What is the minimum wage for a traffic controller?

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). However, traffic controllers are typically covered by the Traffic Management Award 2020, which sets higher minimum rates. You can find the exact classification rates in the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides or the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database.

How is casual loading applied to a traffic controller salary?

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. For example, if the base rate is $30.00 per hour, the casual rate becomes $37.50 per hour. Superannuation is calculated on the loaded rate (ordinary earnings), and the loading is included in the gross pay before tax.

How do I calculate annual salary from an hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours worked per week (typically 38 for full-time) and then by 52 weeks. For example, $35.00 per hour × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $69,160 per year. Add 12% superannuation on top (up to the $270,830 contribution cap). Tax is then deducted using the 2026–27 resident tax brackets.

Traffic Controller Salary: Convert Hourly to Annual Pay with Tax and Super

For a full-time traffic controller working 38 hours per week, annual gross pay is the hourly rate multiplied by 1,976 hours (38 × 52), with super paid on top.

Understanding the Traffic Controller Salary

A traffic controller salary is typically based on an hourly rate under the Traffic Management Award 2020 or a similar modern award. The Fair Work Commission sets these minimum rates through annual wage reviews, and the Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides that list the exact figures for each classification level. For award-free employees, the National Minimum Wage applies: from 1 July 2026 it is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 ordinary hours). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual minimum to $33.05 per hour.

To find the correct rate for your role, check the pay guides on the Fair Work Ombudsman website or the Modern Awards Pay Database from the Fair Work Commission. These sources are more reliable than recruiter surveys because they reflect legally enforceable minimums.

Converting Hourly to Annual Pay

The standard formula for annual gross pay is:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

We assume a full-time week of 38 hours (the ordinary hours under most awards). For example:

Hourly rate: $30.00
Weekly pay: $30.00 × 38 = $1,140.00
Annual gross: $1,140.00 × 52 = $59,280.00

If you are paid fortnightly, simply double the weekly amount: $1,140.00 × 2 = $2,280.00 per fortnight.

This calculation assumes the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. It is a base estimate.

Including Casual Loading

Casual employees must add the 25% loading to their base rate before calculating annual pay. Using the same $30.00 base rate:

Casual rate: $30.00 × 1.25 = $37.50 per hour
Weekly pay: $37.50 × 38 = $1,425.00
Annual gross: $1,425.00 × 52 = $74,100.00

The casual loading is paid on top of the base rate, so never enter a rate that already includes the loading into a calculator – always start with the base rate.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee at 12% of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). This is paid on top of your gross salary, not deducted from it. The maximum contribution base is $270,830 per year. For the examples above:

$30.00 base rate: super = 12% × $59,280 = $7,113.60 per year
$37.50 casual rate: super = 12% × $74,100 = $8,892.00 per year

Super is not included in your take-home pay; it goes into a super fund. You can learn more about super and packaging on our site.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Your annual gross pay is subject to income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:

Nil on the first $18,200
15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
45% on income above $190,000

Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds, as 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed). No HELP, Medicare levy surcharge, or salary packaging is deducted in this estimate.

Example for a $59,280 annual gross (base rate $30.00):

Tax: $18,200 × 0% + ($45,000 – $18,200) × 15% + ($59,280 – $45,000) × 30% = $0 + $4,020 + $4,284 = $8,304
Medicare: $59,280 × 2% = $1,185.60
Net annual pay: $59,280 – $8,304 – $1,185.60 = $49,790.40
Net weekly: $49,790.40 ÷ 52 = $957.51
Net fortnightly: $957.51 × 2 = $1,915.02

For a casual earning $74,100 annual gross, the tax and Medicare would be higher, but the net pay still reflects the loading benefit.

Using the Timesheet Tool

Our the timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add the 25% casual loading. It automatically calculates weekly, fortnightly, and annual gross pay, plus estimated tax and super. It is designed for award-covered employees and uses the latest Fair Work and ATO figures.

Key Differences in Ordinary-Time Earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time at $2,083.70 per week (May 2026). This is higher than the National Minimum Wage because it includes many higher-paid occupations. For all employees (including part-time), the average is $1,579.20 per week. A traffic controller salary may fall below these averages depending on classification and experience. Use our average pay page for more context.

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.