TimesheetGuidesSuper and packaging
Hourly to Annual Pay: How to Include Salary Sacrifice into Super
Assuming a 38-hour week, your annual gross pay is your hourly rate multiplied by 1,976 hours (38 × 52).
Understanding the Hourly to Annual Conversion
When you know your hourly rate, converting it to an annual figure helps you compare job offers, budget, and plan for tax and super. The basic formula is simple: multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52 weeks. For a full-time employee working a standard 38-hour week, that means annual gross pay = hourly rate × 38 × 52. That gives you 1,976 hours per year.
Our the timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and see the annual, monthly, fortnightly, and weekly figures. It also estimates tax and super so you can get a clearer picture of your take-home pay.
The 38-Hour Week Assumption
We assume a 38-hour week because that is the standard full-time week under the Fair Work Act. If you work more or fewer hours, you can adjust the hours per week in the calculator. For part-time or casual workers, the same formula applies – just use your actual weekly hours. Your fortnightly gross pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two.
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. That is the legal floor for employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. Most employees, however, are covered by an award that sets higher minimum rates for their industry or role. Award rates often include penalty rates, allowances, and overtime. Our minimum wage page explains the current rates, but remember that your actual pay may be higher under an award.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 show full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week. That is an average across all industries, not a median for any particular job. All employees total earnings (including part-time) averaged $1,579.20 per week. These figures are useful benchmarks but do not represent your specific role.
Casual Loading and Super Guarantee
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave. Our casual loading page explains how it works. In the timesheet, you can check a box to add 25% casual loading – never enter a rate that already includes loading. For example, if the award rate is $26.44, the casual rate becomes $33.05 per hour.
Superannuation guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your gross pay. The maximum contribution base for 2026-27 is $270,830. If your annual earnings exceed that, super is only paid on the first $270,830. Our super and packaging page has more details.
Tax and Medicare
We use the 2026-27 resident tax rates with the full tax-free threshold. The brackets are:
- $0 – $18,200: nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15%
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30%
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37%
- $190,001+: 45%
Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. We use the 2025-26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026-27 thresholds were not confirmed in this estimate. The calculator does not deduct HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging. For a more detailed estimate, see our take-home pay page.
Salary Sacrifice into Super
If you are considering a salary sacrifice into super, remember that the super guarantee is still calculated on your ordinary earnings, but your taxable income reduces, affecting your take-home pay. Our calculator does not include salary sacrifice, but you can use the results as a starting point. For example, if you earn $80,000 annually and salary sacrifice $10,000 into super, your taxable income becomes $70,000, and your employer still pays 12% super on your $80,000 ordinary earnings (up to the cap). The super and packaging page explains how salary sacrifice interacts with the super guarantee.
Using the Timesheet Calculator
To get started, go to the timesheet. Enter your base hourly rate (without casual loading). If you are casual, check the casual loading box – the calculator will add 25% on top. Then enter your average weekly hours (default is 38). The calculator shows:
- Annual gross pay
- Fortnightly gross pay (weekly × 2)
- Monthly gross pay (annual ÷ 12)
- Estimated tax and Medicare
- Estimated super guarantee (12% of ordinary earnings, up to the cap)
- Estimated take-home pay after tax and Medicare
Remember that this is an estimate. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is paid on top of your gross pay, not deducted from it. The disclaimer on the calculator page applies.
Comparing Offers
When comparing a salary offer to an hourly rate, use the annual figure from the calculator. But be aware that salaried employees may have different entitlements – for example, paid leave, public holidays, and possibly a higher base rate to compensate for no overtime. Our hourly conversion page has more tips.
If you are looking at industry averages, remember that the ABS figures are averages, not medians for your specific job. The average pay page explains how to interpret those numbers. For award-specific rates, check the pay guides or reference tables on our site.
Final Thoughts
Converting your hourly rate to annual pay is straightforward with the 38-hour week assumption. Use our calculator to get a quick estimate, then consider factors like casual loading, super, tax, and salary sacrifice. If you plan to salary sacrifice into super, adjust your taxable income manually to see the effect on take-home pay. Always check your award or employment contract for the exact rates and conditions that apply to you.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.