How do I use a salary calculator to check if I'm paid above the minimum?

Enter your ordinary hours and hourly rate. The calculator shows your weekly gross. Compare to the national minimum of $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. If your rate is lower, you may be underpaid. Remember that awards and agreements can set higher rates.

Does the salary calculator include superannuation?

No, super is paid by your employer on top of your ordinary time earnings at 12% from 1 July 2026. The calculator shows your gross pay before super and tax.

How does tax affect my take-home pay?

For 2026-27, resident tax rates apply with the tax-free threshold. Medicare levy of 2% applies once annual income exceeds $30,000. Use the calculator to estimate net pay after tax and Medicare, but note it excludes offsets and surcharges.

Using a Salary Calculator to Compare Your Pay with the National Minimum Wage

The adult national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, with casual loading to $33.05 per hour.

Using a salary calculator to understand your weekly packet

A salary calculator is a practical tool for comparing your pay against Australia's legal minimum. Whether you are an award-free employee, an award-covered worker, or on an enterprise agreement, the calculator helps you see where your earnings sit relative to the national floor. This guide explains the different pay concepts and how to interpret the results.

The legal minimum wage

From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour ordinary week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour. These figures come from the Fair Work Ombudsman and apply to national-system employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. The award backstop ensures that no ongoing classification in a modern award can fall below the national minimum. Introductory rates for the first six months are capped at $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

Award rates and negotiated salaries

If you are covered by a modern award, your minimum pay may be higher than the national minimum. Awards set specific classifications and pay rates, which increase by 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Enterprise agreements can also set higher rates. A salary calculator cannot tell you which award applies, but it can show whether your current pay meets the legal floor. For award-free juniors, the Fair Work Ombudsman prescribes percentages of the adult rate, ranging from $9.73 per hour for under-16s to $25.84 for 20-year-olds.

Superannuation on top

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. This is separate from your gross pay. A salary calculator typically shows your pre-super gross amount. Your total employment cost to the employer includes the super contribution. For the national minimum wage, the employer pays an additional $120.59 per week in super for a full-time adult employee.

Comparing with average earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. All employees average total earnings were $1,579.20 per week. The national minimum wage of $1,004.90 is about 48% of the full-time average. This comparison helps you see where your pay sits in the broader market. Remember that averages include many higher-paid roles, so your own rate may differ.

Tax and Medicare

For the 2026-27 income year, resident tax rates apply with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare levy is estimated at 2% once annualised ordinary gross income reaches $30,000. A salary calculator can estimate your net pay after tax and Medicare, but it typically excludes the low income tax offset, HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and the Medicare levy surcharge. Use the calculator as a guide, not as a precise determination.

Which minimum wage applies?

Most private-sector employees are in the national system. Some state public sector and local government employees, and some Western Australian sole traders and partnerships, may be covered by state awards. If you are unsure, check with the Fair Work Ombudsman or use our Which minimum wage applies guide. For detailed rate tables, see our Rate tables page.

Important notes

This site provides orientation only. It is not a pay determination, tax advice, or legal advice. Always verify your specific award or agreement. The adult weekly national minimum is the published $1,004.90 figure. Multiplying $26.44 by 38 lands 18 cents lower because of rounding in the order. Casual weekly figures on this site are the published casual hourly rate times 38 ordinary hours, with no penalty rates.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.