Median gross income gap

Population groups

• Indigenous status

  Is the disability income gap different for First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years compared with people without disability, by Indigenous status. In 2022, the disability income gap was $356 per week for First Nations people and $466 per week for non-Indigenous Australians.

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  First Nations	$479	($400–$513)	$835	($750–$950)	$356	($241–$471)
  Non-Indigenous	$589	($556–$600)	$1,055	($1,054–$1,100)	$466	($434–$498)
  All persons	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
  3. Data source does not cover very remote areas and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

• Sex at birth

  Does the disability income gap vary by sex?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years compared with people without disability, for males and females. In 2022, the disability income gap was $690 per week for males and $320 per week for females.

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  Males	$595	($532–$671)	$1,285	($1,250–$1,323)	$690	($611–$769)
  Females	$575	($550–$600)	$895	($863–$900)	$320	($289–$351)
  All persons	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
  3. The data are reported based on sex recorded at birth, determined by sex characteristics observed at birth or infancy. Total includes people whose sex at birth was recorded as ‘Another term’.
  4. Data have been randomly adjusted to avoid identifying individual people.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

• Age group

  Does the disability income gap vary by age?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years compared with people without disability, grouped by age. In 2022, the disability income gap was $583 per week for the 45–64 age group, compared with $100 per week in the 15–24 age group.

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  15–24	$200	($150–$290)	$300	($300–$350)	$100	($26–$174)
  25–44	$900	($830–$1,000)	$1,266	($1,247–$1,320)	$366	($273–$459)
  45–64	$589	($550–$633)	$1,172	($1,151–$1,247)	$583	($520–$646)
  All ages	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

• Cultural and linguistic diversity status

  Does the disability income gap vary by cultural and linguistic diversity background?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years compared with people without disability, by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) status. In 2022, the disability income gap was $500 per week for people from CALD backgrounds and $505 per week among the non-CALD group.

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  CALD	$500	($450–$625)	$1,000	($1,000–$1,058)	$500	($408–$592)
  CALD – low English proficiency	n.p.	n.p.	n.p.	n.p.	n.p.	n.p.
  CALD – high English proficiency	$600	($500–$780)	$1,000	($1,000–$1,064)	$400	($256–$544)
  Non-CALD	$595	($560–$607)	$1,100	($1,100–$1,150)	$505	($471–$539)
  All persons	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  • n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
  3. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) cohort includes people not born in a main English-speaking country and/or who mainly speak a language other than English at home.
  4. English proficiency is reported for people in the CALD cohort only. Low English proficiency group includes people who mainly speak a language other than English at home and say they speak English 'not well' or 'not at all'. High English proficiency group includes people who mainly speak English at home, and those who mainly speak a language other than English at home and say they speak English 'well' or 'very well'.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

• Remoteness

  Does the disability income gap vary by remoteness?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years compared with people without disability, grouped by remoteness. In 2022, the disability income gap was $525 per week in outer regional and remote areas, compared with $457 per week in major cities.

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  Major cities	$617	($580–$700)	$1,074	($1,055–$1,100)	$457	($393–$521)
  Inner regional	$500	($490–$570)	$981	($949–$1,000)	$481	($434–$528)
  Outer regional and remote	$530	($473–$600)	$1,055	($1,000–$1,151)	$525	($426–$624)
  All areas	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
  3. Remoteness is classified according to Accessibility and Remoteness Index of Australia. Data source does not cover very remote areas.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

• Disability group

  Does the disability income gap vary by disability group?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years compared with people without disability, by disability group. In 2022, the disability income gap was $605 per week for both people with learning and understanding disability and people with psychosocial disability, compared with $465 per week for people with sensory and speech disability.

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  Sensory and speech	$590	($513–$744)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$465	($347–$583)
  Learning and understanding	$450	($433–$490)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$605	($569–$641)
  Physical restriction	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)
  Psychosocial	$450	($443–$485)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$605	($574–$636)
  Head injury, stroke or acquired brain injury	$500	($481–$585)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$555	($498–$612)
  Other	$500	($500–$543)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$555	($524–$586)
  All with disability	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
  3. Components will not add to total as people may report impairments related to more than one disability group. In such cases, people are counted separately for each disability group but are only counted once in the aggregated total.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

  Does the disability income gap vary for Autistic and non-Autistic people with disability?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years, by whether they have autism, and compared with people without disability. In 2022, the disability income gap was $683 per week for Autistic people with disability, and $455 per week for non-Autistic people with disability.

  Please note that, in this data source, not all Autistic people are considered to have disability. Autistic people who do not report significant limitations, impairments or restrictions are considered to not have disability; these people are included in the ‘Without disability’ group in the graph and table.

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  Autistic people with disability	$372	($250–$475)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$683	($568–$798)
  Non-Autistic people with disability	$600	($589–$675)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$455	($406–$504)
  All with disability	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
  3. Autistic people are those who reported that they have a long-term condition in the group 'Autism and related disorders (including Rett's syndrome and Asperger's syndrome)'. In this data source, not all Autistic people are considered to have disability. In 2022, according to the definition of disability used in this data source, 91% of Autistic people had disability.

  Sources

  1. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.
  2. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: SDAC, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

• Severity of disability

  Does the disability income gap vary by severity of disability?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years compared with people without disability, grouped by disability severity. In 2022, the disability income gap for people with severe or profound disability was $605 per week, compared with $288 per week for people with other disability status.

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  Severe or profound disability	$450	($450–$481)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$605	($578–$632)
  Other disability status	$767	($704–$850)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$288	($212–$364)
  All with disability	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
  3. Severe or profound disability means always or sometimes needing assistance or supervision with self-care, mobility, and/or communication.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

• Education

  Does the disability income gap vary by education level?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years, by highest level of education. In 2022, the disability income gap was $384 per week for people who completed a Certificate III/IV or Diploma, and negative $253 per week for people who completed a qualification below Year 10 (including Certificate I/II) or had no formal education (negative income gap means that people with disability have a higher median income than those without disability).

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  None or below Year 10 (incl. Certificate I/II)	$333	($298–$375)	$80	($50–$100)	-$253	((-$299)–(-$207))
  Year 10/11	$400	($375–$450)	$500	($480–$570)	$100	($41–$159)
  Year 12 or equivalent	$500	($480–$575)	$700	($700–$750)	$200	($146–$254)
  Certificate III/IV or Diploma	$767	($700–$850)	$1,151	($1,151–$1,200)	$384	($305–$463)
  Bachelor Degree or higher	$1,342	($1,247–$1,438)	$1,496	($1,438–$1,507)	$154	($52–$256)
  All persons	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability. A negative income gap means that people with disability have a higher median income than those without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
  3. Education category ‘None or below Year 10’ includes Certificate I and II, Year 9 and below, and persons with no educational attainment. Total includes level not determined (non-school only) and Certificate not further defined.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview
  

• Employment status

  Does the disability income gap vary by employment status?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the gap in median gross income for people with disability aged 15–64 years compared with people without disability, by employment status. In 2022, the disability income gap was $147 per week for people who were employed, compared with negative $370 per week for people who were not in the labour force (negative income gap means that people with disability have a higher median income than those without disability).

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  Disability status	With disability	95% Confidence Interval	Without disability	95% Confidence Interval	Gap	95% Confidence Interval
  Employed	$1,100	($1,060–$1,151)	$1,247	($1,247–$1,266)	$147	($101–$193)
  Unemployed	$275	($0–$325)	$0	($0–$175)	-$275	((-$460)–(-$90))
  Not in the labour force	$370	($350–$384)	$0	($0–$50)	-$370	((-$400)–(-$340))
  All persons	$575	($550–$600)	$1,055	($1,055–$1,100)	$480	($446–$514)

  Notes

  1. Total personal weekly income. Excludes people who responded with 'Not known/not stated'. The income gap is calculated by subtracting median income of people with disability from median income of people without disability. A negative income gap means that people with disability have a higher median income than those without disability.
  2. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.

  Source: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2024. Microdata: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2022, ABS, AIHW analysis of detailed microdata in DataLab, accessed 6 September 2024.

  Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview