Pay Calculator

What is Pay?

A pay calculator converts between different pay periods (hourly, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, annual) and shows your take-home pay after income tax, Medicare levy, and super contributions.

How this calculator works

Enter your pay in any period and this calculator converts it to all others based on the standard Australian 38-hour work week (National Employment Standards). It then calculates your income tax using 2025-26 ATO brackets, subtracts the Medicare levy (2%), applies LITO if eligible, and shows your net pay. The full conversion table shows gross, tax, net, and super for every pay period — from hourly to annual.

Standard Hours Under the NES

The National Employment Standards (NES) set 38 hours as a maximum ordinary-hours week for full-time employees. Across a year (52 weeks - 4 weeks annual leave): full-time = 1,824 working hours, plus 152 hours of paid leave. Casual rates typically include a 25% loading to compensate for no leave entitlements. Modern Awards may set lower or higher base hours for specific industries (nurses 38, construction 38, hospitality often 38 but with weekend penalty rates).

Salary vs Package — Watch the Wording

'Salary $80k + super' = you get $80k cash plus $9,600 SG (12% in FY 2025-26). 'TFR $90k' or '$90k package' = $80,357 cash + $9,643 super at 12% (the super is inside the package figure). Government, banking, and senior corporate roles tend to quote package figures; entry-level usually quotes ex-super. Always clarify in offer letters — a $5-$10k confusion is common.

PAYG Withholding Mechanics

Your employer withholds tax from each pay using ATO Schedule 1 tax tables for normal income. Schedule 5 applies to bonuses, back-pay, and lump sums — usually withholds at a higher rate to avoid year-end shocks. Withholding tries to match your final yearly liability assuming income is constant. If you have multiple jobs or irregular bonuses, you may end up over- or under-withheld and reconcile at tax time.

Common Deductions From Gross Pay

PAYG income tax (16-45% marginal), Medicare Levy 2% (above $27k), Medicare Levy Surcharge 1-1.5% (if high income + no PHI), HECS-HELP marginal repayment, salary sacrifice (super + novated lease), union dues, voluntary super, child support deductions. Typical net pay for $80k salary: ~$62k take-home (~77% retention). For $150k: ~$104k (~69% retention). Higher incomes have lower retention due to progressive brackets.

Tax-Free Threshold Claim

When you start a job you complete a TFN Declaration. Claim the tax-free threshold ONLY on your highest-earning job. Why: the threshold gives you $18,200 tax-free per year — but if you claim it on two jobs, BOTH employers withhold less, you'll owe a big tax bill at year-end. Single-job earners always claim. Second-job/casual earners typically should NOT claim on the second job to avoid year-end shocks.

Pay Cycles in Australia

Fortnightly is the most common Australian pay cycle (~60% of employees), followed by monthly (~25%, more common in finance/professional), then weekly (~15%, common in trades/hospitality). Fortnightly pay produces an interesting effect: there are 26 fortnights/year (52 weeks ÷ 2), but only 12 months — so over a year you receive what feels like 'two extra fortnights' compared to a strict monthly equivalent. Many people use those 'extra' two fortnights for savings or holiday.

All calculations are performed in your browser — your data never leaves your device. Results are for general guidance only and should not be considered professional financial advice.

Built and maintained by Konstantin Iakovlev. Data sourced from the ATO and official Australian government sources.