Economy, jobs and prices in Brisbane, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of the City of Brisbane who had income was $63,317 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 5th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the City of Brisbane local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the median wage in Brisbane?
The median employee income in the City of Brisbane was $66,053 for the year 2022-23, 7th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Brisbane?
The median equivalised household income in the City of Brisbane was $1,284 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 6th highest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Brisbane?
The unemployment rate in the City of Brisbane was 5.0% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), joint 16th highest of 31 areas, below the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Brisbane?
67.9% of residents of the City of Brisbane aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 7th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Brisbane?
Of the 662,318 employed residents of the City of Brisbane at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (15.7%; 14.5% nationally), professional, scientific and technical services (11.5%) and education and training (9.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Brisbane?
145,916 businesses were registered in the City of Brisbane at 30 June 2025, which is 106 for every 1,000 residents (9th highest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 62% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Brisbane in 2024-25?
Building approvals in the City of Brisbane in 2024-25 covered 7,285 new dwellings (5.3 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $10,681 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Brisbane?
The median price of an established house sold in the City of Brisbane in 2023-24 was $1,170,000, 6th highest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $600,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Brisbane?
25.6% of occupied homes in the City of Brisbane were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 38.3% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Brisbane do not own a car?
8.1% of households in the City of Brisbane had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 10th highest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Brisbane in 2024?
13,501 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in the City of Brisbane in 2024, 10.0 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Brisbane compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Brisbane ranks 16 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Greater Perth | 5.3% |
| 14 | Greater Sydney | 5.1% |
| 15 | Townsville | 5.1% |
| 16 | Brisbane | 5.0% |
| 17 | Toowoomba | 5.0% |
| 18 | Wollongong | 4.9% |
| 19 | Newcastle | 4.9% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Brisbane ranks 5 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Greater Darwin | $70,961 |
| 3 | Darwin | $69,529 |
| 4 | Sydney | $65,191 |
| 5 | Brisbane | $63,317 |
| 6 | Greater Perth | $63,138 |
| 7 | Townsville | $62,262 |
| 8 | Greater Sydney | $62,180 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Brisbane ranks 9 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Gold Coast | 120 |
| 7 | Greater Sydney | 115 |
| 8 | Greater Melbourne | 110 |
| 9 | Brisbane | 106 |
| 10 | Sunshine Coast | 103 |
| 11 | Toowoomba | 97 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 91 |
More on Brisbane: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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