How to Use the Seek Salary Calculator to Understand Your Take-Home Pay

Understanding the Confusion Between Gross Salary, Package, and Take-Home Pay

When you look at job ads in Australia, you often see figures like “$80,000 plus super” or “$90,000 package”. But what actually lands in your bank account? That is your take-home pay. The difference matters because of income tax, the Medicare levy, and sometimes confusion about super.

What Is a Salary Package?

A salary package often includes your base salary plus employer super contributions (12% from 1 July 2026). Some packages include extras like salary packaging, but the base is the amount you negotiate. If an ad says “$100,000 plus super”, your gross salary is $100,000. If it says “$100,000 including super”, your gross salary is about $89,285 (because super is 12% of the total).

How the Seek Salary Calculator Helps You

You can use the seek salary calculator to see your estimate after tax and Medicare. The calculator uses the 2026–27 tax brackets from the Australian Taxation Office: Nil up to $18,200, then 15c per dollar to $45,000, then 30c to $135,000, then 37c to $190,000, then 45c above. The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) reduces tax up to $37,500, with a maximum $700. The Medicare levy is 2% for most people, but with a shade between $28,011 and $35,013.

Examples Using Benchmarks

Take the national minimum wage from Fair Work: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, $52,255 annual. After tax and Medicare, your take-home is about $43,000 (exact depends on LITO). The average full-time ordinary time earnings from ABS is $2,083.70 per week, $108,352 annual. After tax and Medicare, take-home is about $78,000. The seek salary calculator can show you these numbers.

Why Super Is Not in Take-Home

Super is not deducted from your pay. It is paid by your employer on top. So when you use the seek salary calculator, enter your gross salary (the amount before super). The result is what you receive. If your ad says “plus super”, your gross is the advertised figure. If “including super”, divide by 1.12 to get gross.

Medicare Levy Thresholds

The latest published single-person Medicare thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If you earn below $28,011, you pay no levy. Between that and $35,013, you pay 10c per dollar over $28,011. Above $35,013, full 2%. The seek salary calculator applies this correctly.

Links for More Details

For a deeper look, see our Take-home pay guide and Tax and Medicare page. You can also check the Clearance tool for a quick estimate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing gross with package: Always clarify if super is included.
• Forgetting the Medicare levy: It’s 2% for most full-time salaries.
• Using wrong tax year: The calculator uses 2026–27 rates.
• Ignoring LITO: It can reduce tax up to $700.

Final Note

This estimate is not a tax assessment. It excludes HELP/HECS, surcharge, salary sacrifice, and rounding. Use the seek salary calculator as a guide, not a final figure.