How do I convert my hourly rate to annual salary for a 38-hour week?

Multiply your hourly rate by 38 hours per week, then by 52 weeks per year. For example, the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour gives $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,254.88 annual gross. This assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, and no penalty rates.

What is casual loading and how does it affect my pay?

Casual loading is an extra 25% paid on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for lack of leave entitlements. For the minimum wage, the casual rate is $26.44 × 1.25 = $33.05 per hour. When using our calculator, type your base hourly rate and check the casual loading box – do not type a rate that already includes loading.

How is superannuation calculated and what about salary sacrifice?

Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid on top of your salary. For example, on $52,254.88 annual gross, super would be $6,270.59, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. A superannuation salary sacrifice calculator helps you see how sacrificing part of your pre-tax salary into super affects your take-home pay and tax.

Superannuation Salary Sacrifice Calculator: Convert Hourly to Annual Pay for a 38-Hour Week

For a 38-hour week, annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with super paid on top at 12%.

Understanding Your Hourly to Annual Pay

When you have an hourly rate or a salary offer, the first step is to see the full picture across a year. The standard formula is simple: hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks. For full-time work in Australia, the typical week is 38 hours, as set by the Fair Work Commission. This article assumes a 38-hour week unless stated otherwise.

The 38-Hour Week and the Fortnight

A 38-hour week gives you a consistent base. Your fortnightly pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. For example, at the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026), your weekly gross is $26.44 × 38 = $1,004.90. Fortnightly, that’s $2,009.80. Annual gross is $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,254.88.

But not everyone is on the minimum wage. Award rates, enterprise agreements, or individual contracts often set higher rates. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026. That’s an average across all industries and states, not a median for your specific job. For a more tailored estimate, use our hourly conversion reference tables.

Distinguishing Minimum Wage, Award Rates, and Casual Loading

The National Minimum Wage is the floor: $26.44 per hour for permanent employees. Award rates are industry- or occupation-specific minimums set by the Fair Work Ombudsman and are often higher. Casual loading is an extra 25% on top of the base rate, making the minimum casual rate $33.05 per hour. When using our timesheet calculator, always enter your base hourly rate (the rate before casual loading). Then check the casual loading box to add the 25% automatically. Never type a rate that already includes casual loading.

Superannuation Is Paid on Top

Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your salary. It is not deducted from your gross pay. For the minimum wage example, super would be $52,254.88 × 12% = $6,270.59 per year, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. If you earn above that, super only applies to the first $270,830. For a detailed breakdown, see our super and packaging guide.

Tax and Medicare Levy

For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are:

Nil on the first $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 over $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds, as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed here). No HELP repayment, Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging is deducted in this estimate.

Using a Superannuation Salary Sacrifice Calculator

A superannuation salary sacrifice calculator helps you see how directing some of your pre-tax salary into super affects your take-home pay and tax. Salary sacrifice reduces your taxable income, potentially lowering your tax bracket, but the sacrificed amount is still subject to the 15% contributions tax within super. This is different from the employer’s compulsory super guarantee. Our calculator on the timesheet page lets you input your hourly rate and see annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures, including tax and super estimates. For more on how salary packaging interacts with your pay, visit our take-home pay topic.

Important Assumptions and Limitations

This annual pay estimate uses the formula 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 uses 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.

For award-specific rates, check the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman. For state or industry averages, see our average pay reference. Remember, averages are not medians for your job. Always consult a qualified professional for personal financial advice.