Medibank topped the 2026 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work awards as Australia’s number one employer, while CommBank claimed the top spot on LinkedIn’s 2026 Top Companies list for career growth. Australia’s average full-time salary reached $106,657 in early 2026, according to the ABS, and the superannuation guarantee rate sits at 12%. This post breaks down the best companies to work for in Australia in 2026, covering workplace rankings, employee benefits, salaries by industry, and the policies that separate leading employers from the rest.
Best Companies to Work for in Australia – TL;DR
Medibank was named Best Enterprise Organisation (2,000+ employees) and overall winner at the 2026 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work awards.
CommBank ranked first on LinkedIn’s 2026 Top Companies list, followed by ServiceNow and SAP.
Great Place to Work surveyed 24,579 tech employees across Australia for its 2026 Best Workplaces in Technology list, certifying 50 companies.
The average full-time salary in Australia crossed $106,657 per year (ABS, November 2025 data), while the median full-time salary sat around $90,500.
From 1 July 2026, employers must pay superannuation on the same day as wages under the new “payday super” rules, and government-funded paid parental leave expands to 26 weeks.
Which Companies Won the 2026 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work Awards?
The 2026 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work awards, run with assessment partner Bendelta, recognised winners across size categories and industries. Medibank took the top honour as Australia’s best place to work, with judges pointing to its flexible work policies, mental health support, and wellbeing programs. Equality Media + Marketing won the small organisation category and the media and marketing industry category for the third time in four years.
| Category | Winner | Industry |
|---|---|---|
| Best Enterprise (2,000+) | Medibank | Health Insurance |
| Best Large (500+) | Liberty Financial | Financial Services |
| Best Small Organisation | Equality Media + Marketing | Media & Marketing |
| Media & Marketing | Equality Media + Marketing | Media & Marketing |
Source: AFR BOSS Best Places to Work 2026
Medibank scored above 80% on trust and pride metrics in Great Place to Work surveys. The company runs subsidised fitness programs, confidential counselling, generous parental leave, and career pathways for internal mobility. Liberty Financial earned recognition for employee autonomy and transparent leadership.
Best Companies to Work for in Australia: LinkedIn’s 2026 Top Companies
LinkedIn’s 2026 Top Companies list ranked 20 Australian employers based on career progression, skills growth, company stability, and workforce presence. The list, now in its tenth year, uses data from millions of professional profiles. CommBank took the number one spot for the second time, with ServiceNow second and SAP third.
| Rank | Company | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CommBank | Banking |
| 2 | ServiceNow | Technology |
| 3 | SAP | Software |
| 4 | Telstra | Telecommunications |
| 5 | Infosys | IT Consulting |
| 6 | Canva | Technology |
Source: LinkedIn Top Companies Australia 2026
Canva jumped from 20th place in 2025 to 6th in 2026. The company offers equity packages, an extra day of leave for professional education, and a dedicated AI learning week for all staff. LinkedIn data showed that 90% of chief people officers in Australia now expect work to be organised around skills rather than traditional job titles.
Best Companies to Work for in Australia: Technology Sector Rankings
Great Place to Work released its 2026 Best Workplaces in Technology list in May 2026, based on 24,579 confidential employee survey responses. Companies needed a satisfaction score above 65% on the Trust Index survey to qualify. The list covered micro, small, and medium-to-large categories.
| Category | #1 | #2 | #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro (under 30 staff) | A1 Technologies | Adora | Causeis |
| Small (30–99 staff) | Macquarie Cloud Services | V2 AI | Corto Pty Ltd |
| Medium-Large (100+) | Smokeball | Mantel Group | CrowdStrike |
Source: Great Place to Work Australia, May 2026
Macquarie Cloud Services took the small company top spot for the second consecutive year. Every surveyed employee at the company said it was a great place to work. AirTrunk ranked fourth in the medium-to-large category. AI and data companies appeared more frequently on the 2026 list than in previous years.
What Is the Average Salary in Australia in 2026?
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey (November 2025 reference period, released February 2026) put average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults at $2,051.10 per week. That annualises to roughly $106,657. The median full-time salary is lower at around $90,500, since averages are pulled up by high earners in mining, finance, and medicine.
Male average full-time earnings sit at approximately $107,000 and female average full-time earnings at approximately $91,000, producing a gender pay gap of about 15%. In March 2026, total wages and salaries paid by employers hit $110.56 billion, up 6% year-on-year according to the ABS.
Best Companies to Work for in Australia: Salaries by Industry
Mining is the highest-paying industry in Australia. According to ABS data, the median employment income for mining workers is $149,362 per year. Financial services and professional/scientific/technical services follow. Accommodation and food services sits at the bottom of the pay scale.
| Industry | Avg. Annual Salary (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Mining | $149,362 |
| Financial & Insurance Services | $120,000 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical | $115,000 |
| Information Media & Telecommunications | $112,000 |
| Construction | $100,000 |
| Healthcare & Social Assistance | $92,000 |
| Education & Training | $88,000 |
| Retail Trade | $65,000 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $60,000 |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2025–26 data
Sydney offers the highest pay for professional roles, about 9% above the national average according to the Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide. The Australian Capital Territory leads at the state level, largely because of the concentration of well-paid public sector jobs. Western Australia ranks second, driven by its mining sector. South Australia and Tasmania recorded the lowest average weekly wages.
Salary Forecasts and Growth Trends in 2026
Mercer’s 2025 Total Remuneration Survey, based on responses from over 1,300 organisations, forecasts overall salary budgets at 3.5% for 2026, down from previous years. Employer hiring intentions dropped to a five-year low. Annual wage growth measured by the Wage Price Index held at 3.4%, while the inflation rate (CPI) reached 3.7% year-on-year to December 2025.
What Employee Benefits Do the Best Companies in Australia Offer?
Annual wage growth at 3.1% and unemployment at 4.3% mean Australia’s labour market remains tight. Employees in 2026 are unwilling to trade salary for perks that feel optional, so the best companies to work for in Australia focus on benefits tied to unavoidable needs: health coverage, mental health support, parental leave, and genuine flexible work arrangements.
| Benefit Category | What Top Employers Offer |
|---|---|
| Parental Leave | 16–26 weeks paid leave, super on PPL, return-to-work programs |
| Flexible Work | Hybrid models, compressed weeks, location flexibility |
| Mental Health | Confidential counselling, EAP, wellbeing days |
| Learning & Development | Dedicated AI learning weeks, tuition support, internal mobility |
| Superannuation | 12% SG rate, payday super from 1 July 2026 |
| Health & Fitness | Subsidised gym, health insurance discounts, wellness allowances |
Source: AFR BOSS, Great Place to Work, company reports (2026)
The federal government expanded paid parental leave to 26 weeks from 1 July 2026, with 4 weeks reserved per parent on a “use it or lose it” basis. Parents now receive a 12% superannuation contribution on their Parental Leave Pay, with lump-sum payments starting from July 2026. The weekly PPL rate increased to $948.10.
Best Companies to Work for in Australia: Workplace Culture and Women
Great Place to Work announced its 2026 Best Workplaces for Women list in March, recognising 50 organisations. The list drew from confidential feedback by 23,478 women employees and data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). Companies needed at least 100 employees, with women making up a minimum of 30% of the workforce and 20% of management.
Named organisations included Docusign, Prospa, Mattel, carsales, Jetts Fitness, Robert Half, and Brown Family Wine Group. The highest-performing workplaces scored well on statements like “Management is honest and ethical in its business practices” and “I am treated as a full member here regardless of my position.”
How Are the Best Companies to Work for in Australia Ranked?
Three main ranking systems assess Australian workplaces in 2026. Great Place to Work uses its Trust Index survey, where employees rate 60 statements on a five-point scale across credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie. Companies scoring above 65% earn certification. The AFR BOSS awards, assessed by Bendelta, evaluate culture briefs showing how policies translate into real outcomes. LinkedIn’s Top Companies list analyses data across eight pillars: ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, gender diversity, educational background, and employee presence.
Organisations like EY, hipages, and Prospa performed well across multiple ranking frameworks in 2026, suggesting their workplace cultures hold up under different types of scrutiny. The common factors among top-ranked employers were genuine flexibility (not just hybrid policies on paper), leadership transparency, investment in career development, and measurable progress on diversity and pay equity.
FAQ
Which company is the best place to work in Australia in 2026?
Medibank won the 2026 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work award as the top enterprise employer. CommBank ranked first on LinkedIn’s 2026 Top Companies list for career growth.
What is the average salary in Australia in 2026?
The average full-time salary is approximately $106,657 per year based on ABS data from November 2025. The median full-time salary is around $90,500.
What are the highest-paying industries in Australia?
Mining leads at roughly $149,362 per year. Financial services ($120,000) and professional/scientific/technical services ($115,000) follow.
How many weeks of paid parental leave do Australians get in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, the government-funded Paid Parental Leave scheme extends to 26 weeks at $948.10 per week, with a 12% superannuation contribution included.
What is the superannuation rate in Australia in 2026?
The Superannuation Guarantee rate is 12%. From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super on the same day as wages under the new “payday super” rules.
Sources:
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions
https://www.mercer.com/en-au/insights/total-rewards/compensation/australian-salary-outlook/
