How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay: Casual Loading, Super, and the AFL Salary Comparison
Annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 hours × 52 weeks, with casual loading of 25% added on top and superannuation paid separately at 12%.
From Hourly to Annual: The Simple Formula
Converting your hourly rate to an annual salary is straightforward: multiply your hourly pay by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52 weeks. For most full-time employees, the standard week is 38 hours, as set by the Fair Work Commission. So the formula is:
Annual gross = hourly rate × 38 × 52
This gives you a base annual figure before tax, super, or any loadings. If you're paid fortnightly, your gross fortnight is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. For example, at the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, weekly pay is $1,004.90 and fortnightly pay is $2,009.80.
But not everyone works a standard 38-hour week, and many employees receive casual loading or award-specific rates. That's where our hourly conversion tool comes in handy.
Understanding the National Minimum Wage and Award Rates
The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the rate is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. This applies to employees not covered by an award or enterprise agreement.
Most workers, however, are covered by a modern award that sets higher minimum rates for their industry or role. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award, listing classification rates, allowances, and penalty rates. For example, the Health Services Award changed from 1 October 2026, and the SCHADS Award will see increases for home care disability employees from December 2026.
If you're comparing an AFL salary to an hourly wage, remember that AFL players are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, not a standard award. Their annual contracts are fixed, but the same conversion logic applies: divide by 52 weeks and 38 hours to find the equivalent hourly rate.
The Impact of Casual Loading
Casual employees receive a loading of 25% on top of their base rate to compensate for not having paid sick leave or annual leave. This loading is added to the hourly rate before you calculate annual pay. On our timesheet, you can check a box to add 25% casual loading to your base rate. Never enter a rate that already includes the loading — the tool handles that for you.
For example, the national minimum wage for a casual employee is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 + 25%). If you work 38 hours a week as a casual, your annual gross becomes $33.05 × 38 × 52 = $65,306.80. That's significantly more than the permanent rate of $52,254.80, but remember you don't get paid leave.
Many awards also specify casual loading, so check your casual loading entitlement. The Fair Work Commission's special national minimum wages include a 25% loading for casuals who are award/agreement-free.
Superannuation: Paid on Top
Superannuation is not part of your hourly rate — it's paid on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. This means if your annual gross salary is $60,000, your employer must contribute an extra $7,200 to your super fund.
When converting hourly to annual, always calculate super separately. For example, a permanent employee earning $30 per hour ($59,280 annual) would receive $7,113.60 in super. Casual employees also get super on their loaded rate, so the same $33.05 casual rate yields $65,306.80 annual and $7,836.82 in super.
Our super and packaging page explains how salary sacrifice and contribution caps work. The Australian Taxation Office sets the rules, and the maximum contribution base means super stops once your earnings exceed $270,830.
Tax and Take-Home Pay
Your take-home pay depends on tax brackets and the Medicare levy. For 2026–27, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income, with reductions for low-income earners. The single reduction thresholds for 2025–26 are used here as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed. Use our take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.
Putting It All Together: An Example
Let's take a real-world example. Suppose you're offered a job at $35 per hour as a permanent employee. Your annual gross is $35 × 38 × 52 = $69,160. Your fortnightly gross is $2,660. Super at 12% adds $8,299.20. After tax (roughly $12,000) and Medicare ($1,383), your take-home is about $55,777 per year.
If the same job is casual at $43.75 per hour (including 25% loading), annual gross becomes $86,450, fortnightly $3,325, and super $10,374. Tax and Medicare would be higher, but you also lose paid leave.
Important Considerations
This conversion assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. It's an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax. For precise figures, consult the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides or use our reference tables.
Whether you're comparing an AFL salary or a standard hourly wage, the formula is the same. The key differences are the base rate, casual loading, and super paid on top. Always check your award or agreement for the correct rates.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.