How do I calculate my annual salary from an hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week, then by 52. For a standard 38-hour week, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. For example, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour gives $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,254.80 per year. If you work different hours, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. This is the gross annual pay before tax and super.

What is casual loading and how does it affect my pay?

Casual loading is an extra 25% paid on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for lack of paid leave such as annual and sick leave. For award/agreement-free employees, the casual rate from 1 July 2026 is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 × 1.25). Always check whether your quoted rate already includes casual loading – if it does, do not add the loading again. Our timesheet has a checkbox to add 25% casual loading on top of the base rate you enter.

How much superannuation will I receive on top of my salary?

Superannuation guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your salary. For a full-time minimum wage earner ($52,254.80 per year), that's an extra $6,270.58 per year, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not deducted from your pay – it is an additional contribution. Use our [super and packaging](/topics/super-and-packaging) page for more details.

Mortgage Calculator Salary: Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay for 38-Hour Weeks

For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, equating to $1004.90 per week or $52,254.80 per year before tax and super.

Mortgage Calculator Salary: Understanding Your Annual Pay

When you're comparing job offers or planning a budget, knowing your annual salary from an hourly rate is essential. Whether you're using a mortgage calculator salary tool to estimate borrowing power or simply checking your take-home pay, the conversion is straightforward: multiply your hourly rate by the hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. This guide explains the formula, the assumptions we make, and how to account for casual loading, superannuation, and tax.

The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours × 52

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, or allowances. For a full-time employee, the standard week is 38 hours – the figure used by the Fair Work Commission for the national minimum wage. For example, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour. That gives:

Weekly: $26.44 × 38 = $1,004.90
Annual: $1,004.90 × 52 = $52,254.80

If you work part-time or different hours, adjust the weekly figure accordingly. The same formula works for any hourly rate.

Why 38 Hours?

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage based on a 38-hour week. Most modern awards also define full-time work as 38 hours. When you use our minimum wage page or the timesheet, we assume 38 hours unless you change it. This is the standard for full-time employees in the national system.

Fortnightly Pay: A Handy Shortcut

Many employers pay fortnightly. To get your fortnightly gross pay, simply multiply your weekly pay by two. Using the minimum wage example: $1,004.90 × 2 = $2,009.80 per fortnight. This is useful for budgeting and for mortgage calculator salary comparisons that ask for fortnightly income.

National Minimum Wage vs. Award Rates

The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement. However, most employees are covered by a modern award, which sets higher minimum rates for specific industries and roles. For example, the Health Services Award and the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award have their own pay rates that change from time to time. Always check the relevant award using our pay guides page or the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides.

Casual Loading: 25% on Top

Casual employees are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave. For award/agreement-free casuals, the rate from 1 July 2026 is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 × 1.25). When you use our timesheet, enter your base hourly rate (without casual loading) and tick the casual loading checkbox. Never enter a rate that already includes the loading.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

Superannuation guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your salary. It is not deducted from your gross pay. For a minimum wage earner, that's an extra $6,270.58 per year (12% of $52,254.80), up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not included in the annual salary figure used by most mortgage calculator salary tools, but it is additional retirement savings. See our super and packaging page for more.

Tax and Medicare Levy

Income tax in 2026–27 follows the resident scale: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. For a minimum wage earner ($52,254.80), the estimated tax is about $5,092 plus Medicare of $1,045, leaving take-home pay of roughly $46,118. Use the Australian Taxation Office's gross pay estimator for a personalised calculation. Note that HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not included in our estimates.

Differences in Ordinary-Time Earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings average $2,083.70 per week (May 2026). That's $108,352 per year – well above the minimum wage. All employees total earnings (including part-time) average $1,579.20 per week, or $82,118 per year. These figures highlight the range of pay across the workforce. When using a mortgage calculator salary tool, remember that your actual earnings may differ from averages.

Putting It All Together

To convert your hourly rate to annual pay:

Confirm your weekly hours (standard is 38).
Multiply hourly rate × weekly hours × 52.
Add casual loading if applicable (25% on top).
Super is extra – not part of the annual salary.
Tax and Medicare reduce take-home pay.

For example, a casual earning $30 per hour base (plus 25% loading = $37.50) working 38 hours: annual gross = $37.50 × 38 × 52 = $74,100. Super on top: $8,892. Tax (approx): $14,267 plus Medicare $1,482, leaving $58,351 take-home.

Our hourly conversion page and take-home pay page provide more detailed calculators. Remember, this is an estimate – always check your specific award or agreement for exact rates.