Salary / Hourly Pay Calculator Australia

Australian Wages — Key Pay Rates to Know

Understanding how your pay compares to Australian benchmarks can help you assess whether you are being paid fairly and plan your finances more effectively.

National Minimum Wage The National Minimum Wage in Australia is set by the Fair Work Commission and reviewed annually. As of 1 July 2024, the national minimum wage is $24.10 per hour or $915.90 per week based on a 38-hour week. This equates to an annual salary of approximately $47,627 before tax.

Most employees in Australia are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement that sets minimum pay rates for their industry or occupation — these rates are often higher than the national minimum wage. Always check the relevant award for your industry through the Fair Work Australia website.

Award wages and penalty rates Many Australian workers are entitled to penalty rates for working on weekends, public holidays, early mornings, or late nights. These rates are set by modern awards and can significantly increase effective hourly earnings above the base rate. Penalty rates vary by industry and are set by the relevant modern award.

Casual loading Casual employees in Australia are generally entitled to a 25% casual loading on top of the equivalent permanent employee rate. This loading compensates for the lack of entitlements such as paid leave, sick leave, and notice periods. A casual employee earning $30 per hour base rate would receive $37.50 per hour including the 25% loading.

Superannuation on top of salary In Australia, employer superannuation contributions (currently 11.5% of ordinary time earnings) are paid in addition to your base salary — they are not deducted from it. When comparing job offers, always check whether the salary is quoted inclusive or exclusive of superannuation, as this significantly affects the true value of the offer.

Use our Retirement Calculator to see how your super contributions grow over time

How to Compare Job Offers in Australia Using This Calculator

This calculator is particularly useful when comparing job offers that are quoted in different pay formats — one role might advertise an annual salary while another quotes an hourly rate or a daily rate. Here is how to use it effectively when evaluating opportunities.

Convert everything to the same format Enter each role's pay rate into this calculator to convert everything to annual, monthly, weekly, and hourly equivalents. This gives you a like-for-like comparison regardless of how each role was advertised.

Check whether super is included or excluded Australian job advertisements sometimes quote salaries as "inclusive of super" (the super comes out of the quoted amount) or "plus super" (the super is paid on top). This can make a significant difference. A $90,000 salary plus 11.5% super is worth $100,350 in total employment cost, while a $90,000 salary inclusive of super means your take-home base is lower.

Factor in hours worked A higher annual salary means little if the role requires significantly more hours. Use this calculator to convert both salaries to an hourly equivalent based on the expected hours, then compare the effective hourly rate.

Consider leave entitlements Full-time permanent employees in Australia are entitled to four weeks of paid annual leave, ten days of personal or carer's leave, and other entitlements under the National Employment Standards. Casual roles have no paid leave but include a 25% loading. Factor this into your comparison when evaluating permanent versus casual positions.

Use our Borrowing Power Calculator to see how your salary affects your home loan eligibility.

Understanding Income Tax on Your Salary in Australia

This calculator estimates your gross pay — your income before tax. Understanding how income tax affects your take-home pay is an important part of financial planning.

Australia uses a progressive income tax system, which means higher income is taxed at higher rates. The tax brackets for Australian residents for the 2024-25 financial year are:

$0 to $18,200 — Tax free (the tax-free threshold) $18,201 to $45,000 — 19 cents for each dollar over $18,200 $45,001 to $120,000 — $5,092 plus 32.5 cents for each dollar over $45,000 $120,001 to $180,000 — $29,467 plus 37 cents for each dollar over $120,000 $180,001 and over — $51,667 plus 45 cents for each dollar over $180,000

The Medicare Levy of 2% also applies to most Australian taxpayers on top of income tax.

The low income tax offset (LITO) Australian taxpayers earning below $66,667 are eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset, which reduces the amount of tax payable. The maximum offset is $700 for those earning $37,500 or less and phases out between $37,500 and $66,667.

PAYG withholding Most Australian employees pay tax through the Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding system, where your employer deducts estimated tax from each pay and remits it to the ATO on your behalf. At the end of the financial year, you lodge a tax return and either receive a refund or pay any remaining tax owed.

For an accurate estimate of your after-tax take-home pay, use the ATO's tax withheld calculator at ato.gov.au.

Once you know your take-home pay, use our Budget Calculator to plan your monthly expenses

Pay Periods in Australia — Weekly, Fortnightly, and Monthly

Australian employers pay wages on different schedules depending on the industry, award, or enterprise agreement. Understanding how your pay period affects your budgeting is important for managing your finances.

Weekly pay Some industries and awards require weekly pay — this is common in construction, retail, and hospitality. Weekly pay gives you more frequent access to your income and can make budgeting easier for weekly expenses like groceries.

Fortnightly pay Fortnightly pay (every two weeks) is the most common pay frequency for Australian employees. It results in 26 pay periods per year. Note that with fortnightly pay, two months of the year will have three pay periods — a useful "bonus" pay period to be aware of when budgeting.

Monthly pay Monthly pay is common in professional and office environments. It results in 12 pay periods per year. Monthly pay requires more careful budgeting as the gap between pays is longer and expenses such as rent, mortgage repayments, and bills often fall at different points in the month.

Converting between pay periods This calculator converts your pay across all common pay periods — hourly, daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and annual. Use it to understand what your income looks like in any timeframe when planning your budget or comparing offers.

Frequently asked questions

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

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week, then multiply by 52 (weeks in a year). For example, $35 per hour × 38 hours per week × 52 weeks = $69,160 per year. This calculator does this conversion instantly based on the figures you enter.

What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2024-25?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2024 is $24.10 per hour or $915.90 per week based on a standard 38-hour week, equating to approximately $47,627 per year. Many workers are covered by modern awards that set higher minimum rates for their industry.

Is superannuation included in my salary in Australia?

It depends on how the salary is quoted. "Base salary plus super" means the 11.5% employer super contribution is paid on top of your stated salary. "Total package" or "salary inclusive of super" means the super is included in the quoted amount and taken from it. Always clarify this when accepting a job offer, as it makes a significant difference to your actual take-home pay.

Is superannuation included in my salary in Australia?

It depends on how the salary is quoted. "Base salary plus super" means the 11.5% employer super contribution is paid on top of your stated salary. "Total package" or "salary inclusive of super" means the super is included in the quoted amount and taken from it. Always clarify this when accepting a job offer, as it makes a significant difference to your actual take-home pay.

What is casual loading and how does it affect my hourly rate?

Casual employees in Australia are generally entitled to a 25% loading on their base hourly rate to compensate for the lack of paid leave and other permanent employee entitlements. If the equivalent permanent rate is $30 per hour, a casual employee would earn $37.50 per hour. This calculator uses your actual hourly rate as entered, so include the casual loading in your rate if it applies to you.

How many hours is full-time in Australia?

Most full-time positions in Australia are based on a 38-hour standard work week under the National Employment Standards. However, many roles involve additional hours through reasonable additional hours provisions. Award and enterprise agreement conditions may also specify different standard hours for particular industries.

How is overtime calculated in Australia?

Overtime rates vary by modern award or enterprise agreement. Common overtime rates in Australia are time and a half (1.5x the ordinary rate) for the first few hours of overtime and double time (2x the ordinary rate) for subsequent hours or weekend work. Check the relevant modern award for your industry through the Fair Work Australia website.

Why does this calculator show gross pay rather than take-home pay?

This calculator converts between pay periods and formats based on your gross (before tax) pay. Calculating accurate take-home pay requires information about your individual tax situation, deductions, Medicare Levy, and other factors. For a take-home pay estimate, use this calculator to find your gross annual salary, then use the ATO's tax withheld calculator at ato.gov.au.

Know Your Pay — Plan Your Finances Better

Understanding exactly what your salary means in weekly, fortnightly, and monthly terms is the first step to building an effective budget and financial plan. Whether you are comparing job offers, planning your budget, or simply making sense of your pay, this calculator gives you the numbers you need in seconds.

Explore our other free tools to build a complete picture of your income, expenses, and financial goals.

• Budget Calculator

• Savings Goal Calculator

• Retirement Calculator