Salary Comparison

UX Researcher Salary:
Sydney vs Adelaide

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

Sydney
$122,308
/ year
+23%
difference
Adelaide
$99,622
/ year
Bottom line: Adelaide offers better purchasing power despite Sydney paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Sydney
Adelaide
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$122,308โœ“ higher
$99,622
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$79,096โœ“ higher
$64,425
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$189,128โœ“ higher
$154,048
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$83,169โœ“ higher
$67,743
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$90,599
$99,622โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35ร—
1.00ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$120,226โœ“ higher
$97,926
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$287,475โœ“ higher
$234,153

What if you move from Sydney to Adelaide?

Gross salary change
$22,686
23% decrease
Take-home change
$15,426
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$9,023
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$122,308
P10: $120,226Median: $122,308P90: $287,475
Adelaide$99,622
P10: $97,926Median: $99,622P90: $234,153

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a UX Researcher earn more in Sydney or Adelaide?

The median UX Researcher salary in Sydney is A$185,908/yr compared to A$151,425/yr in Adelaide. Sydney pays 23% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a UX Researcher salary worth more in Sydney or Adelaide after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Sydney salary has the purchasing power of $90,599/yr in a median-cost city, vs $99,622/yr for Adelaide. Adelaide offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a UX Researcher in Sydney vs Adelaide?

After estimated taxes, a UX Researcher in Sydney takes home approximately $83,169/yr, vs $67,743/yr in Adelaide. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.