How do I convert my hourly rate to annual salary?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52. For a standard full-time role of 38 hours, the formula is hourly rate × 38 × 52. This gives your gross annual pay before tax, Medicare, and super. Remember that super is paid on top of your ordinary earnings, not deducted from your salary.

What is the difference between the National Minimum Wage and award rates?

The National Minimum Wage is the legal minimum for employees not covered by an award or agreement. From 1 July 2026 it is $26.44 per hour for a full-time adult. Award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission for specific industries and occupations and are often higher. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. Always check your award or agreement for your correct rate.

How does salary sacrifice affect my super and tax?

Salary sacrifice allows you to contribute pre-tax dollars to your super, reducing your taxable income. However, these contributions count towards the concessional contributions cap set by the Australian Taxation Office. The maximum salary sacrifice super amount you can make without exceeding the cap depends on your total concessional contributions. Your employer must still pay the 12% super guarantee on your ordinary earnings, even if you salary sacrifice. The super guarantee maximum contribution base is $270,830 for 2026-27.

Hourly to Annual Pay: Understanding Your Take-Home, Tax, Super, and Max Salary Sacrifice Super

For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week, annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with super paid on top at 12% up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base.

How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay

If you earn an hourly wage or receive a salary offer, the simplest way to compare them is to convert to an annual figure. The standard formula used across Australia is:

Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52

This assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. For a full-time employee, the typical week is 38 hours, as defined by the Fair Work Ombudsman. If you work a different pattern, adjust the hours accordingly. For example, a part-time worker on 20 hours per week would multiply by 20, not 38.

Why 52 Weeks?

A year has 52 weeks. Some calculators use 52.18 to account for leap years, but the difference is negligible for most purposes. The Fair Work Commission and the Australian Bureau of Statistics both use 52 weeks in their standard calculations. If you are paid fortnightly, your gross fortnightly pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. That can help you match your payslip.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates vs Casual Loading

It is important to know which rate applies to you. The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for an adult employee not covered by an award or enterprise agreement. This gives a weekly wage of $1,004.90 for 38 hours. However, most employees are covered by a modern award or a registered agreement that sets higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award.

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave. The casual minimum wage is therefore $33.05 per hour. On the timesheet, you can type your base hourly rate and check a box to add the 25% casual loading. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading – the tool adds it for you.

Super Is Paid on Top

Under the Super Guarantee, your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary earnings into a super fund. This is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it. For 2026-27, the maximum contribution base is $270,830. That means super is only calculated on earnings up to that amount per quarter. If your annual salary exceeds $270,830, your employer stops paying super on the excess.

Tax and Medicare for 2026-27

The Australian Taxation Office sets the resident tax rates each year. For 2026-27, the tax-free threshold is $18,200. Above that, you pay:

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 over $190,000

In addition, most residents pay the Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income. The 2025-26 single reduction thresholds are used here because the 2026-27 thresholds were not confirmed at the time of calculation. If you have a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction or exemption.

Example: Full-Time Worker on the National Minimum Wage

A full-time adult on $26.44 per hour, working 38 hours per week:

Weekly gross: $26.44 × 38 = $1,004.72 (close to the official $1,004.90 due to rounding)
Annual gross: $1,004.72 × 52 = $52,245.44
Super on top: 12% of $52,245.44 = $6,269.45 (paid into super, not to you)
Tax (using 2026-27 rates): approximately $6,436 (including Medicare) – see take-home pay for a detailed breakdown.

Understanding Averages and Medians

The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes Average Weekly Earnings. For May 2026, full-time adult ordinary time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. This is an average, not a median, and it includes all full-time employees across industries. It does not represent the typical pay for any specific job. For job-specific pay, refer to job pay or your award.

All employees total earnings (including part-time) averaged $1,579.20 per week. Again, this is an average and may not reflect your situation.

Max Salary Sacrifice Super

When you salary sacrifice into super, you direct part of your before-tax salary to your super fund. This reduces your taxable income, so you pay less tax. However, the Australian Taxation Office caps how much you can contribute each year at the concessional rate. For 2026-27, the cap is $30,000 (this figure is not confirmed in the on-site reference, so check the ATO website). The phrase "max salary sacrifice super" refers to the maximum amount you can sacrifice without exceeding that cap. Your employer must still pay the 12% super guarantee on your ordinary earnings, even if you salary sacrifice. The super guarantee maximum contribution base of $270,830 also applies.

If you are considering salary sacrifice, remember that it affects your take-home pay and your super balance. Use the super and packaging page to explore how different sacrifice amounts change your net income.

Using the Timesheet Calculator

The timesheet on this site lets you enter your base hourly rate. A checkbox adds 25% casual loading. The tool then shows your weekly, fortnightly, and annual gross pay, plus estimated tax, Medicare, and super. It assumes 38 hours per week unless you change the hours. The results are estimates only – they do not include penalty rates, allowances, or salary packaging. For a full list of assumptions, see about the timesheet.

Fortnightly Pay

If you are paid fortnightly, simply double your weekly gross. For example, a full-time worker on $30 per hour earns $1,140 per week, so $2,280 per fortnight before tax. The tax withheld each fortnight depends on your total expected income and the tax-free threshold you claim.

Key Points to Remember

Annual pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52. Assume 38 hours for full-time unless otherwise stated.
The National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour; casual loading adds 25%.
Award rates are often higher – check your pay guides.
Super is 12% on top, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base.
Tax rates and Medicare levy apply to your taxable income after deductions.
Salary sacrifice can reduce tax but is limited by the concessional cap – that is your max salary sacrifice super amount.
All figures are estimates. For your exact situation, consult a tax professional or the Fair Work Ombudsman.