How do I calculate my annual salary from my hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52. For a standard full-time role, assume 38 hours per week. For example, $30 per hour × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $59,280 per year. If you are casual, add 25% loading first: $30 × 1.25 = $37.50 per hour, then $37.50 × 38 × 52 = $74,100 per year. Super is paid on top of your ordinary earnings at 12%.

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

Casual loading is a 25% addition to the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave (sick leave, annual leave). It applies to casual employees under most awards. For example, the national minimum wage for casuals is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 base + 25%). When you calculate salary, always add the loading to the base rate first, then multiply by hours and weeks. Use the checkbox on our timesheet to include it automatically.

How to Calculate Salary from Hourly Rate: Casual Loading and Super Explained

Q: Is superannuation included in my hourly rate or paid on top?

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings, not included in your hourly rate. Your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year) into a super fund. For example, if your annual salary is $60,000, your employer adds $7,200 in super. Our calculator estimates super separately from your gross pay.

Based on a 38-hour week, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, equating to $1004.90 per week or $52,254.80 per year before tax and super.

How to Calculate Salary from Your Hourly Rate

Whether you are an employee negotiating a pay rise or a contractor comparing offers, knowing how to calculate salary from an hourly rate is essential. In Australia, most full-time roles are based on a 38-hour week, and the formula is straightforward: multiply your hourly rate by the hours per week, then by 52 weeks. But there are important nuances: casual loading, superannuation paid on top, and tax brackets. This guide walks you through each step using the latest figures from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission.

The Basic Formula

Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52.

For a standard full-time employee working 38 hours per week, the calculation is simple. If your hourly rate is $30, your annual salary is $30 × 38 × 52 = $59,280. This assumes you work every week of the year with no unpaid leave, no overtime, and no penalty rates. It is a baseline estimate.

If you work part-time, use your actual weekly hours. For example, 20 hours per week at $30 per hour gives $30 × 20 × 52 = $31,200 per year.

Casual Loading: Add 25% First

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave (sick leave, annual leave). This loading is set by the relevant award or the National Minimum Wage Order. When you calculate salary as a casual, always apply the loading to the base rate before multiplying by hours and weeks.

Example: Base rate $26.44 per hour (national minimum wage). Casual rate = $26.44 × 1.25 = $33.05 per hour. Annual salary for 38 hours/week = $33.05 × 38 × 52 = $65,306.80.

Our timesheet includes a checkbox to add 25% casual loading automatically. Never type a rate that already includes the loading; let the tool add it for you.

Award Rates vs National Minimum Wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week, or $1004.90 per week. However, most employees are covered by an award that sets higher minimum rates. For example, the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS) has specific classifications with their own pay rates. The pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman list the minimum rates for each award, including allowances and penalty rates.

If you are award-free, the national minimum wage applies. Always check your award first using the reference tables or the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

Superannuation is not included in your hourly rate; it is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Your employer must contribute this amount into a super fund.

When you calculate salary, separate the super from your gross pay. For example, if your annual salary is $60,000, your employer adds $7,200 in super, making your total employment cost $67,200. Our calculator estimates super as 12% of your ordinary earnings, stopping at the cap.

Fortnightly Pay

Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross pay, multiply your weekly pay by 2. For a full-time employee on $30 per hour, weekly pay = $30 × 38 = $1,140. Fortnightly = $1,140 × 2 = $2,280. This is before tax and super.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Once you have your annual gross salary, you can estimate your take-home pay using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

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

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (generally). Note: the Medicare levy reduction thresholds for singles are based on 2025–26 figures as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed. Our take-home pay calculator uses these rates.

Example: Annual gross $59,280. Tax = $0 on first $18,200, then 15% on $26,800 ($4,020), then 30% on $14,280 ($4,284). Total tax = $8,304. Medicare levy = 2% of $59,280 = $1,185.60. Take-home = $59,280 – $8,304 – $1,185.60 = $49,790.40.

Using the Calculator

Our timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. It then calculates your weekly, fortnightly, and annual gross pay, plus estimated super and tax. The results are estimates only, based on the assumptions described. For a precise determination, consult your award or a qualified accountant.

Important Disclaimer

Annual pay shown 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 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.

Summary

To calculate salary from an hourly rate: multiply by hours per week (usually 38) and by 52. If casual, add 25% loading first. Super is 12% on top. Use our timesheet for quick estimates, and always check your award for the correct minimum rate.