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

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52. For a standard full-time role, that's hourly × 38 × 52. If you work different hours, adjust the weekly figure. This gives your gross annual pay before tax and super.

What is casual loading and how does it affect my pay?

Casual loading is an extra 25% paid on top of your base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave or other entitlements. For example, if the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, a casual employee gets $33.05 per hour. Super is calculated on the casual rate, not the base rate.

How does salary sacrifice affect my super and tax?

Salary sacrifice lets you swap part of your salary for benefits like extra super contributions. This reduces your taxable income, so you pay less tax. However, your employer's super guarantee is calculated on your reduced ordinary time earnings, which may lower the compulsory super they pay. Always check the impact before starting a salary sacrifice arrangement.

Salary Sacrifice and Your Hourly to Annual Pay: Casual Loading and Super Explained

Annual pay is your hourly rate multiplied by 38 hours per week and 52 weeks, with super paid on top.

How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay (Including Casual Loading and Super)

Understanding your annual pay from an hourly rate is straightforward, but casual loading, superannuation, and tax can change the final numbers. This guide walks you through the process, explains the key terms, and shows how salary sacrifice fits into the picture.

The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours × 52

The standard way to estimate your annual gross pay is:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

For a full-time employee working 38 hours a week (the standard full-time week under the Fair Work Act), the formula becomes:

Hourly rate × 38 × 52

This gives your annual salary before tax, Medicare levy, and super. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no salary sacrifice. If you work part-time or irregular hours, adjust the weekly hours accordingly.

You can also work out your fortnightly pay by multiplying your weekly pay by two. For example, if your weekly gross is $1,000, your fortnightly gross is $2,000.

Casual Loading: What It Means for Your Pay

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of their base hourly rate to compensate for not having paid sick leave, annual leave, or other entitlements. This loading is set by the Fair Work Commission and is included in the casual rate you see advertised.

Example using the National Minimum Wage (from 1 July 2026):

Base rate: $26.44 per hour
Casual rate (including 25% loading): $33.05 per hour

If you are a casual, your annual gross is calculated on the casual rate. So:

$33.05 × 38 × 52 = $65,306.80 per year (before tax and super)

When using the timesheet, you type your base hourly rate and check the box to add 25% casual loading. Do not type a rate that already includes the loading.

Superannuation is paid on the casual rate, not the base rate. So the employer contributes 12% of $33.05 per hour, not 12% of $26.44.

Superannuation: Paid on Top of Your Gross

Under the Superannuation Guarantee, your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary time earnings into a super fund. This is on top of your gross pay**. This is not deducted from your salary; it is an extra contribution.**

The maximum contribution base for the 2026–27 year is $270,830. If your annual earnings exceed that, the employer only pays super on the first $270,830.

Example:

Annual gross (casual): $65,306.80
Super (12%): $7,836.82 added on top
Total cost to employer: $73,143.62

If you salary sacrifice part of your salary into super, your ordinary time earnings for super guarantee purposes may reduce. This can lower the compulsory super your employer pays. Always check the rules with the Australian Taxation Office before starting a salary sacrifice arrangement.

Tax and Medicare: What You Take Home

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

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15%
$45,001 – $135,000: 30%
$135,001 – $190,000: 37%
Over $190,000: 45%

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds, as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed).

Example for a casual earning $65,306.80:

Taxable income: $65,306.80
Tax on first $18,200: $0
Tax on next $26,800 ($18,201 to $45,000): 15% = $4,020
Tax on remaining $20,306.80 ($45,001 to $65,306.80): 30% = $6,092.04
Total tax: $10,112.04
Medicare levy (2%): $1,306.14
Total tax and Medicare: $11,418.18
Take-home pay: $53,888.62 per year (about $1,036.32 per week)

Salary sacrifice can reduce your taxable income, lowering the tax you pay. For example, if you salary sacrifice $5,000 into super, your taxable income drops to $60,306.80, saving you $1,500 in tax (at the 30% marginal rate). But remember, your employer's super guarantee may also decrease.

Using the Timesheet Calculator

Our timesheet lets you quickly convert your hourly rate to annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay. Type your base hourly rate, check the casual loading box if applicable, and see the results instantly. The calculator follows the formula above and includes an estimate of super and tax.

Pay Guides and Award Rates

The National Minimum Wage is the legal floor, but many industries have award rates that are higher. Check the pay guides for your industry or occupation. The minimum wage page has the latest rates from the Fair Work Commission.

If you are covered by an award, your casual loading may be different from the standard 25%. Always refer to your specific award or enterprise agreement.

Salary Sacrifice and Packaging

Salary sacrifice (also called salary packaging) is an arrangement where you give up part of your salary in exchange for benefits like additional super contributions, a car, or electronic devices. This can reduce your taxable income, but it also affects your super guarantee base and other entitlements.

For a detailed explanation, see our super and packaging page. Remember, the annual pay estimate on this site assumes no salary sacrifice. If you have a salary sacrifice arrangement, your actual take-home pay and super will differ.

A Note on Averages

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) as $2,083.70 per week for full-time adult ordinary time, and $1,579.20 per week for all employees (including part-time). These are averages, not medians for any specific job. Use them as a benchmark, not a target.

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.