Site Manager Salary: How to Calculate Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate
For a site manager earning $45 per hour, the annual salary based on a 38-hour week is approximately $88,920 before tax and super.
Understanding the Site Manager Salary: From Hourly Rate to Annual Pay
If you’re a site manager or considering a role in construction, knowing how your hourly rate translates into an annual salary is essential for budgeting, negotiating, and comparing offers. This guide explains the conversion using the standard 38-hour week, the role of the National Minimum Wage, award rates, casual loading, and how tax and superannuation affect your take-home pay.
The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours × 52
To estimate your annual gross salary, multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. For a full-time site manager working 38 ordinary hours per week, the formula is:
Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × 38 × 52
For example, if your site manager salary is $45 per hour, your annual gross pay would be $45 × 38 × 52 = $88,920. This calculation assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no allowances. It’s a starting point; your actual pay may differ if you work additional hours or receive loadings.
National Minimum Wage and Award Rates
From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours, as set by the Fair Work Commission. This is the minimum for award-free adult employees. However, most site managers are covered by a modern award, such as the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains the minimum rates for each classification under that award. For example, a site manager classified at a higher level will have a higher minimum hourly rate than a general labourer.
The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides that summarise the minimum pay rates, allowances, and penalty rates for each award. These guides are updated after each Annual Wage Review. Always check the relevant pay guide for your award to confirm the correct minimum rate for your role.
Casual Loading and Fortnightly Pay
If you work as a casual site manager, you are entitled to a casual loading of 25% on top of the minimum hourly rate. For the National Minimum Wage, that brings the casual rate to $33.05 per hour. The loading compensates for not receiving paid leave. When using our timesheet, you can check a box to add the 25% casual loading to your base rate. Never enter a rate that already includes the loading; the calculator applies it on top.
Many site managers are paid fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross pay, multiply your weekly pay by two. For a full-time employee on $45 per hour, weekly pay is $1,710 ($45 × 38), so fortnightly pay is $3,420. This can help with budgeting if your employer pays every two weeks.
Tax and Medicare Levy
Once you have your annual gross salary, you can estimate your tax using the 2026–27 resident tax rates. The tax-free threshold is $18,200. Income between $18,201 and $45,000 is taxed at 15%, then 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Most residents also pay a Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income. For a site manager earning $88,920, the estimated tax would be approximately $18,367 plus $1,778 Medicare levy, leaving around $68,775 after tax (before any offsets or deductions). Use our take-home pay guide for a more detailed breakdown.
Superannuation Paid on Top
Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of your ordinary earnings. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12%, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Super is not deducted from your salary; it is an additional payment into your super fund. For a $88,920 salary, the employer contributes $10,670.40 in super, making the total employment cost $99,590.40. Learn more about super and packaging.
Comparing Site Manager Salaries
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026, which equates to about $108,352 per year. This figure includes all occupations, not just site managers. For construction-specific roles, the average may differ. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides and the Fair Work Commission’s database are the most reliable sources for minimum rates. Recruiter surveys often quote higher figures, but they may include bonuses or overtime. Always verify against official sources.
Using the Timesheet Calculator
Our timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and choose whether to add casual loading. It then calculates your weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and annual gross pay. You can also see an estimate of tax and super using the current rates. Remember that the result is an estimate; your actual pay depends on your specific employment conditions.
Important Disclaimer
Annual pay shown 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 hourly conversion guide and the average pay page for broader context.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.