Architect Salary Australia: What You Take Home After Tax and Medicare

Architect Salary Australia: Award Rates and Your Take-Home Pay

If you're an architect in Australia or considering the profession, understanding what you'll actually receive in your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy is essential. The architect salary Australia landscape is largely governed by the Architects Award 2020 (MA000079), which sets minimum pay rates for graduates, experienced graduates, and registered architects. This guide uses the latest award rates from Fair Work and the Association of Consulting Architects to show you how your gross salary translates to take-home pay.

Award Rates for Architects (from 1 July 2026)

Fair Work's Architects Award 2020 classifies employees into levels. The minimum annual salaries for full-time employees are:

• Level 1 – Graduate of Architecture
• Entry: $68,191
• 1st pay point: $71,798
• 2nd pay point: $75,401
• Level 2(a) – Experienced Graduate of Architecture: $78,838
• Level 2(b) – Registered Architect
• Entry: $78,838
• 1st pay point: $81,276
• 2nd pay point: $83,716

These rates are the minimum. Many architects earn above award, but for budgeting, start with these figures. The weekly rate for a Level 1 entry architect is $1,307.20, and the hourly rate is $34.40. Casual employees receive a 25% loading.

Calculating Your Take-Home Pay

Your take-home pay is your gross salary minus income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 tax year, the Australian Tax Office applies these resident tax rates:

• Up to $18,200: nil
• $18,201–$45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
• $45,001–$135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
• $135,001–$190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

You also get the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) if your taxable income is below $66,667. For a $68,191 salary, LITO is $325 minus 1.5c per $1 over $45,000, which works out to about $325 – $347 = nil (actually $325 – (23,191 * 0.015) = $325 – $347.87 = negative, so no LITO). For incomes above $45,000, LITO phases out.

Medicare Levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but there are thresholds for singles: if your income is below $28,011, you pay no levy; between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a shading rate of 10c per $1 over the lower threshold; above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. Most full-time architect salaries exceed $35,013, so you'll pay the full 2%.

Example: Graduate Architect (Entry Level)

Let's take a Level 1 entry graduate earning $68,191. Your tax calculation:

• Tax on first $18,200: $0
• Tax on $18,201–$45,000: ($45,000 – $18,200) × 0.15 = $4,020
• Tax on $45,001–$68,191: ($68,191 – $45,000) × 0.30 = $6,957.30
• Total income tax: $4,020 + $6,957.30 = $10,977.30
• LITO: $325 – (($68,191 – $45,000) × 0.015) = $325 – $347.87 = negative, so $0 LITO.
• Medicare levy: $68,191 × 0.02 = $1,363.82
• Total deductions: $10,977.30 + $1,363.82 = $12,341.12
• Annual take-home: $68,191 – $12,341.12 = $55,849.88
• Fortnightly take-home: $55,849.88 / 26 = $2,148.07

Your bank account receives about $2,148 per fortnight. This excludes super, which your employer pays on top.

Example: Registered Architect (Entry Level)

For a Level 2(b) registered architect at $78,838:

• Tax on $18,201–$45,000: $4,020
• Tax on $45,001–$78,838: ($78,838 – $45,000) × 0.30 = $10,151.40
• Total income tax: $4,020 + $10,151.40 = $14,171.40
• LITO: $0 (income above $66,667)
• Medicare levy: $78,838 × 0.02 = $1,576.76
• Total deductions: $14,171.40 + $1,576.76 = $15,748.16
• Annual take-home: $78,838 – $15,748.16 = $63,089.84
• Fortnightly take-home: $63,089.84 / 26 = $2,426.53

What About Super?

Your award salary is before super. From 1 July 2026, your employer must contribute 12% super on top of your base salary, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. This super is not deducted from your take-home pay; it's an additional benefit paid into your super fund. So your total remuneration package is higher than the salary figure.

Using Our Tools

To get a personalised estimate for your specific salary, use our Take-home pay calculator. You can also explore Tax and Medicare details to understand how offsets and the levy affect you. Remember, this is a guide only—your actual tax may vary if you have HELP debt, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

Key Takeaways

• The architect salary Australia award rates start at $68,191 for graduates and go up to $83,716 for registered architects.
• After tax and Medicare, a graduate takes home about $55,850 annually ($2,148 per fortnight).
• A registered architect takes home about $63,090 annually ($2,427 per fortnight).
• Super is additional and not deducted from your pay.
• Always check the latest award rates from Fair Work, as they are updated each July.

For more benchmarks, see our Benchmarks page comparing architect salaries to the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week) and average full-time earnings.