Understanding 482 visa salary requirements: TSMIT and market rates

Understanding 482 visa salary requirements

If you are sponsoring or being sponsored for a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa, the 482 visa salary requirements are a critical part of the nomination process. The Department of Home Affairs requires that the salary offered meets both the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) and the annual market salary rate for the occupation.

The TSMIT and annual earnings thresholds

According to the Migration (IMMI 18/033) Instrument 2018, the TSMIT is set at $76,515 per year . This is the minimum salary you must pay a 482 visa holder, unless a higher rate is required by an enterprise agreement or the market rate. The same instrument also specifies an annual earnings threshold of $250,000 for certain high-income exemptions .

For the Core Skills stream (Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa), additional rules apply. If the nominated annual earnings are less than $180,001, the occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List and meet specific circumstances (e.g., not a low-skilled position, not in a limited service restaurant, etc.).

How the TSMIT compares to Australian benchmarks

The TSMIT of $76,515 sits between the national minimum wage and the average full-time ordinary time earnings. For context:

• National minimum wage: $52,255 per year ($26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week) – Fair Work Ombudsman from 1 July 2026.
• All employees average total earnings: $82,118 per year (includes part-time) – ABS May 2026.
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $108,352 per year – ABS May 2026.

So the 482 visa salary requirement is about 46% above the minimum wage but 29% below the full-time ordinary time average. Many skilled occupations, such as ICT professionals or engineers, have market rates well above the TSMIT, meaning your actual salary may need to be higher to satisfy the annual market salary rate test.

Determining the annual market salary rate

When nominating a position, you must demonstrate that the salary is not less than the annual market salary rate for an equivalent Australian worker. The method is outlined in Part 3 of the instrument:

• If an Australian worker performs equivalent work at the same workplace, use their pay as the benchmark.
• If no equivalent Australian worker exists, use relevant information such as job advertisements, remuneration surveys, or advice from employer associations.

Relevant information can include data from Jobs and Skills Australia, national recruitment websites, or industry surveys. The salary must also comply with any applicable fair work instrument or enterprise agreement.

Take-home pay after tax and Medicare

Once you know the gross salary, you can estimate your take-home pay using the 2026–27 tax rates. For a salary of $76,515:

• Tax: $4,020 plus 30c for each dollar over $45,000 = $4,020 + ($31,515 × 0.30) = $13,474.50
• Medicare levy: 2% of taxable income = $1,530.30 (full rate applies as salary exceeds the upper threshold of $35,013)
• Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): $325 minus 1.5c per dollar over $45,000 = $325 – ($31,515 × 0.015) = $325 – $472.73 = $0 (phased out completely)
• Net tax plus Medicare: $13,474.50 + $1,530.30 = $15,004.80
• Take-home pay: $76,515 – $15,004.80 = $61,510.20 per year, or about $2,365.78 per fortnight.

This is a resident estimate only. It excludes HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice, and payroll rounding. Use our Take-home pay guide for a more detailed calculator.

Superannuation is additional

Employers must pay superannuation at 12% (from 1 July 2026) on top of the salary. For a $76,515 salary, that’s an extra $9,181.80 per year into your super fund. Super is not deducted from your take-home pay; it’s an employer contribution. See our Super topic for more.

Key takeaways

• The 482 visa salary requirements include a minimum TSMIT of $76,515 and a market salary rate that must be at least as high as for an equivalent Australian worker.
• The TSMIT is above the national minimum wage but below the average full-time ordinary time earnings.
• For the Core Skills stream, earnings below $180,001 must meet additional occupation and circumstance criteria.
• Your take-home pay will be reduced by income tax and the Medicare levy (2% for full-time workers).

Always check the latest legislative instruments and consult a migration professional for your specific situation. For more on Australian pay benchmarks, see our Minimum wage page.