A new poll from ADP reveals that Australians have, on average, missed out on $1,131 due to underpayments
Melbourne, Australia, 20 May, 2026: Australians are missing an average of $1,131 in their paychecks as a result of underpayments, according to new polling commissioned by ADP, a global leader in HR and payroll solutions.
Key findings from the poll include:
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Nearly one in three Australians (31%) say they have been underpaid in their usual pay period at least once.
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Among those who have been underpaid, workers report missing out on an average of $1,131 each time.
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Underpayment was reported most often in the Northern Territory, with 63% of residents saying they have been underpaid at least once, significantly higher than the ACT (41%) and NSW (30%).
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17% of Northern Territory residents also reported missing out on more than $6,000 in their most recent underpayment, compared to just 6% in NSW and Victoria.
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One in four Australian workers (25%) say they have noticed at least one mistake on their payslip within the past 12 months alone.
Kylie Baullo, General Manager for Australia, New Zealand and Japan at ADP, said the findings underscore how quickly payroll errors can add up for employees, particularly amid cost-of-living pressures.
“Most businesses are trying to get pay right, but payroll can be complex. Mistakes in pay can have a significant impact on a household budget, particularly as living costs continue to rise,” said Baullo.
“Development of consistently applied processes and controls, used in conjunction with automated systems and accompanied by easy-to-understand payslips, brings confidence to employees and employers.”
“For some organisations, outsourcing payroll to specialist providers can bring dedicated hands-on experience in HR processes, workflows, exceptions, and regulatory nuance built into their products, services, and systems to reduce the likelihood of error, especially in increasingly complex environments.”
About ADP (NASDAQ – ADP)
ADP has been shaping the world of work with innovation and expertise for more than 75 years. As a global leader in HR and payroll solutions, ADP continuously works to solve business challenges for our clients and their workers, from simple, easy-to-use tools for small businesses to fully integrated platforms for global enterprises – and everything in between. Always Designing for People means we're focused on just that – people. We use our unmatched AI-driven insights and proven expertise to design innovative solutions that help people achieve greater success at work. More than 1.1 million clients across 140+ countries rely on ADP's exceptional service to support their people and drive their business forward. HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits, Compliance, and Payroll. Learn more at ADP.com.
About the poll:
Antenna, an independent consumer research agency on behalf of ADP, conducted an online AntennaPoll survey of 1,019 Australians between 28th and 31st of Jan 2026. The data collection was national and weighted for representation against the 2021 ABS Census.
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