What is the minimum wage in South Australia?

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for 38 hours. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour. Some industries have higher award rates, so check your specific award with the Fair Work Ombudsman. The South Australian full-time ordinary time average weekly earnings (May 2026) are $1970.20 per week, but that is an average across all industries, not a minimum or median for any particular job.

How does casual loading affect my annual pay?

Casual loading is an extra 25% paid on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave. For example, the National Minimum Wage base rate of $26.44 becomes $33.05 per hour with casual loading. When converting to annual pay, use the loaded rate in the formula: hourly rate × hours per week × 52. The timesheet tool has a checkbox to add 25% casual loading automatically – never enter a rate that already includes loading.

What tax will I pay on minimum wage in South Australia?

For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax scale applies: no tax on the first $18,200, then 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% on $45,001 to $135,000, and higher rates above that. A 2% Medicare levy generally applies. For a full-time minimum wage earner on $52,269 gross, the estimated tax (including Medicare) would be around $7,800, leaving about $44,500 take-home. Use the [take-home pay](/topics/take-home) guide for a detailed estimate.

Understanding Minimum Wage South Australia: Hourly to Annual Pay Guide

Based on the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, a full-time worker in South Australia earning that rate for 38 hours per week would have an annual gross pay of approximately $52,269 before tax and super.

Understanding Minimum Wage South Australia

If you earn an hourly rate or have a salary offer, converting to an annual figure helps you compare jobs and plan your budget. This guide focuses on the minimum wage south Australia context, using the National Minimum Wage and award rates. We explain the conversion formula, casual loading, superannuation, and tax – all based on a standard 38-hour week.

How to Convert Hourly to Annual

The basic formula is:

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

We assume a 38-hour week, which is the full-time standard under the Fair Work Act. If you work fewer or more hours, adjust the weekly figure accordingly. For example, a permanent employee on the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour:

Weekly: $26.44 × 38 = $1,004.72
Fortnightly: $1,004.72 × 2 = $2,009.44
Annual: $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,269.44

This is gross pay before tax and super. Super is paid on top of this amount (see below).

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

The National Minimum Wage (set by the Fair Work Commission) is the legal floor for most employees not covered by an award or agreement. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. However, many industries have award rates that are higher. For example, hospitality, retail, and healthcare awards often set higher minimums for certain classifications.

In South Australia, the average full-time ordinary time weekly earnings (May 2026) were $1,970.20 per week, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This is an average across all industries and occupations, not a median for any specific job. Your actual pay may be above or below this average depending on your award, experience, and location.

Always check your award or enterprise agreement. The pay guides on this site summarise key award rates. If no award applies, the National Minimum Wage is your minimum.

Casual Loading Explained

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid annual leave, sick leave, or public holidays. For the National Minimum Wage:

Base rate: $26.44 per hour
Casual rate: $26.44 × 1.25 = $33.05 per hour

When converting to annual pay, use the loaded rate if you are casual. The casual loading page explains the rules. Our timesheet tool has a checkbox that adds 25% loading automatically – never type a rate that already includes loading. For example, if you are casual and your base rate is $26.44, check the box and the tool will use $33.05.

Superannuation and Tax

Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your gross pay. For a full-time minimum wage earner:

Annual super: $52,269.44 × 12% = $6,272.33
Total cost to employer: $52,269.44 + $6,272.33 = $58,541.77

Super is capped at the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per quarter (2026–27). Most minimum wage earners will not reach this cap. See super and packaging for more.

Tax uses the 2026–27 resident rates:

$0–$18,200: nil
$18,201–$45,000: 15%
$45,001–$135,000: 30%
$135,001–$190,000: 37%
$190,001+: 45%

Plus a 2% Medicare levy (using 2025–26 single reduction thresholds as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed). For a $52,269 gross income, estimated tax is about $7,800, leaving around $44,500 take-home. Use the take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.

South Australia Context

South Australia’s labour market includes many award-covered industries such as manufacturing, health care, and retail. The ABS average weekly earnings for full-time ordinary time in SA ($1,970.20) is an average, not a median for any job. If you are on the minimum wage, your pay will be below that average. However, some SA awards (e.g., the South Australian Private Sector Clerks Award) may set rates above the national minimum.

Remember that the National Minimum Wage applies across Australia, including South Australia. There is no separate state minimum wage – the national rate is the floor. The term minimum wage south Australia simply refers to the application of the national minimum within the state.

Using the Timesheet Tool

Our timesheet is the home page. Enter your base hourly rate (without casual loading) and select the casual checkbox if applicable. The tool calculates weekly, fortnightly, and annual gross pay. It also estimates tax and super based on the figures above. Use the reference tables for quick conversions.

Conclusion

Converting hourly to annual is straightforward: multiply by hours per week and 52. For minimum wage south Australia, the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour gives about $52,269 per year for 38 hours. Add 25% for casual loading, and remember super is paid on top. Always check your award for higher rates. Use the tools on this site to estimate your take-home pay and super.

For more detail, see the hourly conversion guide or the average pay page for industry averages.