Charge Rates & Salaries Surveys
Guiding and informing firms to set and review their charge out rates and salaries for more than 50 years.
The survey gives Australian accounting firms accurate information about current market conditions when reviewing rates and salaries. It is also the only report of its type to offer future, as well as current, rate and salary values for the broadest range of practice personnel.
December 2026 Charge Rates & Salaries Survey
A benchmark is only as good as the firms behind it. Every practice that contributes its figures makes the December results more precise for firms of its own size and location, including its own.
Register now to take part. Payment is taken at checkout, and participants are emailed the data template straight away. Return your data by 25 November to receive Part A on 4 December, with Part B following on 29 January 2027.
Participant pricing from $396 incl. GST
Register For DecemberWhat Our Charge Rates & Salaries Surveys Compare
Our surveys draw on data reported directly by participating Australian firms, and are designed to reflect how practices actually operate.
- Current and proposed charge rates
- Current and proposed salaries
- Broad-ranging industry benchmarks
- Profitability and productivity comparisons
- An individual report for each participating firm
- Optional extra: Practice Performance Analysis
Key benefits
June And December
The survey runs twice a year, so firms can track movement over time and not rely on a single snapshot.
December Survey
The larger of the two. Released for year-end reviews and planning for the year ahead.
- Part A: current and proposed charge rates and salaries, released 4 December
- Part B: KPIs, productivity and profitability, released 29 January 2027
- Detailed benchmarking of the top 19 expenses, other than salaries, incurred by firms
June Survey
Focused on charge rates and salaries, released ahead of the new financial year.
- Current and proposed charge rates
- Current and proposed salaries
- Optional Practice Performance Analysis for participants
The Firms That Take Part Are The Ones The Benchmarks Describe Best
Participating firms contribute their own figures, pay the participant rate, and receive an individual comparison of their results against other Australian firms.
Non-participating firms are welcome to purchase the report at the standard rate.
How Firms Use Charge Rates & Salaries Benchmarking
Charge rates and salaries sit at the centre of every accounting firm's performance, yet many firms still make these decisions with limited visibility of what is happening across the broader market.
- Review and validate charge rates before year-end
- Assess salary competitiveness across professional and administrative roles
- Identify early signs of margin pressure
- Understand how non-salary costs are affecting overall performance
- Support partner and leadership discussions
- Inform budgeting and planning decisions
Where Firms Are Feeling The Pressure
Across the market, we consistently see similar themes: salary expectations moving faster than pricing, charge rates that have not kept pace with rising costs, and non-salary expenses increasing quietly over time.
Benchmarking provides context, helping firms understand whether a challenge is specific to their firm or part of a broader market shift, and to act before it appears in year-end results.
A Practical, Data-Led Approach
Rob Knights & Co has more than 50 years of experience working with accounting firms across Australia. Our benchmarking is grounded in real firm data, practical analysis, and an understanding of how partners actually use information when making decisions. Used consistently, it becomes a reference point that supports clearer, more defensible decisions over time.
Be Part Of The December 2026 Benchmarks
Register now at the participant rate, contribute your figures, and start 2027 knowing where your firm stands.
Register For December Request A Sample Report