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What Can I Salary Sacrifice? A Guide to Hourly to Annual Pay in Australia
Based on a 38-hour week, your annual salary is your hourly rate multiplied by 1,976 hours, with super paid on top and tax deducted according to the 2026–27 resident scale.
Understanding Your Hourly to Annual Pay
When you have an hourly rate or a salary offer, converting it to an annual figure helps you compare jobs and plan your budget. The standard formula used across Australia is:
Annual gross pay ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52
This assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. For a full-time employee, the typical week is 38 hours (the ordinary hours under the Fair Work Act). So if you earn $30 per hour and work 38 hours a week, your annual gross pay would be:
$30 × 38 × 52 = $59,280
If you are a casual employee, you usually receive a 25% loading on top of your base hourly rate. The calculator on the timesheet lets you check a box to add casual loading. Never type a rate that already includes casual loading – the calculator adds it for you. For example, the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour. With casual loading, that becomes $33.05 per hour. Your annual gross as a casual would be:
$33.05 × 38 × 52 = $65,318.80
Fortnightly Pay
Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your gross fortnightly pay, multiply your weekly pay by 2. Using the example above:
Weekly pay: $33.05 × 38 = $1,255.90 Fortnightly pay: $1,255.90 × 2 = $2,511.80
This can help you reconcile your payslips and plan your expenses.
Superannuation Is Paid on Top
Super guarantee is currently 12% of your ordinary earnings, and it is paid on top of your gross pay. It is not deducted from your hourly rate. For the National Minimum Wage, the maximum super contribution base is $270,830 per year. If your annual ordinary earnings exceed that amount, super only applies up to that limit. In the calculator, super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, but remember that if you earn above the cap, your actual super will be capped.
Tax and Take-Home Pay
Your take-home pay after tax depends on the 2026–27 resident tax rates. The tax-free threshold is $18,200. Then:
- 15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000)
- 30% on the next $90,000 (up to $135,000)
- 37% on the next $55,000 (up to $190,000)
- 45% on anything above $190,000
Medicare levy is generally 2% of your taxable income. The Medicare reduction thresholds for 2026–27 were not confirmed, so the calculator uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds for single people. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
What can I salary sacrifice? Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where you give up part of your pre-tax salary in exchange for benefits such as additional super contributions, a car lease, or electronic devices. It reduces your taxable income, which can lower the tax you pay. However, the annual conversion on this site assumes no salary sacrifice. If you salary sacrifice, your actual gross pay for tax purposes will be lower than the figure calculated here. For more details on how salary packaging affects your super and tax, see our super and packaging guide.
Award Rates and the National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for a full-time employee working 38 hours. That gives a weekly wage of $1,004.90 and an annual gross of $52,254.80. For casuals, the minimum is $33.05 per hour including loading.
Award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission for specific industries and occupations. They are often higher than the minimum wage. If you are covered by an award, your hourly rate must be at least the award rate. The conversion formula still applies, but you should use your actual award rate. The calculator on the timesheet can help you see the annual equivalent.
Casual Loading Explained
Casual loading compensates casual employees for not receiving paid leave (sick leave, annual leave) and other entitlements. The standard loading is 25% of the base hourly rate. This loading is part of your ordinary earnings, so super is calculated on the loaded rate. For example, if your base rate is $30, your casual rate is $37.50, and super is 12% of $37.50 = $4.50 per hour, paid on top.
To see how casual loading affects your annual pay, use the checkbox on the timesheet. It adds 25% to the base rate you enter.
Using the Reference Tables
For more detailed pay data, visit our reference tables which include award classifications and industry averages. The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes Average Weekly Earnings. As of May 2026, full-time adult ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 per week. That is an average across all industries, not the median for your specific job. Similarly, all employees total earnings (including part-time) averaged $1,579.20 per week.
Important Disclaimer
The annual pay shown here is an estimate based on your 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 uses 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 more on how your pay compares to industry benchmarks, see our average pay page. And if you want to understand the difference between hourly and annual rates, check the hourly conversion guide.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.