What is the National Minimum Wage from July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive an additional 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. These rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and apply to award/agreement-free employees in the national system.

How do I calculate my annual salary from my hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week, then multiply by 52. For a standard full-time week of 38 hours, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. For example, at the National Minimum Wage: $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,254.88 per year. This is a gross figure before tax and super. You can also calculate your fortnightly pay by doubling your weekly pay.

Does the calculator include casual loading and super?

Yes, the calculator on this site includes a checkbox to add 25% casual loading on top of your base hourly rate. Superannuation is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of your gross pay, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Tax is estimated using the 2026-27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy. Remember, these are estimates only.

Salary Package Calculator: Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay Under the National Minimum Wage and Awards

Based on a 38-hour week, the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week, with casual loading adding 25% on top.

How to Use a Salary Package Calculator

A salary package calculator helps you turn an hourly rate into an annual figure, or check a salary offer against what you would earn by the hour. The basic formula is simple: multiply your hourly rate by the hours you work each week, then multiply by 52 weeks. For full-time employees, the standard week is 38 hours, as set by the Fair Work Commission and used in the National Minimum Wage. If you are paid a salary, you can also work backwards to see your effective hourly rate.

This site’s the timesheet lets you type your base hourly rate and optionally add 25% casual loading. It then shows your weekly, fortnightly, and annual gross pay, plus estimated tax and super. The fortnight figure is useful if you are paid every two weeks – just double your weekly pay.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for 38 ordinary hours. This is the minimum for adult employees not covered by an award or agreement. Casual employees get a 25% loading on top, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour.

However, most employees are covered by a modern award, which sets higher minimum rates for particular industries and roles. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides with the minimum pay rates, allowances, and penalty rates for each award. If you are under an award, your hourly rate will likely be above the National Minimum Wage. Always check your award before using a salary package calculator to ensure you are using the correct base rate.

Casual Loading and Superannuation

Casual employees receive a 25% loading to compensate for not receiving paid leave. When using the calculator, never type a rate that already includes casual loading – instead, enter your base hourly rate and tick the casual loading checkbox. The calculator will add 25% on top.

Superannuation is paid by your employer 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. This means if your annual gross pay is $60,000, your employer must contribute an extra $7,200 to your super fund. The calculator estimates super on your gross pay, but note that it stops at the maximum base.

Annualised Wages and Salaries

Some awards allow annualised wage arrangements, where you receive a fixed annual amount that covers minimum pay, penalties, overtime, and allowances. If you are on such an arrangement, your salary package calculator should compare the annualised amount to what you would earn under the award if paid by the hour. The Fair Work Ombudsman recommends reviewing annualised wages every 12 months to ensure you are not worse off.

If you are paid a salary under an employment contract without an award, your salary must at least meet the National Minimum Wage and the National Employment Standards. The calculator can help you check whether your salary equates to a fair hourly rate.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Once you have your annual gross pay, the calculator estimates tax using the 2026-27 resident tax rates:

Nil 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 over $190,000

Plus, the Medicare levy of 2% generally applies. The calculator uses the 2025-26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026-27 thresholds were not confirmed in this estimate. It does not deduct HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or salary sacrifice amounts. For a more detailed estimate, see our take-home pay guide.

Average Earnings for Context

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time as $2083.70 per week (May 2026). All employees total earnings average $1579.20 per week, which includes part-time workers. These figures can help you benchmark your salary against the broader market. Visit our average pay page for more.

Important Notes

Annual pay calculated 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. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

For more information, see our minimum wage and super and packaging pages.