Skip to main content

Key Facts: Australia vs Syria Wages

Australia Minimum Wage
A$24.95/hr ($17.90 USD)
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Australia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
A$7,833 /mo ($5,619.08 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Data Sources
Fair Work Commission / Fair Work Ombudsman (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

Australia flag Australia Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-05-27

Australia flag Australia

Minimum Wage

A$24.95 /hr

$17.90 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

A$7,833 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Min wage: +9% Australia vs Syria Avg. salary: +4578% Australia vs Syria

Australia, a high-income economy, and Syria, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,619/mo in Australia versus $120/mo in Syria, a 46.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Australia is 15.1x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Australia has higher GDP per capita ($72,111 vs $4,772). Australia's unemployment rate is 4.1% compared to Syria's 13.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Australia and Syria
Metric Australia Syria
Minimum wage /hr A$24.95 $17.90
Minimum wage /mo A$4,108 $2,946.92 £S1,850 $16.46
Minimum wage /yr A$49,296 $35,362.98
Avg. gross salary /mo A$7,833 /mo $5,619.08 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo A$5,875 /mo $4,214.49 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
Median individual income /yr A$67,600 /yr $48,493.54 N/A/yr

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Australia is higher.

Work Week

Australia

38 hrs/wk standard

Max 38 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard full-time workweek is 38 hours. Employers can request reasonable additional hours. Overtime and penalty rates vary by Modern Award.

Syria

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Syria to Australia would see a 9% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Australia mandates 38 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Australia are $680 vs $790 in Syria.

See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Australia

Compare Australia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Australia or Syria?

In Australia, the minimum wage is A$24.95/hr ($17.90 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Australia has the higher rate by 9% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Syria may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Australia compared to Syria?

The average gross salary in Australia is A$7,833/mo ($5,619.08 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Australia earn approximately 4578% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Australia and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Australia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.

How do work hours compare between Australia and Syria?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 38 hours in Australia. Workers in Australia work 38 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Australia working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.

What is the cost of living difference between Australia and Syria?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Australia has the higher GDP per capita at $72,111, which is 15.1x that of Syria at $4,772. From Australia's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.