Mortician Salary: How the National Minimum Wage Compares to Award Rates
A mortician's salary depends on the Funeral Industry Award, which sets minimum rates above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week.
Understanding the Mortician Salary
If you're working as a mortician or funeral director in Australia, your pay is likely set by the Funeral Industry Award 2020 ([MA000105]). This award covers employees in funeral homes, crematoria, and cemeteries. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide for this award, which lists minimum hourly rates, allowances, and penalty rates. You can download it from the pay guides page.
But how does a mortician salary compare to the National Minimum Wage? And how do you convert an hourly rate to an annual figure? This article explains the key numbers and shows you how to use our calculator.
The National Minimum Wage vs. Award Rates
From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). Casual employees get a 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour. However, this minimum only applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement.
Most morticians are covered by the Funeral Industry Award. Award rates are generally higher than the National Minimum Wage. For example, a Level 1 funeral director might earn around $28–$30 per hour, depending on experience and classification. The exact rates are updated annually by the Fair Work Commission, and you can find them in the Modern Awards Pay Database.
Important: Award rates are minimums. Some employers may pay above award, and enterprise agreements can set different rates. Always check your employment contract or award classification.
Calculating Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate
Our calculator at the timesheet uses a simple formula:
Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks
We assume a standard full-time week of 38 hours (as defined by the Fair Work Act). If you work part-time or different hours, adjust the hours per week accordingly.
For a mortician earning $30 per hour:
- Annual: $30 × 38 × 52 = $59,280
- Fortnightly: $30 × 38 × 2 = $2,280 (before tax and super)
If you're casual, remember to add the 25% loading. For example, a casual mortician at $30 per hour would receive $37.50 per hour (including loading). The calculator has a checkbox to add casual loading automatically. Do not type a rate that already includes casual loading – let the calculator add it.
Superannuation and Tax
Superannuation is paid on top of your salary. The Super Guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary earnings (from 1 July 2026), up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a $59,280 salary, that's an extra $7,113.60 paid into your super fund.
Tax is calculated using the 2026–27 resident rates:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 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 above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds). Our take-home pay tool estimates net pay after tax and Medicare.
Fortnightly and Weekly Pay
Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross pay, simply double your weekly pay. Using the example above:
- Weekly: $30 × 38 = $1,140
- Fortnightly: $1,140 × 2 = $2,280
This can help with budgeting and comparing job offers.
Using the Calculator
Head to the timesheet and enter your base hourly rate (without casual loading). If you're casual, tick the box for 25% loading. The calculator will show:
- Annual gross pay
- Fortnightly and weekly amounts
- Estimated tax and Medicare
- Superannuation (paid on top)
Remember, this is an estimate. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. For exact figures, refer to your pay slip and the Funeral Industry Award.
Where to Find Official Rates
The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides include the Funeral Industry Award pay guide. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database provides downloadable spreadsheets with all minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates. These are the authoritative sources for a mortician salary.
For more comparisons, see our average pay page, which uses ABS data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) show full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week – well above the National Minimum Wage.
Summary
- Morticians are covered by the Funeral Industry Award, not the National Minimum Wage.
- Award rates are higher than $26.44 per hour.
- Use hourly × 38 × 52 to get annual gross.
- Super is 12% on top; tax and Medicare are deducted.
- Casual employees get 25% loading.
- Check the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for your exact classification.
Use our reference tables for quick lookups of minimum wage and award rates.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.