How do I calculate my annual pay from an hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by the hours you work each week, then by 52. For a standard full-time role, assume 38 hours per week. For example, $26.44 per hour × 38 × 52 = $52,261.44 annual gross. Your fortnightly pay is roughly twice your weekly pay.

Does casual loading affect my super guarantee?

Yes, super guarantee is calculated on your ordinary earnings, which for casuals includes the 25% loading. So if your base rate is $26.44, your ordinary earnings for super are $33.05 per hour. Super is paid on top of your gross pay at 12% up to the maximum contribution base.

Understanding Salary Sacrifice vs Salary Packaging When Converting Hourly to Annual Pay

Q: What is the difference between salary sacrifice and salary packaging?

Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where you forgo part of your pre-tax salary in exchange for benefits like super contributions or a car. Salary packaging is a broader term that includes salary sacrifice and other non-cash benefits such as novated leases or childcare. Both reduce taxable income but are subject to Fringe Benefits Tax rules.

Based on a 38-hour week, your annual gross is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with super and tax estimated separately.

How to Convert Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay

When you have an hourly rate or a salary offer, understanding your annual gross pay is straightforward: multiply your hourly rate by the hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. For a standard full-time role, we assume 38 hours per week, as set by the Fair Work Commission. This gives you annual gross = hourly × 38 × 52. For example, the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour yields $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,261.44 per year (before tax and super). Your fortnightly pay would be roughly twice your weekly pay: $26.44 × 38 × 2 = $2,009.44.

But not everyone works 38 hours, and not every role is full-time. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week in May 2026, while all employees (including part-time) averaged $1,579.20 per week. This difference highlights why your own hours matter. If you work fewer hours, your annual pay will be lower, but your hourly rate may be higher due to casual loading or award rates. Note that these are averages, not medians for any specific job.

Understanding Award Rates and Casual Loading

Many employees are covered by awards that set minimum hourly rates for their industry or occupation. These award rates are higher than the National Minimum Wage. Additionally, casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate to compensate for lack of paid leave. Our the timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and check a box to add 25% casual loading. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading; the tool adds it for you.

For instance, the casual National Minimum Wage is $33.05 per hour (including loading), but if you enter $26.44 and tick the casual box, the tool calculates $33.05. This distinction is important when comparing salary sacrifice vs salary packaging arrangements, as both can affect your taxable income and super contributions.

Salary Sacrifice vs Salary Packaging: What's the Difference?

You may have heard the terms "salary sacrifice" and "salary packaging" used interchangeably, but they have subtle differences. Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where you agree to forgo part of your pre-tax salary in exchange for benefits such as a car, super contributions, or electronic devices. Salary packaging is a broader term that includes salary sacrifice but also covers other non-cash benefits like novated leases or childcare. Both reduce your taxable income, but they are subject to Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and may have caps.

When converting your hourly rate to annual pay, remember that salary sacrifice or packaging reduces your gross salary for tax purposes, but your super guarantee is still calculated on your ordinary earnings (the amount before sacrifice). The Australian Taxation Office sets rules for these arrangements. Our super and packaging page explains more.

Tax and Medicare Levy

Once you have your annual gross, you can estimate your tax using the 2026–27 resident tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income 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 generally 2% of taxable income. Note that the Medicare levy reduction thresholds used here are from 2025–26, as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed. This estimate does not include HELP repayments, Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging deductions.

For example, on the National Minimum Wage annual gross of $52,261.44, your taxable income would be roughly $52,261 (assuming no deductions). Tax would be $6,198.30 (based on brackets) plus Medicare $1,045.22, leaving an estimated net pay of $45,017.48. However, this is an illustration; your actual tax may vary.

Superannuation Guarantee

Employers must pay super guarantee of 12% on your ordinary earnings, on top of your salary. For a full-time worker on $26.44 per hour, annual super would be 12% of $52,261.44 = $6,271.37, but only up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not deducted from your pay; it's additional. When comparing salary sacrifice vs salary packaging, note that salary sacrificed super contributions count towards the concessional cap but are not part of the super guarantee.

Using Our Tools

Our the timesheet allows you to enter your hourly rate and see annual, fortnightly, and weekly estimates. For more detailed pay guides, visit pay guides. You can also explore reference tables for award rates and average pay data from the ABS. If you need to convert a salary to hourly, see hourly conversion. For casual workers, casual loading explains the 25% loading. And for job-specific pay, check job pay.

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.