How do I convert my hourly rate to an annual orthodontist salary?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week, then by 52. For a full-time orthodontist working 38 hours per week, the formula is hourly × 38 × 52. This gives your gross annual pay before tax and super. For example, at the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, the annual figure would be $52,267. However, orthodontist salaries are typically higher and may be covered by an award such as the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, which sets minimum rates above the national minimum. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides for the correct classification rate.

What is casual loading and how does it affect my orthodontist salary?

Casual loading is an additional 25% paid on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for entitlements like paid leave. If you are a casual orthodontist, your hourly rate should be the base award rate plus 25%. For example, if the base rate is $40 per hour, the casual rate is $50 per hour. When using our timesheet, tick the casual loading checkbox to add 25% automatically. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading. The annual estimate then uses the loaded rate.

How is superannuation calculated on my orthodontist salary?

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings at 12% (the super guarantee rate for 2026–27). It is not deducted from your pay. For an orthodontist salary, super is calculated on your gross ordinary earnings up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For example, if your annual ordinary earnings are $100,000, your employer pays an additional $12,000 into your super fund. This amount is separate from the pay you receive and is not included in the annual gross figure shown on our site.

Orthodontist Salary: How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay

For a 38-hour week, an orthodontist salary from an hourly rate is hourly × 38 × 52, with super paid on top and tax deducted according to the 2026–27 resident scale.

Understanding Your Orthodontist Salary

If you are an orthodontist working in Australia, you may be paid by the hour or have a salary offer. Converting between the two is straightforward, but you need to know the correct hourly rate, the hours you work, and how tax and super apply. This guide explains the process using the latest figures from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission, and includes the National Minimum Wage, award rates, casual loading, and superannuation.

Orthodontist salaries vary by experience, location, and whether you work in private practice or the public sector. Many orthodontists are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, which sets minimum pay rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for this award, and the Fair Work Commission publishes the Modern Awards Pay Database with detailed classifications and allowances. You can use these to find the correct minimum rate for your role.

The Basic Formula: Hourly to Annual

The core calculation is simple: hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks. This gives your gross annual pay before any overtime, penalty rates, allowances. We assume a standard full-time week of 38 hours, as used by the National Minimum Wage and most awards. For example, the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, giving an annual of $1,004.90 per week or $52,267 per year.

But orthodontist salaries are typically much higher. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time May 2026 was $2,083.70 per week, which equates to $108,352.40 per year. An orthodontist salary often exceeds this average. If you know your hourly rate, plug it into the formula. For instance, at $60 per hour, annual gross = $60 × 38 × 52 = $118,560.

Fortnightly Pay

If you are paid fortnightly, your gross pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by 2. Using the same $60 per hour example, weekly pay is $2,280, so fortnightly is $4,560. This can help with budgeting and comparing salary offers that are quoted per fortnight.

Minimum Wage vs Award Rates vs Casual Loading

It is important to distinguish between different pay bases:

National Minimum Wage: $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026. This is the legal minimum for award-free employees.
Award rates: Higher than the national minimum. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 sets minimum rates for orthodontists and other health professionals. These rates are updated annually following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The 2026 data in the Modern Awards Pay Database includes a 4.75% increase from 1 July 2026.
Casual loading: If you are a casual employee, you receive an additional 25% on top of the base hourly rate. For example, if the award rate is $50 per hour, the casual rate is $62.50 per hour. When using our timesheet, tick the casual loading checkbox to add 25% automatically. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading.

Tax and Super Considerations

Your annual gross pay is not what you take home. Tax and the Medicare levy are deducted. For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are:

Nil up to $18,200
15% from $18,201 to $45,000
30% from $45,001 to $135,000
37% from $135,001 to $190,000
45% above $190,000

Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low-income earners). The tax-free threshold is included. Our take-home pay estimator uses these rates.

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings at 12% (the super guarantee rate for 2026–27). It is not deducted from your pay. For example, if your annual ordinary earnings are $120,000, your employer contributes an additional $14,400 to your super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. This is separate from your salary. Learn more about super and packaging.

Using Our Tools

Our timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. It then calculates annual gross, fortnightly pay, and estimated tax and super. For award-specific rates, refer to our pay guides or the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database provides the official minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates for each award.

Remember that the formula assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. If your orthodontist salary includes these, your actual annual pay may differ. Always check your award or agreement for the correct conditions.

Summary

To estimate your orthodontist salary from an hourly rate:

Find your correct base rate (award or agreement).
Add casual loading if applicable (25%).
Multiply by hours per week (usually 38) and 52 weeks.
Add super at 12% on top.
Deduct tax and Medicare levy for take-home pay.

Use our reference tables for quick conversions and the average pay page to compare with industry benchmarks. For more on hourly conversion, see hourly conversion and casual loading.