Salary Comparison

Systems Administrator Salary:
Sydney vs Perth

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Sydney
$96,232
/ year
+13%
difference
Perth
$85,195
/ year
Bottom line: Perth offers better purchasing power despite Sydney paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Sydney
Perth
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$96,232โœ“ higher
$85,195
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$62,233โœ“ higher
$55,095
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$148,806โœ“ higher
$131,739
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$65,438โœ“ higher
$57,933
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$71,283
$77,450โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35ร—
1.10ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$94,594โœ“ higher
$83,744
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$226,185โœ“ higher
$200,243

What if you move from Sydney to Perth?

Gross salary change
$11,037
13% decrease
Take-home change
$7,505
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$6,167
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Sydney$96,232
P10: $94,594Median: $96,232P90: $226,185
Perth$85,195
P10: $83,744Median: $85,195P90: $200,243

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Systems Administrator earn more in Sydney or Perth?

The median Systems Administrator salary in Sydney is A$146,273/yr compared to A$129,496/yr in Perth. Sydney pays 13% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Systems Administrator salary worth more in Sydney or Perth after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Sydney salary has the purchasing power of $71,283/yr in a median-cost city, vs $77,450/yr for Perth. Perth offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Systems Administrator in Sydney vs Perth?

After estimated taxes, a Systems Administrator in Sydney takes home approximately $65,438/yr, vs $57,933/yr in Perth. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.