How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to a Consultant Salary in Australia
For a full-time employee working 38 hours a week, annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 × 52. Super is paid on top at 12%.
Converting an hourly rate to an annual consultant salary
When you’re evaluating a consultant salary or any job offer, understanding how your hourly rate translates to an annual figure is essential. In Australia, the standard full-time week is 38 hours, and the year has 52 weeks. The basic formula is:
Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
For a full-time employee working 38 hours each week, this becomes hourly × 38 × 52. If you’re paid fortnightly, your gross fortnight pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. This calculation gives you a starting point before tax and super.
National Minimum Wage and award rates
The Fair Work Ombudsman sets the National Minimum Wage and award minimum wages each year. From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Award minimum wages increased by 4.75% from that date. If you’re covered by an award, your minimum pay rate may be higher than the national minimum. Always check the relevant pay guides or use the minimum wage page for current rates.
Casual loading
Casual employees receive a loading on top of their base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave. The typical casual loading is 25%. For the National Minimum Wage, the casual rate is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 + 25%). On our timesheet, you can tick a checkbox to add 25% casual loading to your base rate. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading – the tool adds it for you. For more details, see casual loading.
Superannuation
Superannuation is paid by your employer on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% of your gross pay, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Super is not deducted from your salary; it’s an additional contribution to your super fund. For example, on an annual gross salary of $80,000, your employer would contribute $9,600 to super. Learn more on super and packaging.
Tax considerations
Your annual gross pay is subject to income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 financial year, 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
The Medicare levy is generally 2% of your taxable income. Use our take-home pay tool to estimate your net income after tax and Medicare.
Putting it all together: a consultant salary example
Suppose you’re offered a consultant salary of $80 per hour on a 38-hour week. Your annual gross pay would be $80 × 38 × 52 = $158,080. Your employer would also contribute 12% super ($18,969.60) on top, bringing the total package to $177,049.60. After tax (using the 2026–27 rates) and Medicare, your estimated take-home pay would be around $110,000 (this is an estimate only – see the disclaimer below).
Important notes and disclaimer
This conversion assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, 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. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
For more accurate calculations, refer to the reference tables or the average pay page. You can also explore hourly conversion for different work patterns.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.