TimesheetGuidesHourly conversion
Annual Salary from Hourly Rate: Including Casual Loading and Superannuation
For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week, annual salary is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with superannuation paid on top of that amount.
How to Calculate Your Annual Salary
Knowing your annual salary helps you compare job offers, budget for the year, and understand your tax obligations. The basic formula is:
Annual salary = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
This assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. For most full-time employees, the standard week is 38 hours, as set by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The 38-Hour Week Assumption
When converting an hourly rate to an annual salary, we use 38 hours per week unless you specify otherwise. This aligns with the National Employment Standards and most modern awards. If you work part-time or irregular hours, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. For example, a 20-hour-per-week role would use 20 instead of 38.
Fortnightly Pay
Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross pay, multiply your weekly pay by 2. Using the National Minimum Wage: $26.44 × 38 = $1,004.72 per week, so $2,009.44 per fortnight. This figure helps with budgeting and comparing to advertised salaries that are often quoted annually.
Understanding Different Pay Rates
Not all hourly rates are the same. The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for employees aged 21 and over who are not covered by an award or agreement. However, most workers are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement that sets higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Commission reviews these rates annually.
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
Award rates vary by industry and classification. They often include penalty rates for weekends, overtime, and shift work. When calculating your annual salary, use the base rate for your classification. The minimum wage page provides more detail on current rates.
Casual Loading
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave. For the National Minimum Wage, the casual rate is $33.05 per hour. This loading is included in your hourly rate, so when you calculate annual salary, use the loaded rate. Do not add casual loading on top of a rate that already includes it. Our casual loading guide explains how to check if your rate already includes the loading.
Superannuation is Paid on Top
Your annual salary is the gross amount you receive before tax and before super. Under the Super Guarantee, your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary earnings into a super fund. This is on top of your salary, not deducted from it. For example, if your annual salary is $60,000, your employer contributes an additional $7,200 in super, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830.
Super is calculated on ordinary time earnings, which includes your base rate, casual loading, and some allowances. It does not include overtime. For more details, see super and packaging.
Tax Considerations
Your annual salary is subject to income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low-income earners). The Australian Taxation Office provides a gross pay estimator to help you work backwards from net pay.
Note that this calculator does not account for HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging. Use our take-home pay tool for a more detailed estimate.
Limitations and Disclaimer
The annual salary shown here is an estimate based on the formula hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes:
- The same rate every week
- No unpaid overtime
- No penalty rates or allowances
- No salary sacrifice
Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax uses the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax. For personalised advice, consult a qualified professional.
For more reference tables and award rates, visit our reference tables page.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.