Does casual loading apply to my paraplanner salary?

Casual loading of 25% applies if you are classified as a casual employee under a modern award. The base hourly rate is increased by 25% to compensate for not receiving paid leave. For example, the National Minimum Wage for casuals is $33.05 per hour, which is $26.44 plus 25%. Use the checkbox on our timesheet to add casual loading on top of your base rate.

How is superannuation calculated on my paraplanner salary?

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings at 12% (from 1 July 2026). It is not deducted from your hourly rate. For example, if your annual gross pay is $69,160, your employer must contribute an additional $8,299.20 in super, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Use our super and packaging page for more details.

What tax will I pay on my paraplanner salary?

For the 2026–27 financial year, tax is calculated on the resident scale: 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 that. Medicare levy of 2% applies. Our take-home pay page provides estimates, but note that HELP, surcharge, and salary packaging are not included.

Paraplanner Salary: How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay with Casual Loading and Super

For a paraplanner earning $35 per hour, the annual salary is approximately $69,160 before tax and super, assuming 38 hours per week and 52 weeks per year.

Understanding Your Paraplanner Salary: From Hourly to Annual

If you're a paraplanner or considering a paraplanner salary, you've likely seen job ads quoting an hourly rate or an annual salary. Converting between the two is straightforward, but you need to account for the number of hours worked, casual loading if applicable, and superannuation paid on top. This guide uses the latest Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission data to help you estimate your annual pay.

The Basic Conversion Formula

The standard formula to convert an hourly rate to an annual salary is:

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

Most full-time roles are based on 38 hours per week, as defined by the Fair Work Ombudsman. If you work 38 hours, the formula becomes:

Annual gross = hourly rate × 38 × 52

For example, if your paraplanner salary is $35 per hour, your annual gross pay is $35 × 38 × 52 = $69,160. This assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, and no penalty rates or allowances.

You can also calculate your fortnightly pay: weekly pay × 2. For $35 per hour, weekly pay is $1,330, so fortnightly is $2,660 before tax and super.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. However, most paraplanners are covered by a modern award, such as the Professional Employees Award or the Clerks Award. Award minimum wages increased by 4.75% from 1 July 2026, as confirmed by the Fair Work Commission.

Award rates vary by classification and experience. Use our pay guides to find the correct minimum rate for your role. If you are award-free, the National Minimum Wage applies.

Casual Loading and Superannuation

If you are a casual paraplanner, you are entitled to a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave. For example, the casual National Minimum Wage is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 + 25%).

Important: When using our timesheet, enter your base hourly rate (the rate before casual loading). Then check the box to add 25% casual loading. Do not enter a rate that already includes loading.

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings at 12% (from 1 July 2026). It is not deducted from your hourly rate. For a paraplanner salary of $69,160, your employer must contribute an additional $8,299.20 in super, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. See our super and packaging page for more.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Your take-home pay depends on tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:

$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

Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. The 2025–26 single reduction thresholds are used here because the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed. For a $69,160 annual gross, estimated tax is about $11,367 plus Medicare of $1,383, leaving approximately $56,410 take-home pay. Use our take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.

Putting It All Together for a Paraplanner Salary

Let's summarise for a paraplanner earning $35 per hour, casual, working 38 hours per week:

Base hourly rate: $35.00
Casual loading (25%): $8.75 → total hourly: $43.75
Annual gross (base only): $69,160
Annual gross with casual loading: $86,450
Super (12% on ordinary earnings, up to $270,830): $8,299.20 on base, or $10,374 on casual rate
Estimated tax (on base): ~$11,367 + Medicare ~$1,383 = $12,750
Estimated take-home (base): ~$56,410

Note that the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports average weekly earnings for full-time adult ordinary time at $2,083.70 per week (May 2026), which is about $108,352 annually. Your paraplanner salary may be above or below this average depending on experience and location.

Always check your specific award or agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay Calculator can confirm your minimum entitlements. Remember, this is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

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.