Economy, jobs and prices in Greater Melbourne, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of Greater Melbourne who had income was $59,784 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 11th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: Greater Melbourne, the ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area (the city and its commuting zone).
What is the median wage in Greater Melbourne?
The median employee income in Greater Melbourne was $63,274 for the year 2022-23, 10th highest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Greater Melbourne?
The median equivalised household income in Greater Melbourne was $1,141 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 11th highest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Greater Melbourne?
The unemployment rate in Greater Melbourne was 5.3% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), joint 11th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Greater Melbourne?
64.1% of residents of Greater Melbourne aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, 12th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Greater Melbourne?
Of the 2,444,991 employed residents of Greater Melbourne at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (13.5%; 14.5% nationally), professional, scientific and technical services (9.6%) and retail trade (9.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Greater Melbourne?
596,547 businesses were registered in Greater Melbourne at 30 June 2025, which is 110 for every 1,000 residents (8th highest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 68% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Greater Melbourne in 2024-25?
Building approvals in Greater Melbourne in 2024-25 covered 46,498 new dwellings (8.6 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $48,463 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Greater Melbourne?
The median price of an established house sold in Greater Melbourne in 2023-24 was $850,000, joint 12th lowest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $625,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Greater Melbourne?
15.6% of occupied homes in Greater Melbourne were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 30.2% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Greater Melbourne do not own a car?
8.6% of households in Greater Melbourne had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 7th highest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Greater Melbourne in 2024?
46,833 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in Greater Melbourne in 2024, 8.8 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Greater Melbourne compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Greater Melbourne ranks 12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Greater Adelaide | 5.5% |
| 10 | Gold Coast | 5.4% |
| 11 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 5.3% |
| 12 | Greater Melbourne | 5.3% |
| 13 | Greater Perth | 5.3% |
| 14 | Greater Sydney | 5.1% |
| 15 | Townsville | 5.1% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Greater Melbourne ranks 11 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Greater Sydney | $62,180 |
| 9 | Newcastle | $61,846 |
| 10 | Greater Brisbane | $59,968 |
| 11 | Greater Melbourne | $59,784 |
| 12 | Wollongong | $58,764 |
| 13 | Hobart | $58,267 |
| 14 | Geelong | $57,523 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Greater Melbourne ranks 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Hobart | 124 |
| 6 | Gold Coast | 120 |
| 7 | Greater Sydney | 115 |
| 8 | Greater Melbourne | 110 |
| 9 | Brisbane | 106 |
| 10 | Sunshine Coast | 103 |
| 11 | Toowoomba | 97 |
More on Greater Melbourne: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and Australia (ASGS Edition 3), all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bf78744b9729…)
- 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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