What is the minimum wage in South Australia for 2026–27?

The National Minimum Wage set by the Fair Work Commission applies across Australia, including South Australia. From 1 July 2026 it is $26.44 per hour for a permanent employee working 38 hours per week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. Award rates may be higher than the minimum wage, so check your award.

How do I calculate annual pay from an hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52. For a standard 38-hour week, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. For example, the minimum wage SA permanent rate of $26.44 gives an annual gross of $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,269.44. Casual loading is added before this calculation.

Minimum wage SA: Casual loading and super paid on top

Q: Is superannuation included in the hourly rate or paid on top?

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year). For a minimum wage SA employee, the employer must pay additional super on top of the hourly rate shown.

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, with casual loading of 25% bringing casuals to $33.05 per hour, and super paid on top.

Minimum wage SA: casual loading and super paid on top

If you are looking at the minimum wage in South Australia, you need to understand how casual loading and superannuation affect your take-home pay. The Fair Work Commission sets the National Minimum Wage, which applies to all states, including SA. From 1 July 2026, the minimum wage is $26.44 per hour for a permanent employee working a standard 38-hour week. That works out to $1004.90 per week or an annual gross of $52,269.44 (before tax and super).

Casual loading adds 25%

Casual employees are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the minimum wage to compensate for not receiving paid leave. This means the casual minimum wage SA rate becomes **$33.05 per hour. If you are a casual, you should not enter a rate that already includes casual loading – instead, you start with the base hourly rate and then add the 25% loading. For a 38-hour week, a casual at the minimum wage SA rate earns $1256.90 per week ($33.05 × 38) or $65,518.80 annually. The casual loading page explains this in more detail.

Super is paid on top, not included

Your employer must pay super guarantee contributions at 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. This is paid in addition to your hourly rate. For a permanent employee on the minimum wage SA rate, the employer adds $6,272.33 in super each year (12% of $52,269.44). For a casual, super is calculated on the base rate plus loading – so $65,518.80 × 12% = $7,862.26. The super and packaging guide has more details.

How to convert hourly to annual

The formula is simple: hourly rate × hours per week × 52. We assume a 38-hour week unless you specify otherwise. For example, if you earn $30 per hour, your annual gross is $30 × 38 × 52 = $59,280. If you work fewer hours, adjust accordingly. The the timesheet lets you enter your hourly rate and see the annual, fortnightly and tax breakdown.

Fortnightly pay and tax

Your fortnightly gross is simply your weekly pay multiplied by 2. For the minimum wage SA permanent rate, fortnightly is $2,009.80 before tax. Tax is withheld according to the 2026–27 resident tax rates: tax-free up to $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (using the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed here). For a minimum wage SA permanent employee, annual tax is approximately $5,717 plus Medicare, leaving around $44,000 after tax. Use the take-home pay page for a detailed estimate.

Award rates vs minimum wage

The National Minimum Wage is the legal floor. Many employees in SA are covered by awards that set higher rates. For example, the average full-time adult ordinary time earnings in SA are $1,970.20 per week (May 2026 ABS data), which is well above the minimum. This is an average, not a median for your job. The average pay page has more state and national figures. Always check your award or agreement.

Casual loading and super: key points

The minimum wage SA rate for permanents is $26.44/hr; casuals get $33.05/hr including loading.
Super is 12% on top, not deducted from your hourly rate.
Annual gross = hourly × hours per week × 52 (assume 38 hours if not specified).
Fortnightly = weekly × 2.
Tax and Medicare are estimated; see the reference tables for exact brackets.

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.

For more information, see the minimum wage topic page or the hourly conversion guide.