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Accounts Officer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an accounts officer is $75,000 per annum, before tax, up $15,700 since 2018.
Pay depends heavily on the sector and the size of the finance team you join, with enterprise agreements in government, health and large manufacturers generally sitting above the award. Accounts officers who take on payroll, credit control or BAS work usually earn more than those who stay on payables alone, and a formal bookkeeping or accounting qualification opens the higher bands. Part-time and school-hours roles are common in this occupation, so advertised figures can reflect a shorter week.
Roles that pay more than accounts officer
The largest typical pay rise is $29,200 a year, moving into Financial Accountant.
- Financial Accountant+$29,200/yr
- Credit Controller+$18,900/yr
- Payroll Officer+$8,500/yr
How to negotiate a higher accounts officer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time accounts officer salary is $75,000; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Bookkeeping and ledgers and Regulatory compliance tend to command a premium over general accounts officer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Financial Accountant pays a typical $29,200 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Accounts Officer salary questions
How much do accounts officers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an accounts officer is $75,000 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is accounts officer pay rising or falling?
The median accounts officer salary is up $15,700 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than accounts officer?
Financial Accountant pays a typical $29,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to accounts officer.