How does casual loading affect my annual salary conversion?

Casual loading is an additional 25% on top of the base hourly rate, as set by the Fair Work Ombudsman. When converting to annual pay, you should apply the loading first: for example, a $26.44 base rate becomes $33.05 per hour. Then multiply by hours per week and 52 weeks. Our calculator includes a checkbox to add casual loading automatically, so you never need to type a rate that already includes it.

What is the fortnightly equivalent of my hourly rate?

Fortnightly pay is simply weekly pay multiplied by 2. For a full-time employee on 38 hours per week at $26.44 per hour, weekly pay is $1004.90, so fortnightly is $2009.80 before tax. This is useful for budgeting or comparing salary packages that quote fortnightly amounts.

How is superannuation calculated on top of my annual salary?

Superannuation Guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your salary. For 2026-27, the maximum contribution base is $270,830. So if your annual gross is $60,000, super adds $7,200. Our estimate shows super separately because it is not part of your take-home pay.

Call Smart Salary: Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay in Australia

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 annually before tax and super.

Call Smart Salary: Understand Your Hourly to Annual Conversion

When you’re comparing job offers or planning your finances, it pays to call smart salary—that is, use official, up-to-date figures to convert your hourly rate into annual, fortnightly, and weekly amounts. This guide walks you through the simple formula, explains the key differences between minimum wages, award rates, and casual loading, and shows how tax and super fit in.

The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours per Week × 52

The standard way to estimate annual gross pay is:

Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

We assume a 38-hour week, which is the ordinary hours for full-time employees under the Fair Work Act. If you work fewer or more hours, adjust accordingly. For example, a part-time employee working 20 hours per week at $30 per hour would have an annual gross of $30 × 20 × 52 = $31,200.

Why 38 Hours? The National Minimum Wage and Award Rates

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week, or $1004.90 per week. This is the base rate for employees not covered by an award or agreement. However, most workers are covered by an award, which sets higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for each award, including penalty rates and allowances.

Casual Loading: Always Add 25% on Top

Casual employees are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate, as compensation for not receiving paid leave. For the national minimum wage, that means $33.05 per hour. Never type a rate that already includes casual loading into our calculator—use the checkbox to add it automatically. This ensures your conversion is accurate.

Fortnightly Pay: A Handy Benchmark

Many employers pay fortnightly. To get your fortnightly gross, simply double your weekly pay. Using the national minimum wage:

Weekly: $1004.90
Fortnightly: $2009.80

This is useful when comparing salary packages that quote fortnightly amounts. Our reference tables include pre-calculated fortnightly figures for common rates.

Distinguishing Minimum Wage, Award Rates, and Average Earnings

National Minimum Wage: $26.44/hr (adult, award/agreement-free)
Award rates: Vary by industry and classification. For example, the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS) has specific rates, with an initial increase of up to 15% from 1 December 2026 for home care disability employees.
Average Weekly Earnings: The ABS reports full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2083.70 per week (May 2026). This is much higher than the minimum because it includes experienced workers and overtime.

Tax and Medicare: What Comes Off Your Gross

For the 2026-27 financial year, resident tax rates are:

$0 – $18,200: Nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15%
$45,001 – $135,000: 30%
$135,001 – $190,000: 37%
Over $190,000: 45%

Plus, the Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. Our take-home pay calculator uses these rates, but note that the Medicare levy reduction thresholds for singles are based on 2025-26 figures as 2026-27 thresholds were not confirmed at the time of this guide.

Superannuation: Paid on Top, Not Deducted

Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee of 12% of your ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. For example, if your annual gross is $60,000, super adds $7,200. This is separate from your salary—it goes into your super fund. Our super and packaging page explains how salary sacrifice can affect this.

Putting It All Together: A Worked Example

Let’s say you’re a casual employee on the SCHADS Award with a base rate of $30 per hour. You work 38 hours per week.

Add casual loading: $30 × 1.25 = $37.50 per hour
Weekly gross: $37.50 × 38 = $1425.00
Fortnightly gross: $1425.00 × 2 = $2850.00
Annual gross: $1425.00 × 52 = $74,100.00
Super (12%): $74,100 × 0.12 = $8,892.00 (but capped if above $270,830)
Estimated tax (2026-27): On $74,100, tax is approximately $13,617 plus Medicare $1,482, leaving about $59,001 take-home.

This is an estimate—actual pay may differ due to unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice.

Why Call Smart Salary?

Calling smart salary means using authoritative sources—Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Australian Taxation Office—rather than recruiter surveys or outdated figures. Our hourly conversion tool and minimum wage page are updated with the latest official rates.

Important 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 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.