How do I convert my hourly rate to an annual salary?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. For a standard full-time week of 38 hours, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. This gives your gross annual pay before tax and super. If you work different hours, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. The result is an estimate that assumes the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime or penalty rates.

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

Casual loading is an additional 25% paid on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave entitlements. For example, if your base rate is $26.44 per hour (the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026), the casual rate becomes $33.05 per hour. When using our calculator, you check the casual loading box and enter your base rate – do not enter a rate that already includes the loading.

Where can I find the smart salary contact number for salary packaging?

The smart salary contact number for Smartsalary, a common salary packaging provider, is 1300 476 278. You can use this number to discuss packaging options like meal entertainment cards, laptops, or novated leases. Salary packaging can reduce your taxable income, but it is not included in our pay estimates – always check with your employer or provider.

Hourly to Annual Pay: Using the Smart Salary Contact Number for 38-Hour Weeks

For a 38-hour week, annual gross pay is hourly rate × 38 × 52, with super paid on top at 12% up to the $270,830 contribution base.

Converting Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay

When you know your hourly rate, the simplest way to estimate your annual gross pay is to multiply that rate by the hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. For most full-time employees in Australia, the standard week is 38 hours. That gives you:

Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × 38 × 52

This formula assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. It is a starting point for budgeting and comparing job offers. You can also work out your fortnightly pay by multiplying your weekly pay by 2 – useful if you are paid every two weeks.

The National Minimum Wage and Award Rates

From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage set by the Fair Work Commission is $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 for a 38-hour week. This is the minimum for employees not covered by an award or agreement. However, most workers are covered by an industry or occupation award, which may have higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for each award, including penalty rates and allowances. Always check the correct award for your job.

Casual Loading

If you are a casual employee, you are entitled to a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. For the National Minimum Wage, that means $33.05 per hour. When using our timesheet, you enter your base rate and tick the casual loading checkbox – do not enter a rate that already includes the loading. The calculator will add it for you.

Tax and Medicare Levy

Your annual gross pay is not what you take home. The Australian Taxation Office applies progressive tax rates for 2026–27:

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% of the excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30% of the excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37% of the excess over $135,000
$190,001 and above: $51,370 plus 45% of the excess over $190,000

Most residents also pay a Medicare levy of 2% of taxable income. Lower-income thresholds for singles (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds) apply if your income is below a certain threshold. Our take-home pay estimate includes these estimates, but note that HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted.

Superannuation Guarantee

Employers must pay superannuation on top of your ordinary earnings at 12% (from 1 July 2026). Super is paid on top of your gross pay, not deducted from it. The maximum contribution base for the super guarantee is $270,830 per quarter. For example, if your annual gross is $80,000, your employer would contribute $9,600 as super (12% of $80,000). Our super and packaging page explains how salary packaging can affect your super.

Using the Smart Salary Contact Number

If you are considering salary packaging – such as a novated lease, laptop or meal entertainment card – you may need the smart salary contact number for providers like Smartsalary. The smart salary contact number for Smartsalary is 1300 476 278. You can call to discuss what items you can package, how the tax-free cap works, and how it affects your take-home pay. Salary packaging is not included in our calculator, so it is important to get personalised advice.

Fortnightly Pay and Weekly Comparisons

Seeing your pay in different timeframes helps with budgeting. Multiply your weekly pay by 2 for a fortnight. For a full-time employee on the National Minimum Wage, that is $2,009.80 gross per fortnight (before tax and super). You can compare this to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time of $2,083.70 per week (May 2026). The average all employees total earnings is $1,579.20 per week (including part-time).

Important Disclaimer

This estimate is a guide only. 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 uses the 2026–27 resident scale with full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–26 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. Always refer to the reference tables for official rates from the Fair Work Commission and ATO.