Town Planner Salary: Hourly Rates, Annual Pay, and Super Explained
A town planner not covered by an award is entitled to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for 38 hours, with casual loading and super paid on top.
Understanding the town planner salary landscape
If you are researching a town planner salary, it helps to know the legal minimums and how to convert between hourly, weekly, and annual figures. Many town planners work in local government, private consulting, or state agencies. The award that covers you depends on your employer.
Award coverage for town planners
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, town planners employed in the local government industry are covered by the Local Government Industry Award. That award sets minimum pay rates higher than the national minimum. Town planners not covered by that award – for example, those in private consulting – are not covered by any award. They are entitled only to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards. This means their base rate is the national minimum wage unless their employer pays more.
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026
The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. This is the floor for award/agreement-free employees. If you are a town planner not covered by an award, your employer must pay at least this amount.
Converting hourly to annual: the 38-hour week assumption
To estimate your annual town planner salary, use the formula:
Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52
We assume a standard 38-hour week. For the national minimum wage:
$26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,269.44 per year (before tax and super).
If you work more or fewer hours, adjust the calculation. Our timesheet lets you enter your own hourly rate and hours.
The fortnightly pay figure
Many employers pay fortnightly. A fortnight is two weeks. For a town planner on the national minimum wage:
$1004.90 per week × 2 = $2009.80 per fortnight (before tax).
This is useful for budgeting if you are paid fortnightly.
Casual loading: 25% on top
If you work as a casual town planner, you get a 25% loading on your base rate. This is not a separate rate – it is added to the minimum wage. For the national minimum wage:
$26.44 × 1.25 = $33.05 per hour casual rate.
When using our casual loading tool, always enter your base hourly rate (without loading) and check the casual box. Never enter a rate that already includes loading.
Superannuation paid on top
Superannuation guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer on top of your salary. It is not deducted from your pay. For a town planner on the national minimum wage:
$26.44 × 0.12 = $3.17 per hour in super.
Your total employment cost is $26.44 + $3.17 = $29.61 per hour (or $33.05 + $3.97 = $37.02 if casual). Super is capped at the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. See super and packaging for more.
Tax on your town planner salary
For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:
- $0 – $18,200: nil
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15¢ for each $1 over $18,200
- $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30¢ for each $1 over $45,000
- $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37¢ for each $1 over $135,000
- $190,001 and over: $51,370 plus 45¢ for each $1 over $190,000
Plus Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low incomes). For a town planner on the national minimum wage ($52,269), tax would be approximately $4,020 + 30% of ($52,269 – $45,000) = $6,200.70, plus Medicare of $1,045.38, leaving about $45,023 after tax. Use our take-home pay calculator for your own figures.
How does this compare to average earnings?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported average weekly earnings for full-time adult ordinary time at $2,083.70 per week (May 2026). That equates to about $108,352 per year. A town planner on the national minimum wage earns well below that average. However, many town planners with experience or in local government earn award rates that are higher. Check the pay guides for the Local Government Industry Award to see classification rates.
Putting it all together
When you research a town planner salary, remember:
- The legal minimum is $26.44/hour (national minimum wage) if no award applies.
- Casual loading adds 25% on top of the base rate.
- Super is 12% on top of ordinary earnings.
- Use 38 hours per week × 52 weeks for annual estimates.
- Fortnightly pay is weekly × 2.
- Tax is based on the resident scale plus Medicare.
Our reference tables provide quick conversions. For a personalised calculation, use the timesheet.
Important note on estimates
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.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.