How is casual loading applied to my hourly rate?

Casual loading is an additional 25% paid on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for the lack of paid leave entitlements. For example, the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour becomes $33.05 per hour with casual loading. When using our calculator, enter your base hourly rate and check the casual loading box – do not enter a rate that already includes loading.

How does tax affect my take-home pay?

Tax is withheld from your pay using the 2026–27 resident tax scale: tax-free up to $18,200, then 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Most residents also pay a 2% Medicare levy. Our calculator estimates tax based on these rates, but does not account for HELP loans, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging.

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

Q: What is the super guarantee rate and how is it paid?

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary earnings. Super is paid on top of your gross wages – it is not deducted from your pay. The maximum contribution base is $270,830 per year, meaning super is only required on earnings up to that amount.

For a full-time employee on the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, working 38 hours a week, the annual gross pay is approximately $52,265 before tax and super.

Understanding Your Salary Advance

When you're offered an hourly rate or a salary, knowing your annual equivalent helps you compare jobs and plan your finances. This guide explains how to convert hourly pay to annual pay using the standard 38-hour week, and how casual loading and superannuation affect your total package. We call this a salary advance – a way to see the full picture before you commit.

The Basic Conversion Formula

The standard formula for annual gross pay is:

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. For example, if you earn $30 per hour:

$30 × 38 × 52 = $59,280 per year

This is your gross annual pay before tax and super. If you work part-time or irregular hours, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. The formula works for any hourly rate, but it assumes the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances.

Casual Loading: An Extra 25%

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid sick leave or annual leave. The Fair Work Commission sets the casual loading for award/agreement-free employees at 25%.

When using our timesheet, enter your base hourly rate and tick the casual loading checkbox. The calculator adds 25% automatically. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading – that would double-count the loading.

For the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, the casual rate is $33.05 per hour. Over a 38-hour week, that's $1,255.90 per week, or $65,306.80 per year before tax and super.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your gross wages. It is not deducted from your pay. The maximum contribution base for 2026–27 is $270,830, meaning super is only required on earnings up to that amount.

Using the $30 per hour example:

Annual gross: $59,280
Super (12%): $7,113.60
Total package: $66,393.60

Super is an important part of your salary advance – it's money you can't access until retirement, but it adds to your overall compensation. See our super and packaging page for more details.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

The Australian Taxation Office uses a progressive tax scale for residents in 2026–27:

$0 – $18,200: Nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% of excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30% of excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37% of excess over $135,000
$190,001+: $51,420 plus 45% of excess over $190,000

Most residents also pay a 2% Medicare levy. Our calculator uses these rates to estimate tax, but does not deduct HELP loans, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging. For a more detailed estimate, use the ATO's gross pay estimator.

Award Rates and the National Minimum Wage

From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. This applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement. Most workers are covered by an award, which sets higher minimum rates. Check the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman for your specific award.

Award rates include classifications for different roles and experience levels. They also specify penalty rates for weekends, evenings, and overtime. Our calculator does not include penalty rates – it uses a flat hourly rate.

Fortnightly and Weekly Pay

Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross pay, multiply your weekly pay by 2. For a $30 per hour employee working 38 hours:

Weekly: $1,140
Fortnightly: $2,280

This can help you budget between paydays.

Average Weekly Earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 as $2,083.70 for full-time adult ordinary time earnings, and $1,579.20 for all employees (including part-time). These figures are higher than the minimum wage and reflect the mix of occupations and experience. Use our average pay page to compare your rate.

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.

Use our timesheet to calculate your own salary advance, and consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or a tax professional for personalised advice.