How to Compare a Journalist Salary Offer Using Take-Home Pay
The median full-time journalist salary is $1,722 per week, but your take-home pay depends on tax, Medicare, and super arrangements.
How to Compare a Journalist Salary Offer Using Take-Home Pay
When you receive a job offer as a journalist, the headline figure – the annual salary – is only part of the story. What really matters is the amount that lands in your bank account each fortnight after tax, the Medicare levy, and any other deductions. This guide walks you through the key factors so you can compare offers on an apples-to-apples basis.
Understanding the Advertised Journalist Salary
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time weekly earnings for journalists and other writers is $1,722. That translates to roughly $89,544 a year before tax. Keep in mind this is a median – your actual offer may be higher or lower depending on experience, location, and the type of media organisation. The Average pay page has broader benchmarks for comparison.
Always check whether the salary is quoted as 'base' or 'total package'. Base salary excludes super, while total package includes the employer's super contribution. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%, so a base salary of $89,544 means your employer also pays $10,745 into your super fund – but that money is not available as take-home pay.
The Role of Super in Your Take-Home Calculation
Super is a compulsory contribution that goes into your retirement account. It is not deducted from your salary; it is paid on top. When comparing offers, convert everything to a base salary (excluding super) so you can apply the same tax and Medicare calculations. The Super guide explains how the contribution cap works.
Tax and Medicare Levy for 2026–27
Using the 2026–27 tax rates, a journalist earning $89,544 would pay:
- Tax: $4,020 plus 30c for every dollar over $45,000 = $17,383
- Medicare levy: 2% of $89,544 = $1,791
- Total deductions: $19,174
- Take-home pay: approximately $70,370 per year, or $2,706 per fortnight
These figures are estimates only. They exclude HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, and any salary sacrifice arrangements. Use the Take-home pay tool to run your own numbers.
Why Fortnightly Pay Matters
Most Australian employers pay fortnightly. Your take-home per fortnight is your annual net pay divided by 26. For the example above, that is about $2,706. If an offer seems high but the fortnightly amount looks lower than expected, check whether super is included in the advertised figure or if there are other deductions.
Comparing Offers with Different Structures
Some journalist roles are covered by the Journalists Published Media Award [MA000067] from Fair Work. This award sets minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates. If you are offered a salary above the award, you still need to check whether penalty rates (e.g., for weekend work) are included in the annual figure or paid on top. The Minimum wage page shows the national minimum of $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week – a useful floor for comparison.
Using the Clearance Tool
Once you have a few offers, plug each into the Clearance tool to see the net fortnightly amount. This tool applies the latest tax and Medicare thresholds (including the single-person Medicare thresholds of $28,011 and $35,013) and lets you factor in salary packaging or other adjustments.
Final Checklist for Comparing Journalist Salary Offers
- Confirm whether the salary is base or total package.
- Calculate the base salary (exclude super if it is quoted as total package).
- Estimate your take-home pay using the 2026–27 tax rates and Medicare levy.
- Check if the role is covered by an award and whether penalty rates are included.
- Compare fortnightly amounts, not just annual figures.
By focusing on what actually reaches your bank account, you can make a fair comparison between different journalist salary offers and choose the one that best suits your financial situation.
Questions
What is the median journalist salary in Australia?
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for journalists and other writers is $1,722, which equates to about $89,544 a year before tax. This figure is for non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate and is a useful benchmark when evaluating job offers.
How does super affect my take-home pay?
Super is paid on top of your salary at 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. If a job ad says '$89,544 plus super', the super is not deducted from your bank account – it goes into your super fund. Always check whether the advertised figure is inclusive or exclusive of super.
What about the Medicare levy?
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income for most full-time workers. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013 – if you earn above $35,013 you pay the full 2%. This is deducted from your pay along with income tax, so it directly reduces your take-home pay.