How do I convert an hourly education assistant salary to annual pay?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52. For a standard full-time role of 38 hours, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. This gives your annual gross salary before tax and super. Remember that super is paid on top of this amount.

Does casual loading apply to an education assistant salary?

Yes, if you are employed as a casual education assistant, you are entitled to a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate. This loading is intended to compensate for not receiving paid leave. On the timesheet page, you can check a box to add 25% casual loading to your base rate before calculating annual pay.

What tax and super should I expect on an education assistant salary?

For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above $190,000. Medicare levy is generally 2%. Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid on top by your employer, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. These are estimates and do not include HELP repayments or the Medicare levy surcharge.

Education Assistant Salary: How to Convert Hourly to Annual Pay

For a full-time education assistant working 38 hours per week, annual gross pay is the hourly rate multiplied by 38 then by 52, with super paid on top.

Understanding Your Education Assistant Salary

If you’re an education assistant in Australia, you may be paid an hourly rate or offered an annual salary. Converting between the two helps you compare job offers and understand your total compensation. This guide explains how to calculate annual pay from an hourly rate, what the National Minimum Wage means for your role, and how award rates, casual loading, tax, and super affect your take-home pay.

The Basic Formula: Hourly to Annual

The standard way to convert an hourly rate to annual gross pay is:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For a full-time education assistant working 38 hours per week (the standard full-time week under the Fair Work Act), the formula becomes:

Hourly rate × 38 × 52

This gives your annual salary before tax and before super. For example, if your hourly rate is $30, your annual gross pay would be $30 × 38 × 52 = $59,280.

If you work part-time, use your actual weekly hours. The calculator on the timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and choose whether to include casual loading.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage set by the Fair Work Commission is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Casual employees receive an additional 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. However, most education assistants are covered by an award – such as the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 – which may set higher minimum rates. Always check the applicable award for your classification and experience level.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that the average full-time adult ordinary time earnings in the education and training industry were $2,197.90 per week as of May 2026. This is an industry average, not a median for the education assistant job. Your actual pay may differ based on your employer, location, and years of service.

Casual Loading and Your Pay

If you work as a casual education assistant, you are entitled to a 25% loading on your base hourly rate. This loading is meant to compensate for not receiving paid sick leave or annual leave. When using the timesheet, you can check a box to add 25% casual loading on top of your base rate. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading – the tool will add it for you.

For example, if your base award rate is $28 per hour, the casual rate would be $28 × 1.25 = $35 per hour. Your annual gross pay as a casual would then be $35 × 38 × 52 = $69,160.

Fortnightly Pay: A Handy Comparison

Many education assistants are paid fortnightly. To find your gross fortnightly pay, simply multiply your weekly pay by two. Using the example above, weekly pay at $30 per hour for 38 hours is $1,140, so fortnightly gross is $2,280. This can help you budget between paydays.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions 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. Super is not deducted from your salary; it is an additional payment made into your super fund. For an annual gross salary of $59,280, the super contribution would be $7,113.60 per year.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Your take-home pay depends on your total taxable income and the tax rates for the 2026–27 financial year. The resident tax rates are:

$0 – $18,200: Nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15 cents for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30 cents for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37 cents for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001 and over: $51,370 plus 45 cents for each $1 over $190,000

In addition, the Medicare levy is generally 2% of your taxable income. The thresholds used here are based on the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds, as the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed at the time of this guide. HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not included in these estimates.

For a more detailed breakdown of your net pay, see the take-home pay page.

Award Rates and Your Specific Role

Education assistants may be covered by different classifications under the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award. The award sets minimum hourly rates based on the level of responsibility and qualifications. For example, a Level 1 education assistant may have a lower minimum rate than a Level 3 or 4. Check your award or enterprise agreement for the exact rate that applies to you. The pay guides page has links to Fair Work Ombudsman resources.

If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, your rate may be higher than the award. Always use your actual base rate when calculating annual pay.

Using the Timesheet Calculator

The timesheet on this site is designed to help you convert your hourly rate to annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures. Simply enter your base hourly rate (without casual loading) and check the box if you are a casual employee. The calculator will show your gross annual pay, super contribution, and estimated tax based on the 2026–27 rates. Remember that this is an estimate – it assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice.

Important Disclaimer

Annual pay shown here is calculated as 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.

For more reference tables and data, visit the reference tables page. To understand how your pay compares to industry averages, see the average pay page. The minimum wage page has details on the National Minimum Wage and award rates.

Summary

Use the formula: hourly rate × hours per week × 52 to get annual gross.
For full-time, assume 38 hours per week.
Casual employees get 25% loading on top of the base rate.
Super is 12% paid on top of ordinary earnings.
Tax is based on the 2026–27 resident rates plus Medicare levy.
The education and training industry average of $2,197.90 per week is an average, not a median for your job.

By understanding these components, you can better evaluate your education assistant salary and plan your finances.