How do I convert my hourly rate to annual pay?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52. For a standard full-time role of 38 hours, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. This gives your gross annual pay before tax and super. If you are casual, add 25% loading first, then use the same formula. Remember that super is paid on top of this amount, not deducted from it.

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

Casual loading is an extra 25% paid to casual employees instead of paid leave entitlements. The Fair Work Commission sets the casual loading at 25% on top of the national minimum wage or applicable award rate. For example, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, so a casual employee gets at least $33.05 per hour. When converting to annual pay, apply the loading first, then multiply by hours and weeks.

Is superannuation included in my hourly rate or paid on top?

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. It is not deducted from your hourly rate or annual salary. When you see a salary figure in a job advertisement or salary survey, super is usually additional unless stated otherwise.

Salary Surveys and Your Pay: How to Convert Hourly to Annual with Casual Loading and Super

For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week, annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with super paid on top.

How Salary Surveys Help You Understand Your Hourly-to-Annual Conversion

Salary surveys are a practical way to see how your hourly rate compares with industry benchmarks. Whether you are negotiating a new job or checking your current pay, understanding the conversion from hourly to annual is essential. In Australia, the standard full-time week is 38 hours, and most salary surveys published by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics use this figure. This article explains the conversion, the role of casual loading, and how super is paid on top.

The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours per Week × 52

To estimate your annual gross pay, multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. For a full-time employee working 38 hours, the calculation is:

Annual gross = hourly rate × 38 × 52

For example, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour. A full-time employee on this rate earns:

$26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,245.44 per year (before tax and super).

If you are part-time, use your actual weekly hours. The same formula applies. Salary surveys from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that full-time adult ordinary time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week in May 2026, which is about $108,352 per year. Always check the survey’s definition—some include part-time workers, which lowers the average.

Casual Loading: 25% on Top

Casual employees receive a 25% loading instead of paid leave. The Fair Work Commission sets the casual loading at 25% of the minimum hourly rate. For the national minimum wage, the casual rate is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 × 1.25). When converting to annual, apply the loading first:

Annual gross (casual) = (hourly rate × 1.25) × hours per week × 52

For a casual on the minimum wage working 38 hours:

$33.05 × 38 × 52 = $65,306.80 per year.

Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading into a calculator that adds it again. Our the timesheet has a checkbox to add 25% loading on top of your base hourly rate.

Award Rates vs. National Minimum Wage

Many employees are covered by an award that sets higher minimum rates than the national minimum wage. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award, listing minimum pay rates, allowances, and penalty rates. Salary surveys often reference award classifications, so check the correct level. For example, the Health Services Award and the SCHADS Award have specific rates that may be higher than the national minimum. Always verify against official sources.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, paid by your employer on top of your salary or wage. It is not deducted from your pay. The maximum contribution base is $270,830 per year. For an employee earning $52,245 per year, super adds $6,269.40 (12%) on top. When reading salary surveys, check whether the figure includes super. Most surveys report base salary, with super additional. Our super and packaging page explains more.

Fortnightly Pay and Tax

Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross, multiply your weekly pay by 2. For a full-time employee on the minimum wage, weekly pay is $1,004.90, so fortnightly is $2,009.80. Tax is withheld using the 2026–27 resident rates: tax-free threshold up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above. Medicare levy is generally 2%. Use our take-home pay tool for an estimate.

Why Salary Surveys Matter

Salary surveys from the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, and Australian Bureau of Statistics give you reliable benchmarks. They help you see if your hourly rate is competitive and whether you are receiving correct award entitlements. Always cross-check a recruiter’s survey against official sources. For example, the ABS Average Weekly Earnings report shows full-time adult ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, which is a useful reference for professional roles.

Putting It All Together

Find your base hourly rate (from your award, enterprise agreement, or contract).
If you are casual, add 25% loading.
Multiply by your weekly hours (usually 38 for full-time).
Multiply by 52 for annual gross.
Super is 12% on top, up to the cap.
Tax is calculated on your gross pay.

For a quick calculation, use our the timesheet tool. It lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. The result shows weekly, fortnightly, and annual figures with estimated tax and super.

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.