How do I use the salary packaging calculator for casual rates?

Enter your base hourly rate (without casual loading) and tick the 'casual loading' checkbox to add 25%. The calculator then applies the loaded rate to the annual formula. Casual loading is paid on top of the base rate, not included in it.

What tax brackets are used in the salary packaging calculator?

The calculator uses the 2026-27 resident tax rates: 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 $190,000. Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income, with no surcharge or HELP deductions.

Salary Packaging Calculator: Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Salary

Q: Does the salary packaging calculator account for the super guarantee cap?

Yes. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top of your gross pay, but stops once your ordinary earnings reach the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Earnings above that cap do not attract super in this estimate.

This calculator converts an hourly rate to annual pay assuming a 38-hour week, then estimates tax, Medicare, and super contributions.

How the Salary Packaging Calculator Works

Our salary packaging calculator helps you turn an hourly rate into an annual salary, then estimate your take-home pay after tax, Medicare, and super. It uses the standard Australian formula: hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks. For full-time work we assume 38 hours per week, as set by the Fair Work Ombudsman. If you work different hours, you can adjust the weekly hours in the calculator.

Annual Gross Pay from an Hourly Rate

To find your annual gross pay, multiply your hourly rate by your usual weekly hours, then by 52. For example, at the minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) and 38 hours, the annual gross is $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,245.44. The the timesheet on this site does this calculation for you automatically.

If you are a casual employee, you receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate. The calculator has a checkbox to add casual loading – do not type a rate that already includes loading. The loaded rate for minimum wage is $33.05 per hour, giving an annual gross of $65,306.80.

Fortnightly and Weekly Pay

Your fortnightly pay is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. For a $26.44 hourly rate, weekly pay is $1,004.90 (38 hours), so fortnightly is $2,009.80. This can help when comparing salary offers or budgeting. The calculator shows both weekly and fortnightly amounts.

Tax and Medicare Levy

Once you have your annual gross, the calculator applies the 2026-27 resident tax rates from the Australian Taxation Office:

$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 2% of taxable income. The calculator uses the 2025-26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026-27 thresholds were not confirmed at the time of this guide. No HELP repayments, Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging deductions are included – these are estimates only.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid on top of your gross salary. For example, on a $52,245.44 annual gross, super adds $6,269.45. However, super stops once your ordinary earnings reach the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. The calculator shows this cap. For most workers, super is an extra benefit that does not reduce your take-home pay.

Award Rates and Industry Averages

The calculator is designed for any hourly rate. If you are on an award, check your classification with the Fair Work Ombudsman. The pay guides on this site link to award summaries. For industry benchmarks, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026: full-time adult ordinary time was $2,083.70 per week, and all employees total earnings (including part-time) was $1,579.20 per week. These are averages, not job medians, and may not reflect your specific role.

Using the Salary Packaging Calculator for Salary Sacrifice

While this calculator does not deduct salary packaging arrangements, you can use it to see your gross pay before packaging. Many employees use a salary packaging calculator to estimate how much they can sacrifice for items like cars or laptops. Our tool gives you the base numbers to discuss with your employer or a salary packaging provider. For more details, see our super and packaging page.

Important Notes and Limitations

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.

For further reading, see our take-home pay guide and hourly conversion page. You can also check average pay for industry figures or casual loading rules.