How do I convert my hourly rate to an annual salary?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week (usually 38 for full-time) and then by 52 weeks. For example, $30 per hour × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $59,280 per year. This is your gross annual pay before tax and super.

What is the difference between the National Minimum Wage and award rates?

The National Minimum Wage is the legal minimum set by the Fair Work Commission, currently $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026. Award rates are industry-specific minimums that may be higher. Your pay must meet whichever is higher. Casual employees also receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate.

How does salary sacrifice affect my super and tax?

Salary sacrifice contributions are taken from your pre-tax income, reducing your taxable income. They count towards the concessional contributions cap ($27,500 for 2026–27). The super guarantee is 12% paid on top of your ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. When asking how much can you salary sacrifice into super, consider your tax bracket and the cap.

How Much Can You Salary Sacrifice Into Super? A Guide to Hourly to Annual Pay in Australia

Based on a 38-hour week, your annual gross pay is your hourly rate multiplied by 38 hours per week times 52 weeks.

Understanding Hourly to Annual Conversion

When you know your hourly rate, converting it to an annual figure is straightforward: multiply by the hours you work each week and then by 52 weeks. This article assumes a standard full-time week of 38 hours, as defined by the Fair Work Ombudsman. For example, if you earn $30 per hour, your gross annual pay is $30 × 38 × 52 = $59,280. This is the starting point for understanding your take-home pay, tax, and super.

Why 38 Hours?

The 38-hour week is the benchmark for full-time employment in Australia. Many awards and agreements use this figure. If you work part-time or casual, your weekly hours may differ, so adjust the formula accordingly. The the timesheet on this site lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading.

National Minimum Wage and 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 a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. However, many workers are covered by award rates that are higher than the minimum. Always check your specific award or agreement. The minimum wage page provides more details.

Casual Loading

If you are a casual employee, your employer must pay a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave. When using the timesheet, never enter a rate that already includes casual loading; instead, tick the checkbox to add it automatically. For more, see casual loading.

Tax and Medicare

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

Nil tax on the first $18,200
15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
45% on income above $190,000

Additionally, the Medicare levy is generally 2% of your taxable income. The 2025–26 single reduction thresholds are used here because the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed. This estimate does not include the Medicare levy surcharge, HELP repayments, or salary packaging.

For a detailed breakdown of your net pay, visit take-home pay.

Super Guarantee and Salary Sacrifice

Your employer must pay super guarantee contributions of 12% of your ordinary earnings, on top of your salary. This is capped at the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For example, on a $59,280 salary, your employer would contribute $7,113.60 to super.

How Much Can You Salary Sacrifice Into Super?

Salary sacrifice allows you to contribute additional pre-tax dollars to your super fund, reducing your taxable income. The concessional contributions cap for 2026–27 is $27,500 per year, which includes both your employer's super guarantee and any salary sacrifice amounts. So if your employer pays $7,113.60, you can salary sacrifice up to $20,386.40 without exceeding the cap.

When considering how much can you salary sacrifice into super, think about your tax bracket. If you are in the 30% bracket, each dollar sacrificed saves you 30 cents in tax plus 2 cents in Medicare levy, but the super fund pays 15% tax on contributions, so the net benefit is 17 cents per dollar. However, salary sacrifice is not right for everyone—it locks money away until retirement. The super and packaging page has more information.

Average Earnings and Comparisons

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, average weekly earnings for full-time adult ordinary time employees in May 2026 were $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. All employees (including part-time) earned an average of $1,579.20 per week, or $82,118 per year. These are averages, not medians for any specific job. For job-specific pay data, see job pay.

Putting It All Together

To estimate your annual pay:

Start with your hourly rate.
Multiply by your weekly hours (assume 38 if full-time).
Multiply by 52 weeks.
Add super guarantee (12% on top, up to the cap).
Subtract tax and Medicare to get take-home pay.

Remember, this is an estimate. 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.

For a quick calculation, use the timesheet on this site. You can also explore reference tables for more data on pay rates and tax brackets.