Mechanical fitter salary: what changes your fortnightly take-home pay

How your mechanical fitter salary is set

Your mechanical fitter salary is not a single fixed figure. It depends on the award or enterprise agreement that covers your role, your classification level, your experience, and your location. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award that list minimum hourly rates, allowances, and penalty rates. For example, mechanical fitters are commonly covered by the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020, but you should always check the specific award that applies to your job.

If no award covers you, the National Minimum Wage applies: $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026. Most mechanical fitters earn above this minimum, but the exact amount varies. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool can help you find the correct rate for your classification.

What changes your fortnight: tax brackets and Medicare

Once you know your mechanical fitter salary, your take-home pay depends on income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:

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

You may also be entitled to the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which reduces your tax by up to $700 if your taxable income is $37,500 or less, then phases out. The Medicare levy adds 2% on top, unless your income is below the single thresholds of $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper).

Example take-home calculation

Suppose your mechanical fitter salary is $80,000 per year. Here is how your fortnightly take-home would be estimated (before any salary sacrifice or HELP/HECS deductions):

• Annual gross: $80,000
• Tax on $80,000: $4,020 + 0.30 × ($80,000 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $10,500 = $14,520
• LITO: $325 – 0.015 × ($80,000 – $45,000) = $325 – $525 = nil (LITO fully phases out above $66,667)
• Medicare levy: 2% × $80,000 = $1,600
• Total deductions: $14,520 + $1,600 = $16,120
• Annual take-home: $80,000 – $16,120 = $63,880
• Fortnightly take-home: $63,880 ÷ 26 = $2,456.92

This is an illustration only. Your actual take-home will depend on your exact salary, any allowances, and your personal circumstances. Use the Take-home pay guide for a more detailed calculator.

The role of super

Superannuation is not deducted from your take-home pay. From 1 July 2026, your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings into your super fund, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. If your job advertisement says a salary of $80,000 plus super, your employer pays an extra $9,600 into super. Your take-home is based on the $80,000 salary, not the super amount.

If you salary sacrifice some of your pre-tax salary into super, your taxable income reduces, which can lower your tax and Medicare levy. However, that also reduces your take-home pay because the sacrificed amount goes into super instead of your bank account.

Key benchmarks to keep in mind

• National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week (Fair Work Ombudsman, from 1 July 2026)
• All employees average weekly total earnings: $1,579.20 (ABS, May 2026, includes part-time)
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week (ABS, May 2026, excludes overtime and employer super)
• Medicare levy single thresholds: $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper) – the latest published figures

Your mechanical fitter salary may be above or below these averages. The only way to know your exact take-home is to apply the tax rates and Medicare levy to your specific income. For more on how tax and Medicare interact, see Tax and Medicare.

Remember: this is a guide, not a tax assessment. Always consult the ATO or a registered tax agent for your personal situation.