Economy, jobs and prices in Geelong, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of the City of Greater Geelong who had income was $57,523 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 13th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the City of Greater Geelong local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the median wage in Geelong?
The median employee income in the City of Greater Geelong was $60,480 for the year 2022-23, 13th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Geelong?
The median equivalised household income in the City of Greater Geelong was $1,009 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 8th lowest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Geelong?
The unemployment rate in the City of Greater Geelong was 4.4% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), joint 6th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Geelong?
60.7% of residents of the City of Greater Geelong aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 10th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Geelong?
Of the 129,587 employed residents of the City of Greater Geelong at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (17.4%; 14.5% nationally), construction (11.2%) and retail trade (10.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Geelong?
23,558 businesses were registered in the City of Greater Geelong at 30 June 2025, which is 80 for every 1,000 residents (8th lowest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 64% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Geelong in 2024-25?
Building approvals in the City of Greater Geelong in 2024-25 covered 2,594 new dwellings (8.8 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $2,596 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Geelong?
The median price of an established house sold in the City of Greater Geelong in 2023-24 was $707,000, 10th lowest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $525,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Geelong?
2.5% of occupied homes in the City of Greater Geelong were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 28.0% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Geelong do not own a car?
5.3% of households in the City of Greater Geelong had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 5th lowest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Geelong in 2024?
3,045 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in the City of Greater Geelong in 2024, 10.5 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Geelong compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Geelong ranks 26 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Ballarat | 4.7% |
| 24 | Albury-Wodonga | 4.6% |
| 25 | Sunshine Coast | 4.4% |
| 26 | Geelong | 4.4% |
| 27 | Bendigo | 4.2% |
| 28 | Darwin | 4.1% |
| 29 | Greater Darwin | 4.0% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Geelong ranks 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Greater Melbourne | $59,784 |
| 12 | Wollongong | $58,764 |
| 13 | Hobart | $58,267 |
| 14 | Geelong | $57,523 |
| 15 | Greater Adelaide | $57,401 |
| 16 | Greater Hobart | $56,852 |
| 17 | Perth | $56,520 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Geelong ranks 19 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Greater Brisbane | 86 |
| 17 | Cairns | 85 |
| 18 | Ballarat | 83 |
| 19 | Geelong | 80 |
| 20 | Greater Darwin | 79 |
| 21 | Canberra | 76 |
| 22 | Greater Hobart | 76 |
More on Geelong: 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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