What is the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026?

The Fair Work Commission sets the National Minimum Wage at $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. This is the base rate for adult employees not covered by an award or agreement.

How does casual loading affect my hourly rate?

Casual employees receive an extra 25% on top of the base rate. For the National Minimum Wage, that works out to $33.05 per hour. The loading compensates for not receiving paid leave.

Is superannuation included in the hourly rate?

No, super is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. It is not part of your take-home pay.

Hourly to Annual Pay: Casual Loading, Super, and the Highest AFL Salary

For a full-time employee on the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, working 38 hours per week, annual gross pay is approximately $52,254.40 before tax and super.

The Basic Formula

Converting an hourly rate to an annual salary is straightforward: multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52 weeks. Most full-time roles in Australia are based on a 38-hour week, as set by the Fair Work Commission. So the formula becomes:

Annual gross pay ≈ hourly rate × 38 × 52

This gives you the gross annual figure before tax, Medicare levy, and superannuation. For example, at the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, the calculation is $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,254.40 per year.

If you are paid fortnightly, your gross fortnightly pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. Using the same example, weekly pay is $1004.90, so fortnightly pay is $2009.80.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

The National Minimum Wage applies to employees who are not covered by an award or enterprise agreement. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour or $1004.90 per week. However, most employees are covered by an award that sets higher minimum rates for their industry and role. You can find the correct award rate using our pay guides or the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool.

Award rates often include classifications based on skill level and experience. They also specify penalty rates for overtime, weekends, and public holidays. The National Minimum Wage is the floor – you cannot be paid less than this unless you are a junior, apprentice, or have a disability (special minimum wages apply).

Casual Loading Explained

Casual employees are paid a loading on top of the base rate to compensate for not receiving paid annual leave, sick leave, or public holidays. The standard casual loading is 25%. This means if your base hourly rate is $26.44, your casual rate is $33.05 per hour.

When using the timesheet, you enter your base hourly rate, not the rate including casual loading. If you are a casual, check the box to add 25% loading. The calculator will then apply the loading automatically. Never enter a rate that already includes the loading, as that would double-count it.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Superannuation is an additional payment your employer makes into your super fund. It is not deducted from your hourly rate. The super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year (2026–27). For most employees, this means your employer pays an extra 12% on top of your gross pay.

For example, on the National Minimum Wage annual gross of $52,254.40, the super contribution would be $6270.53 per year (12% of $52,254.40), assuming you are below the cap. This money is invested for your retirement and is not part of your take-home pay.

Putting It All Together: Example

Let's say you are a casual employee on an award rate of $30.00 per hour (base). You work 38 hours per week.

Base hourly: $30.00
Casual loading (25%): $7.50
Casual hourly rate: $37.50
Weekly pay: $37.50 × 38 = $1425.00
Fortnightly pay: $1425.00 × 2 = $2850.00
Annual gross: $1425.00 × 52 = $74,100.00
Super (12%): $8892.00 per year (paid on top)

Tax on $74,100 using 2026–27 resident rates: $18,200 tax-free, then 15% on the next $26,800 ($4020), then 30% on the remaining $29,100 ($8730). Total tax = $12,750. Medicare levy (2%) = $1482. Estimated take-home pay = $74,100 – $12,750 – $1482 = $59,868 per year, or about $1151 per week.

A Note on the Highest AFL Salary

While the highest AFL salary is a matter of public record and far exceeds typical wages – often over $1 million per year – this article focuses on the common calculations for most employees. The same formula applies: hourly rate × hours per week × 52. However, AFL players are covered by their own enterprise agreement and have different conditions. For the vast majority of workers, the National Minimum Wage and award rates are the relevant benchmarks.

Using Our Tools

Our the timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and toggle casual loading. It calculates weekly, fortnightly, and annual pay, plus estimated tax and super. For award-specific rates, refer to our pay guides or the Fair Work Ombudsman's resources. Remember that this is an estimate – actual pay may vary due to overtime, allowances, salary sacrifice, or other factors.

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.