How is casual loading applied in the calculator?

The calculator includes a checkbox that adds 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate you enter. For example, the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour becomes $33.05 per hour with casual loading. You should never enter a rate that already includes casual loading; always start with the base rate.

What super guarantee rate is used and is it included in the hourly rate?

The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of your hourly rate. It is not included in the gross pay shown. The calculator estimates super separately, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For the National Minimum Wage, super adds about $6,270 per year.

How do I use the salary sacrifice super calculator to estimate my take-home pay?

Enter your base hourly rate (e.g., $26.44 for the National Minimum Wage). The calculator multiplies by hours per week (default 38) and 52 weeks to give annual gross. It then estimates tax using the 2026–27 resident rates and Medicare levy (2%), and shows super on top. You can adjust for casual loading with the checkbox. The result is an estimate only; salary sacrifice arrangements are not deducted.

Salary Sacrifice Super Calculator: Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay Under the National Minimum Wage and Awards

For a 38‑hour week, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, giving $52,253 annual gross before tax and super.

How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay

Whether you’re negotiating a salary or checking an offer, converting an hourly rate to annual pay is straightforward: multiply your hourly rate by the hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. This article explains the formula, the assumptions behind it, and how the National Minimum Wage compares with award rates. We also show how our salary sacrifice super calculator fits into the picture.

The Basic Formula

Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52.

For a full‑time employee working 38 hours per week, the calculation is:

Annual gross = hourly rate × 38 × 52.

If you work a different number of hours each week, you can still use this formula with your average weekly hours. The calculator on this site defaults to 38 hours, which is the standard full‑time week under the Fair Work Act. You can change the hours to match your situation.

Fortnightly Pay

Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross, multiply your weekly pay by two. For example, the National Minimum Wage gives $1,004.90 per week, so a fortnightly gross would be $2,009.80 before tax and super.

The National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

The Fair Work Commission sets the National Minimum Wage each year. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Casual employees receive an additional 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour.

Award rates are generally higher than the National Minimum Wage. Awards cover specific industries or occupations and include minimum pay rates, penalty rates, and allowances. For example, the Hospitality Award or the Retail Award may have higher base rates than the minimum wage. If you are covered by an award, your minimum pay is set by that award, not the National Minimum Wage. You can check your award on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides page.

It is important to note that the National Minimum Wage is a floor, not a median. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports average weekly earnings, but those are averages, not medians for a particular job. For full‑time adult ordinary time, the ABS Average Weekly Earnings in May 2026 was $2,083.70 per week. This is an average across all industries, not the median for your role.

Casual Loading and Superannuation

Casual loading is paid instead of entitlements like annual leave and sick leave. The 25% loading is added on top of the base hourly rate. In our salary sacrifice super calculator, you can tick a box to add casual loading. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading; always start with the base rate.

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026. For an employee on the National Minimum Wage, super adds about $6,270 per year (12% of $52,253). Super is not deducted from your pay; it is an additional contribution your employer makes. The maximum contribution base is $270,830 per year, so super stops accruing once your earnings exceed that amount.

Tax and Medicare Levy

Tax is calculated using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% for each dollar over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: 30% for each dollar over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: 37% for each dollar over $135,000
$190,001 and over: 45% for each dollar over $190,000

The Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. The calculator uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed in this estimate. This may affect the estimate slightly.

Using the Salary Sacrifice Super Calculator

Our salary sacrifice super calculator helps you see how salary sacrificing into super affects your take‑home pay. Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where you forgo part of your before‑tax salary in exchange for employer super contributions. This can reduce your taxable income. The calculator on this page does not deduct salary sacrifice, but you can use the dedicated tool to estimate the impact.

Important Assumptions

The annual pay shown here assumes:

The same hourly rate every week
No unpaid overtime
No penalty rates or allowances
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 uses the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax‑free threshold
Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds (2026–27 not confirmed)
HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted

This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

How to Get Started

Enter your base hourly rate in the timesheet to see your annual, monthly, fortnightly, and weekly gross pay. The calculator also estimates tax and super. If you are covered by an award, check your award rate on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides or reference tables. For more details on the minimum wage, see our minimum wage page. To understand your take‑home pay after tax, visit take-home pay.

Summary

Converting hourly to annual pay is simple: hourly rate × hours per week × 52. The National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour for 38 hours, giving $52,253 annual gross. Award rates are often higher. Casual loading adds 25% on top. Super is 12% on top. Use our salary sacrifice super calculator to explore salary sacrifice options. Always check your specific award or agreement for your correct minimum pay.