Executive Assistant Salary: Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Pay with Casual Loading and Super
For a full-time executive assistant on a 38-hour week, annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with super paid on top and casual loading of 25% if applicable.
Executive Assistant Salary: Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Pay
Understanding how your hourly rate translates into annual pay is essential whether you are negotiating a salary or planning your finances. This guide explains the conversion for an executive assistant salary, covering the standard 38-hour week, casual loading, superannuation, and tax.
The Basic Formula
Annual gross pay is calculated as:
Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks
For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week, the formula becomes:
Hourly rate × 38 × 52
For example, if your hourly rate is $30.00:
$30.00 × 38 × 52 = $59,280 per year (before tax and super)
You can also think in fortnightly terms: weekly pay × 2. A $30.00 hourly rate gives $1,140 per week, or $2,280 per fortnight.
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. However, most employees, including executive assistants, are covered by a modern award. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for each award, which set minimum pay rates, allowances, and penalty rates.
Executive assistants may fall under the Clerks Award or the Professional Employees Award, depending on duties. Always check the relevant award to ensure you are paid at least the minimum rate.
Casual Loading
If you work as a casual executive assistant, you are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave (annual leave, personal leave).
On our timesheet, you enter your base hourly rate and tick the casual loading checkbox. The calculator then adds 25% to that rate. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading – the tool applies it for you.
Example:
- Base rate: $30.00 per hour
- Casual loading (25%): $7.50
- Casual rate: $37.50 per hour
Annual gross (casual, 38 hours): $37.50 × 38 × 52 = $74,100
Superannuation Paid on Top
Superannuation is an additional contribution your employer makes to your super fund. It is not deducted from your pay. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year.
For a full-time executive assistant earning $59,280 per year, the employer adds:
$59,280 × 12% = $7,113.60 per year to super.
If you are casual, the super is calculated on the casual rate (including loading).
Tax on Your Executive Assistant Salary
Income tax is deducted from your gross pay. The 2026–27 resident tax rates are:
- $0 – $18,200: Nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15% on excess over $18,200
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30% on excess over $45,000
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37% on excess over $135,000
- Over $190,000: 45% on excess over $190,000
Most executive assistants will fall into the 30% or 37% brackets. Additionally, the Medicare levy of 2% generally applies (with possible reductions for low-income earners).
Example take-home pay estimate for a $59,280 annual salary (2026–27):
- Tax: approximately $8,167
- Medicare: $1,185.60
- Net pay: about $49,927 per year, or $960 per week.
Use our take-home pay page for a more detailed estimate.
Using the Timesheet
Our timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and toggle casual loading. It calculates:
- Weekly, fortnightly, and annual gross pay
- Estimated super (12% on top)
- Estimated tax and net pay
Remember, the calculator assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. It is an estimate, not a determination of your actual pay.
Key Points to Remember
- National Minimum Wage: $26.44/hour (38-hour week) – the absolute minimum.
- Award rates: Check the relevant award for your executive assistant role.
- Casual loading: 25% on top of base rate – use the checkbox on the timesheet.
- Super: 12% paid on top of ordinary earnings.
- Tax: Use the 2026–27 resident rates with the tax-free threshold.
- Fortnightly pay: Multiply weekly pay by 2.
For more detailed pay information, refer to the pay guides and minimum wage pages. If you need to compare your salary to industry averages, the average pay page provides ABS data.
Disclaimer
Annual pay shown is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and 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 is 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.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.