How does casual loading affect my hourly rate?

Casual loading is an additional 25% on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for lack of paid leave. For example, the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 becomes $33.05 per hour for casuals. Our calculator has a checkbox to add this loading automatically.

Is superannuation included in my hourly rate?

No, super is paid on top of your gross earnings. The Super Guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base. It does not reduce your take-home pay.

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

Multiply your hourly rate by your ordinary hours per week (typically 38) and then by 52 weeks. For example, $30 per hour × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $59,280 per year. Use our [hourly conversion](/topics/hourly-conversion) tool for quick calculations.

Casual loading and super on top: from minimum wage to Victor Wembanyama salary

Annual gross pay is your hourly rate multiplied by hours per week (usually 38) times 52 weeks, with casual loading and super paid on top.

From hourly to annual: the basics

Whether you are earning the National Minimum Wage or a figure closer to Victor Wembanyama's salary, the principle remains the same: your annual gross pay is your hourly rate multiplied by the hours you work each week, multiplied by 52 weeks. In Australia, most modern awards set ordinary hours at 38 per week, so that is the figure we use in our the timesheet and throughout this guide. If your award or agreement specifies different ordinary hours, you should use those instead.

The formula in practice

Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52.

For example, an employee on the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour working 38 ordinary hours each week earns:

$26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,245.44 per year.

That is the gross figure before tax and Medicare. The same calculation works for any hourly rate. If you are a casual employee, you receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate, so the casual minimum wage becomes $33.05 per hour. That loading is added before you multiply by hours and weeks.

Casual loading and super on top

Casual loading is not a bonus; it compensates for the lack of paid leave such as annual leave and sick leave. The Fair Work Ombudsman sets the minimum casual loading at 25% for most awards. Our calculator includes a checkbox that adds this loading automatically, so you never need to type a rate that already includes it.

Superannuation is also paid on top. The Super Guarantee requires your employer to contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings into a super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. This contribution is not deducted from your take-home pay; it is an additional cost to the employer. For the National Minimum Wage example above, the employer would also contribute $6,269.45 in super (12% of $52,245.44).

Distinguishing minimum wage, award rates, and enterprise agreements

The National Minimum Wage applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement. From 1 July 2026 it is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Award rates are higher in many industries and include penalty rates, allowances, and overtime. Enterprise agreements can set different rates, but they must pass the Better Off Overall Test. Our pay guides provide the minimum rates for each award.

Tax and take-home pay

Once you have your annual gross, you can estimate your take-home pay using the 2026–27 resident tax brackets:

$0 to $18,200: nil
$18,201 to $45,000: 15 cents per dollar
$45,001 to $135,000: 30 cents per dollar
$135,001 to $190,000: 37 cents per dollar
$190,001 and over: 45 cents per dollar

The Medicare levy of 2% generally applies on top. Our take-home estimate uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed at the time of calculation. For a full-time worker on $52,245.44, tax and Medicare would be roughly $8,700, leaving about $43,545 take-home. That is $1,674 per fortnight.

Why the fortnight matters

Many Australians are paid fortnightly. Your fortnightly gross is simply your weekly gross multiplied by two. For the National Minimum Wage example, weekly gross is $1,004.90, so fortnightly gross is $2,009.80. After tax and Medicare, the fortnightly take-home is around $1,674. Knowing your fortnightly figure helps with budgeting and comparing job offers.

What this guide does not cover

This conversion assumes you work the same hours every week, with 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. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

Putting it all together

Whether you are a casual earning the minimum wage or a high-income earner with a salary approaching Victor Wembanyama's salary, the conversion from hourly to annual follows the same steps. Use our the timesheet to enter your base rate, tick the casual loading box if applicable, and see your annual, fortnightly, and take-home figures instantly. For award-specific rates, refer to the pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman.