded the lowest median at $48,382, a figure driven down by a concentration of younger, part‑time workers and university students.
What was said
Rae Cooper, professor of gender, work and employment relations at the University of Sydney, told SMH that women shoulder “much more unpaid domestic work during the prime working years” and that this “can constrain their participation, working hours and career choices, contributing to a ‘motherhood penalty’ in pay.” She warned that the enduring gender income gap feeds a broader gender wealth gap that affects women’s economic security throughout their lives and into retirement.
How it came about
The figures are drawn from the Australian Taxation Office’s latest release, analysed by The Age’s data team. Earlier Felo coverage has examined Melbourne’s housing market and the city’s cultural landmarks, providing context for the geographic income disparities highlighted in this report.
Key facts
- Men aged 45‑54 have the highest median income in Melbourne at $96,457. (smh.com.au)
- Women in the same age group earn a median $69,620. (smh.com.au)
- Overall median annual income for Greater Melbourne is $59,784. (smh.com.au)
- Bayside suburbs have the highest local median income, with half earning at least $86,879. (smh.com.au)
- Melbourne City area records the lowest median income at $48,382. (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “Melbourne incomes by age and gender: Which groups earn the most and where the gaps are widest”
