What is the typical hourly rate for a nuclear engineer in Australia?

Nuclear engineer salaries are often set by enterprise agreements like the ANSTO Enterprise Agreement. Under the ANSTO Award, a Professional Officer Level 1 earns $32.57 per hour, while a Senior Professional Officer Level 3 earns $55.01 per hour. These rates are based on a 36.75-hour week. For a standard 38-hour week, the equivalent hourly rate would be slightly lower. Use [the timesheet](/) to convert any hourly rate to annual.

How is superannuation calculated for nuclear engineers at ANSTO?

Under the ANSTO Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027, employer superannuation contributions are 15.4% of Ordinary Time Earnings for employees in accumulation funds like PSSap. This is higher than the general Super Guarantee rate of 12% that applies from 1 July 2026. Super is paid on top of the base salary. For most workers, the maximum contribution base is $270,830. See [super and packaging](/topics/super-and-packaging) for more details.

What is the fortnightly pay formula used at ANSTO?

ANSTO uses a specific formula to calculate fortnightly pay: annual salary × 12 ÷ 313. This accounts for 313 fortnightly pay cycles over 12 years, giving a consistent amount each fortnight. For example, a $62,446 annual salary gives a fortnightly pay of about $2,394. This is equivalent to the weekly rate multiplied by 2. Check [pay guides](/blog) for award rates.

Nuclear Engineer Salary: Hourly, Annual, Fortnightly and Tax Guide

A nuclear engineer at ANSTO under the Professional Stream PO Level 1 earns $62,446 per year, or $32.57 per hour based on a 36.75-hour week.

Understanding the Nuclear Engineer Salary

Nuclear engineers in Australia often work for organisations like the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), where pay is governed by enterprise agreements and awards. The nuclear engineer salary can be understood by looking at the ANSTO Enterprise Award 2016 and the ANSTO Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027. These documents provide base salaries, hourly rates, and conditions for various classifications.

Hourly to Annual Conversion

The standard formula to convert an hourly rate to an annual salary is:

Annual gross ≈ 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 most calculations, we assume a 38-hour week, as used for the National Minimum Wage. However, ANSTO’s ordinary hours for full-time employees are 36 hours and 45 minutes (36.75 hours) per week, as stated in both the enterprise agreement and the award.

For example, a Professional Officer Level 1 under the award earns an annual salary of $62,446. The hourly rate is $32.57, derived from the weekly rate of $1,197.00 divided by 36.75 hours. Using the formula: $32.57 × 36.75 × 52 = $62,446 (approximately).

If you have an hourly rate and want to estimate your annual pay, use the timesheet to enter your rate and see the annual figure based on a 38-hour week. For ANSTO-specific roles, adjust the hours to 36.75.

Fortnightly Pay

ANSTO pays employees fortnightly using a unique formula: fortnightly salary = annual salary × 12 ÷ 313. This accounts for 313 fortnightly pay cycles over 12 years, ensuring consistent amounts. For a $62,446 annual salary, the fortnightly pay is about $2,394. This matches the weekly rate ($1,197) multiplied by 2. The award also confirms fortnightly payment.

Tax and Superannuation

For the 2026–27 financial year, the Australian Taxation Office resident tax rates are:

Nil on income up to $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

A Medicare levy of 2% generally applies. Use take-home pay to estimate net income.

Superannuation is paid on top of your salary. The general Super Guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2026, but ANSTO’s enterprise agreement provides 15.4% for employees in the PSSap or other accumulation funds. The maximum contribution base is $270,830. See super and packaging for more.

Casual Loading

Casual employees at ANSTO receive a 25% loading on their base hourly rate, in lieu of paid leave, public holidays, and other entitlements. For example, a casual Professional Officer Level 1 would earn $32.57 × 1.25 = $40.71 per hour. The enterprise agreement also specifies a minimum engagement of three hours. If you are comparing casual rates, use casual loading to understand the total.

National Minimum Wage and Award Rates

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Casual employees get $33.05 per hour including the 25% loading. ANSTO award rates start at $28.07 per hour for an Administrative Officer Level 1, well above the minimum. For nuclear engineer classifications, rates range from $32.57 (PO Level 1) to $55.01 (SPO Level 3). These are minimum rates; enterprise agreements may offer higher.

Using the Award as a Reference

The ANSTO Enterprise Award 2016 provides detailed salary tables for various streams: Administrative, Professional, Research, Technical, and Senior Management. For a nuclear engineer, the Professional Stream (PO) or Research Stream (Post Doc, RS, SRS) are most relevant. The award also includes allowances and penalty rates. For the latest pay guides, visit pay guides.

Remember that enterprise agreements can override award rates. The ANSTO Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 may have different salary bands, but the award gives a reliable baseline. Always check your specific employment contract.

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.