What is the formula to convert an hourly wage to an annual salary?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week, then by 52. For a standard full-time week of 38 hours, the formula is hourly × 38 × 52.

How does casual loading affect my pay?

Casual loading adds 25% to your base hourly rate. For example, if the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, the casual rate is $33.05. This loading compensates for entitlements like paid leave.

Is superannuation included in my hourly rate?

No, super is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. Your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings to your super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830.

18 year old minimum wage: How to convert hourly to annual pay with casual loading and super

For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week, annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with super paid on top at 12%.

Converting your hourly rate to annual pay

If you earn an hourly wage, you might want to know what that adds up to over a year. The basic formula is simple: multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52 weeks. For most full-time employees, a standard week is 38 hours, as defined by the Fair Work Ombudsman. So if you earn the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, your annual gross pay would be $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,245.44.

But not everyone works 38 hours. If you work part-time or irregular hours, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. The formula remains the same: hourly × hours per week × 52. This gives you a gross annual figure before tax and other deductions.

Why 38 hours?

The 38-hour week is the standard full-time week under the Fair Work Act. Many awards and agreements use this as the base for calculating annual salaries. When you use our timesheet, we assume 38 hours unless you change it. This assumption helps you compare offers and understand your potential annual earnings.

The fortnight view

Sometimes it's easier to think in fortnights. Your fortnightly pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. For the National Minimum Wage example, weekly pay is $26.44 × 38 = $1,004.72, so fortnightly is $2,009.44. This can help with budgeting, especially if you're paid fortnightly.

Casual loading and super paid on top

Two important additions to your base hourly rate are casual loading and superannuation. They are not the same thing.

Casual loading

If you are a casual employee, you are entitled to a 25% loading on top of your base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave entitlements like annual leave and sick leave. The loading is applied to the base rate, not the other way around. For example, the National Minimum Wage for a casual is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 + 25%). When using our timesheet, you can check the "casual loading" box to automatically add 25% to your entered base rate. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading – the calculator adds it for you.

Superannuation

Super is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. Your employer must pay this into your super fund. It is not deducted from your hourly rate. For the National Minimum Wage example, the super contribution on $52,245.44 annual gross would be $6,269.45, but only up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is an additional cost for your employer and an extra benefit for you.

Tax considerations

Once you have your gross annual figure, you need to estimate tax. For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% on the excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: 30% on the excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: 37% on the excess over $135,000
$190,001 and over: 45% on the excess over $190,000

Plus, the Medicare levy is generally 2% of your taxable income. Our take-home pay tool uses these rates to give you an estimate. Remember, this is an estimate – it does not include HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging.

The 18 year old minimum wage

If you are an 18 year old starting work, your minimum wage may be different from the adult rate. The Fair Work Commission sets junior rates as a percentage of the adult National Minimum Wage, depending on your age and the award that covers your job. For example, an 18 year old might receive 70–80% of the adult rate, but the exact percentage varies by industry and award. The 18 year old minimum wage is not a single figure – you need to check your award or the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides for the correct rate. Our calculator allows you to enter any hourly rate, so you can use the junior rate that applies to you.

Using the timesheet calculator

Our timesheet, the home page, is designed to help you convert your hourly rate to annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures. Simply type your base hourly rate (without casual loading) and select the casual loading checkbox if applicable. The calculator will show you the gross annual pay, tax estimate, and super contribution. It assumes a 38-hour week, but you can adjust the hours if needed. Remember, the results are estimates – your actual pay may vary due to overtime, penalties, or other factors.

For more detailed information, check our reference tables for tax brackets and super rates, or visit our minimum wage page for the latest National Minimum Wage.

Summary

Converting hourly to annual is straightforward: hourly × hours per week × 52. For full-time, use 38 hours. Add casual loading if you're casual, and remember super is paid on top. The 18 year old minimum wage depends on your award, so check the correct rate. Use our calculator to get a quick estimate of your annual pay, tax, and super.