Sales Representative Salary: Hourly Rates, Fortnightly Pay and Annual Earnings Under the Commercial Sales Award
Under the Commercial Sales Award, a full-time adult Commercial Traveller/Advertising Sales Representative earns $29.55 per hour, or $1122.80 per week for 38 ordinary hours, giving an annual gross of about $58,386.
How the sales representative salary is set under the Commercial Sales Award
If you are a sales representative or an employer hiring one, the starting point for pay is the Commercial Sales Award 2020 (MA000083). This award covers employees who sell goods or services away from the employer’s premises, such as commercial travellers and advertising sales representatives. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides that list the minimum rates for each classification.
For a full-time adult Commercial Traveller/Advertising Sales Representative, the minimum hourly rate is $29.55 as of 1 July 2026. That translates to a weekly rate of $1122.80 for 38 ordinary hours. The fortnightly pay is simply the weekly rate doubled: $2245.60 before tax and super. This is the base pay; penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, public holidays, and overtime apply on top.
The 38-hour week and the fortnight
The award states that full-time employees work an average of 38 hours per week, with a maximum of 152 hours over 28 consecutive days. Ordinary hours can be worked any day of the week. When calculating annual pay, the standard formula is:
Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
For a sales representative on $29.55 per hour:
- Weekly: $29.55 × 38 = $1122.90 (award says $1122.80, slight rounding)
- Fortnightly: $1122.80 × 2 = $2245.60
- Annual: $1122.80 × 52 = $58,385.60
This assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no allowances. It is a useful estimate for comparing job offers or budgeting.
Casual loading and superannuation
Casual employees under the award get a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For a sales representative, that makes the casual rate $36.94 per hour ($29.55 × 1.25). The casual loading page explains how this works. Remember: never enter a rate that already includes casual loading into a calculator that adds it again.
Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a full-time sales representative earning $58,385.60, the employer must contribute an extra $7,006.27 into your super fund each year. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an additional cost to the employer. See super and packaging for more details.
Comparison with the National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1004.90 per week for 38 hours). The sales representative award rate of $29.55 is about 12% higher than the minimum. Award-free employees (those not covered by any award or agreement) must be paid at least the national minimum wage. Casual employees under the national minimum wage receive a 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour.
Tax and take-home pay
Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the full tax-free threshold, a sales representative earning $58,385.60 annually would pay:
- Tax: approximately $8,036 (calculated as nil on the first $18,200, 15% on the next $26,800, and 30% on the remainder)
- Medicare levy: 2% of taxable income = $1,167.71
- Total deductions: about $9,204
- Net annual pay: $49,182
- Net weekly: $945.81
- Net fortnightly: $1,891.62
These figures are estimates. The take-home pay page provides a more detailed breakdown. Note that HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not included here.
Using the timesheet calculator
The timesheet on this site lets you enter a base hourly rate and optionally add the 25% casual loading. For a sales representative, type $29.55 (the award rate) and check the casual box if you are casual. The tool will show your weekly, fortnightly, and annual gross pay, plus estimated tax and super. It uses the 38-hour week and the 52-week year as the default assumption.
Other classifications under the award
The Commercial Sales Award has three main adult classifications:
- Probationary Traveller: $26.59 per hour ($1010.52 per week)
- Merchandiser: $27.47 per hour ($1044.00 per week)
- Commercial Traveller/Advertising Sales Representative: $29.55 per hour ($1122.80 per week)
Probationary travellers are new employees who have not completed 12 months’ service. Merchandisers mainly arrange and display goods in retail outlets. The sales representative classification is the most common for outside sales roles.
Summary
A sales representative salary under the Commercial Sales Award is $29.55 per hour for a full-time adult, giving a weekly rate of $1122.80 and an annual gross of $58,385.60. Casual employees earn $36.94 per hour. Superannuation at 12% is paid on top. Tax and Medicare reduce the net pay to about $945 per week. Use the reference tables for a full list of award rates, or the minimum wage page for the national minimum.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.