Your FY2026 Employment & Salary Guide

Know what to ask for - or what to offer. Access the latest salary benchmarks and employment trends shaping the Australian job market in FY2026.

How will this guide help you?

Whether you’re planning your next career move or building a high-performing team, this guide arms you with the latest data and direction to make confident decisions. 

With 59% of professionals planning to change jobs in the next 12 months, the market is more fluid and values-driven than ever.

So, what do people really want from modern ways of working? And how can employers evolve their attraction and retention strategies to truly engage and keep talent?

We surveyed 1,500+ professionals across Australia to bring you the Miller Leith FY2026 Employment Trends & Salary Guide, a practical, people-powered resource revealing the real motivators behind career moves to help you hire effectively, negotiate confidently, and create workplaces where everyone thrives.

What's in the guide

  • FY2026 salary benchmarks across 20+ functions and 3 states

  • Key motivators driving attraction and retention today

  • The rise of skills-first hiring and hybrid flexibility

  • Workforce mobility and AI adoption trends

  • Soft skills in demand for future-ready careers

  • Practical insights for HR leaders and hiring managers

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Download the FY2026 Employment & Salary Guide

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Who's this for?

Business, HR & Talent Leaders

Guiding hiring, retention, and salary benchmarking strategies

Culture, Brand & People Teams

Shaping EVP, employee engagement, wellbeing, and hybrid work policies

L&D & Capability Leads

Identifying up-skilling and future workforce needs

Finance & Workforce Planners

Informing budgeting, headcount planning, and remuneration analysis

Employees & Candidates

Navigating package negotiations, internal growth, or researching career moves

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Beyond the Data: Partner with Talent Experts Who Understand the Why

At Miller Leith, we don’t just analyse market trends, we work alongside clients and candidates every day to bring the right people and organisations together.

From executive search and permanent recruitment to on-demand contractor solutions, consulting, and career transition we help businesses respond to market shifts with agility and intent.

If this year’s insights have sparked new thinking around capability, retention or future workforce planning, we’re here to turn that thinking into action.

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