Auto Electrician Salary: Award Rates, Median Pay, and How to Calculate Your Annual Income
Based on the Fair Work Ombudsman award, an auto electrician (Electrical worker grade 5) earns a minimum of $29.45 per hour, or $1,119.10 per week for 38 hours, while the median full-time auto electrician earns $2,808 per week (49 hours) according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
Understanding an Auto Electrician Salary
If you're looking up an auto electrician salary, you'll find a wide range depending on whether you're paid the award minimum or the market median. Auto electricians install, maintain and repair electrical wiring and electronic components in motor vehicles. Their pay is covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020, which sets minimum rates, allowances, and conditions. However, many experienced auto electricians earn well above the award due to demand and overtime.
This guide explains how to convert an hourly rate to an annual salary, what the award says, what the latest ABS data shows, and how casual loading, super, and tax affect your take-home pay.
The Formula: Hourly to Annual
The standard way to estimate annual gross pay is:
Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
We assume a 38-hour week for full-time award employees, as that is the ordinary hours under the award. If you work more hours (e.g., 49 hours, the average for auto electricians), adjust the formula accordingly. The result is an estimate – it does not include overtime penalties, allowances, or salary sacrifice. For a precise calculation, use our the timesheet tool.
Award Minimum Rates for Auto Electricians
The Fair Work Ombudsman's award classifies electrical workers from Grade 1 to Grade 10. An auto electrician typically falls under Grade 5 (qualified tradesperson). From 1 July 2026, the minimum rates are:
| Classification | Minimum weekly rate (38 hours) | Minimum hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical worker grade 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 |
| Electrical worker grade 8 (advanced) | $1,283.10 | $33.77 |
These are the base rates for full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top, so a Grade 5 casual would earn $36.81 per hour. The award also includes allowances for tools, electrician's licence, and leading hand duties – these are added to the base rate for all purposes (overtime, leave, etc.).
Median Auto Electrician Salary from ABS Data
According to Jobs and Skills Australia (using ABS data from May 2025), the median full-time auto electrician earns $2,808 per week before tax. That translates to about $46 per hour based on an average of 49 hours per week. This is significantly higher than the award minimum because it includes overtime, experience, and market premiums. The median for all occupations is $1,852 per week.
If you're negotiating an auto electrician salary, the median gives you a realistic benchmark. However, remember that 86% of auto electricians work full-time, and the average full-time hours are 49 – well above the 38-hour award standard. That extra time is often paid at overtime rates (150% for the first 2 hours, 200% after that).
Casual Loading and Superannuation
If you work as a casual auto electrician, your hourly rate must include the 25% casual loading. For example, the Grade 5 casual rate is $36.81 per hour. This loading compensates for not receiving paid leave or redundancy benefits.
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. So if your annual gross is $58,193 (award minimum), your employer must contribute an extra $6,983 to your super fund. See our super and packaging page for more details.
Tax on Your Auto Electrician Salary
For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are:
- $0 – $18,200: Nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15%
- $45,001 – $135,000: 30%
- $135,001 – $190,000: 37%
- $190,001+: 45%
Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low-income earners). Using the award minimum of $58,193, your tax would be approximately $9,779 plus Medicare, leaving about $46,500 take-home. For the median earner at $146,016 ($2,808 × 52), tax would be around $35,000. Use our take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.
Fortnightly Pay
Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross, multiply your weekly pay by 2. For the award minimum: $1,119.10 × 2 = $2,238.20 per fortnight. For the median: $2,808 × 2 = $5,616 per fortnight. This can help with budgeting.
Key Takeaways
- The auto electrician salary award minimum is $29.45 per hour (Grade 5) for 38 hours.
- The median full-time auto electrician earns $46 per hour (49 hours) – much higher due to overtime and experience.
- Casual workers get 25% loading; super is 12% on top.
- Use the formula hourly × hours × 52 to estimate annual gross, then deduct tax.
- For a full breakdown, see our pay guides and reference tables.
Disclaimer: Annual pay here is 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 is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2027 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.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.