How to Calculate Your Traffic Controller Salary After Tax

Understanding Your Traffic Controller Salary

If you're working as a traffic controller in Australia, knowing how much actually lands in your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy is essential. Your traffic controller salary is typically set by a modern award – often the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 – and can include penalty rates for shifts, weekends, and public holidays. This guide walks you through the steps to estimate your take-home pay using current tax rates and award information.

Award Rates and Where to Find Them

The Fair Work Commission maintains a Modern Awards Pay Database that contains the minimum rates for all classifications. For traffic controllers, the Main Roads WA Traffic Management Company Registration Scheme publishes a detailed pay summary that shows base rates and penalty rates. For example, a Category A.1 Traffic Management Worker (less than 3 months experience) has a base rate of $32.00 per hour, while a Category A.3 worker (6 months or more) earns $35.67 per hour. More experienced or advanced roles can earn up to $39.00 per hour. These rates are a guide – your actual pay may differ based on your employer, location, and enterprise agreement.

Tax Rates for 2026–27

For the 2026–27 income year, Australian residents pay tax on a sliding scale. The first $18,200 is tax-free. Then:

• $18,201 to $45,000: 15 cents for each dollar over $18,200
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30 cents for each dollar over $45,000
• $135,001 to $190,000: $31,020 plus 37 cents for each dollar over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45 cents for each dollar over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which reduces tax by up to $700 for incomes up to $37,500, then phases out.

Medicare Levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but there are thresholds. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If you earn less than $28,011, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay 10 cents per dollar over the lower threshold. Above $35,013, the full 2% applies. Most full-time traffic controllers will pay the full 2%.

Example: Take-Home Pay for a Typical Traffic Controller

Let's say you're a full-time traffic controller earning $35.67 per hour (Category A.3 base rate) and working 38 hours per week. Your weekly gross pay is $1,355.46, and annual gross is $70,483.92 (rounded to $70,484).

• Tax: Using the 2026–27 brackets, tax on $70,484 is $4,020 + 0.30 × ($70,484 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $7,645.20 = $11,665.20. After LITO (which phases out completely by $66,667), you get no offset. So tax is $11,665.
• Medicare levy: 2% of $70,484 = $1,409.68.
• Total deductions: $11,665 + $1,410 = $13,075.
• Annual take-home: $70,484 – $13,075 = $57,409.
• Weekly take-home: $57,409 ÷ 52 = $1,104.
• Fortnightly take-home: $2,208.

Remember, this is an estimate. Your actual tax may differ if you have deductions, HELP/HECS debt, or salary packaging.

Superannuation Is Separate

Your employer must pay super guarantee contributions of 12% of your ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026) into a super fund. This is on top of your salary, not deducted from it. So if your salary is quoted as $35.67 per hour plus super, your take-home is based on that hourly rate, and super is additional.

Using the After-tax Salary Tools

To get a personalised estimate, use our Take-home pay calculator. You can also check the Minimum wage benchmark and see how your traffic controller salary compares to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. For more on tax and Medicare, see Tax and Medicare.

Final Notes

Always refer to your specific award or enterprise agreement for your exact pay rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award that include minimum rates and allowances. Your take-home pay will vary based on your hours, penalties, and personal circumstances. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a tax assessment.