What is the salary? A guide to understanding your Australian pay

Understanding your salary figure

When you ask "what is the salary", you need to know how it compares to the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week. The full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 a week, annual $108,352. The all employees average weekly total earnings are $1,579.20 a week, $82,118 a year. These are from the ABS and Fair Work.

Tax and Medicare

The 2026-27 tax rates apply: up to $18,200 nil, then 15c per $1 over $18,200 up to $45,000, then $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000 up to $135,000, then $31,020 plus 37c per $1 over $135,000 up to $190,000, then $51,370 plus 45c per $1 over $190,000. The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) gives up to $700 at taxable income up to $37,500, then phases out. The Medicare levy is 2% for full-time salaries, with a shading rule for low incomes. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. Below $28,011 you pay no levy; between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay 10c per $1 over the lower threshold.

Take-home pay calculation

Your take-home pay is what reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. Super is not deducted from take-home if the salary is advertised as plus super. For a salary of $52,255 (the minimum wage annualised), your take-home would be calculated using the tax brackets and LITO. Use our Take-home pay guide or the Clearance tool for an estimate.

Comparing to benchmarks

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, $52,255 per year. Full-time ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week, $108,352 per year. All employees average weekly total earnings are $1,579.20 per week, $82,118 per year. Your salary figure sits against these. If your salary is above $108,352, you are above the average full-time ordinary time. If below $52,255, you are below the minimum wage (unless part-time or casual).