“Is $120k a good salary in Sydney?” It’s the most-Googled version of a question that doesn’t have a single answer — because “good” depends entirely on what you do and where you sit against others doing the same thing.
Why a flat number misleads you
$120k is strong for one role and below market for another. Comparing yourself to a city-wide “average” tells you almost nothing, because it blends nurses, engineers, baristas and executives into one meaningless figure. The only comparison that matters is your role, in your city, against people who do it.
The number that actually answers the question
It’s your percentile — where your pay falls in the distribution for your role and location. Sitting at the 70th percentile means you out-earn 70% of comparable people. That’s a real answer; “is $120k good?” is not.
- Below the 40th percentile — likely underpaid for the role; there’s a case to make.
- 40th–60th — around market; fair, with normal room to push.
- Above the 75th — well paid; protect it and know your floor.
Sydney vs Melbourne — and cost of living
Sydney typically pays a little more for the same role, but housing eats most of the difference. A higher Sydney number isn’t automatically a better deal once rent is in the picture. Judge the offer on percentile *and* what it leaves you after living costs — not the headline.
Find your number
Skip the guesswork and the “average salary” articles. Run a free salary check — enter your role, city and pay, and see your exact percentile against real Australian data in about a minute.
A good salary isn’t a number you read in an article. It’s where you sit against people doing your job, in your city.
