Minimum Wage Australia per Hour: Convert $26.44 to Annual, Fortnightly, and After Tax
At the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week, annual gross pay is $52,254.40, before tax and super.
Understanding the Minimum Wage Australia per Hour
If you earn the minimum wage Australia per hour – currently $26.44 from 1 July 2026 – you can convert that into an annual salary, a fortnightly pay packet, and see how much tax and super you’ll get. This page uses the standard 38-hour week, as set by the Fair Work Commission, and applies the 2026–27 resident tax rates with the Medicare levy.
The Basic Formula
Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks.
For the National Minimum Wage:
$26.44 × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $52,254.40 per year.
This assumes you work the same 38 hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. It’s a starting point – your actual pay may differ if you work under an award or enterprise agreement.
Fortnightly Pay
A fortnight is simply two weeks. For the minimum wage:
$26.44 × 38 hours × 2 = $2,009.80 per fortnight before tax.
Many employers pay fortnightly, so this figure helps you budget. After tax and Medicare, your take-home fortnightly pay would be roughly $1,731.27 (based on the tax calculation below).
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
The National Minimum Wage ($26.44/hour) is the legal floor for most employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. However, many industries have award rates that are higher. For example, the General Retail Industry Award or the Hospitality Award may set higher minimums for specific roles. Always check your award via the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides or reference tables.
Casual Loading
If you are a casual employee, you get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. The casual minimum wage Australia per hour is $33.05 ($26.44 × 1.25). For a 38-hour week:
$33.05 × 38 × 52 = $65,317.40 per year.
Remember: the casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave (sick leave, annual leave). When using our timesheet, you can check the “25% casual loading” box – do not add the loading yourself; the tool does it for you.
Tax on Your Annual Pay
Using the 2026–27 resident tax scale (with the full tax-free threshold):
- $0 – $18,200: nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15%
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30%
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37%
- $190,001+: 45%
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (using 2025–26 single reduction thresholds as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed).
For $52,254.40:
- Tax on first $18,200: $0
- Tax on $18,201–$45,000 ($26,800): 15% = $4,020
- Tax on $45,001–$52,254.40 ($7,254.40): 30% = $2,176.32
- Total tax: $6,196.32
- Medicare levy: 2% of $52,254.40 = $1,045.09
- Total deductions: $7,241.41
- After-tax annual pay: $45,012.99
This is an estimate – it does not include HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging.
Superannuation Is Paid on Top
Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your gross pay. For the minimum wage:
12% × $52,254.40 = $6,270.53 per year added to your super account.
Super is not deducted from your pay; it’s extra. The maximum contribution base for super is $270,830 (2026–27), so this rate applies fully here.
Using the Hourly Conversion Tool
Our hourly conversion page helps you turn any hourly rate into annual, monthly, fortnightly, and weekly figures. For the minimum wage Australia per hour, you can also see how award rates compare. If you want to know your take-home pay after tax and Medicare, use the same tool.
Important Disclaimer
Annual pay here 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.
Other Pay Points to Consider
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 (May 2026). That’s about $108,352.40 per year – well above the minimum wage. But the minimum wage Australia per hour is the legal baseline. If you are paid above the minimum, use our average pay page to see typical rates for your industry.
For more on how casual loading works, see casual loading. And if you’re comparing job offers, the job pay page breaks down salary versus hourly.
Summary
- National Minimum Wage: $26.44/hour, $1,004.90/week, $2,009.80/fortnight, $52,254.40/year.
- Casual rate: $33.05/hour, $1,256.13/week, $2,512.26/fortnight, $65,317.40/year.
- Super: 12% on top (about $6,270.53/year for full-time minimum wage).
- After tax and Medicare: roughly $45,013/year for a single resident.
Use the timesheet to calculate your own figures – just enter your hourly rate and check the casual loading box if applicable.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.