Key findings
- The 1 July 2026 tax cut is worth at most $268 a year ($5.15 a week), reached by every resident earning $45,000 or more. The legislated second cut on 1 July 2027 doubles that to $536 a year against 2025-26.
- A full-time worker on the National Minimum Wage ($52,255 a year) takes home $45,230 in 2026-27; on the average full-time salary ($108,352) take-home is $83,159. The average full-time wage is 2.07 times the minimum wage.
- The full-time median ($90,532) is 16.4% below the full-time average, because a minority of very high earners lift the mean.
- Of the 30 modern awards we track, the highest entry-level adult rate is Aged Care Award 2010 (Direct care — level 1 (Introductory)) at $32.61 an hour, 23.3% above the minimum wage; the lowest are Hospitality Industry (General) and Restaurant Industry at $26.44, exactly the minimum wage (the Fitness Industry Level 1, Horticulture Level 1, Live Performance Level 1 — Production and Support Staff 1 (induction/training), Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations C14 / V1, Meat Industry MI 1, Miscellaneous Level 1, Pastoral FLH1, Timber Industry General Timber — Level 1 induction rate is lower, $25.74, but applies only for the first 38 hours).
- A minimum-wage worker needs 43.7 hours to take home $1,000; an average full-time earner needs 23.8.
- Graduate teacher pay ranges from $79,589 (VIC) to $96,180 (NT) depending on the state.
Take-home pay at every salary: 2025-26 vs 2026-27
From 1 July 2026 the tax rate on income between $18,201 and $45,000 fell from 16% to 15%. Nothing else in the resident scale moved, so the cut is a flat $268 a year for everyone earning $45,000 or more, and less below that. A second legislated cut, to 14% from 1 July 2027, adds the same again. The table shows income tax (after the low income tax offset) plus the Medicare levy, and what is left.
| Salary | Tax + Medicare 2025-26 | Take-home 2025-26 | Tax + Medicare 2026-27 | Take-home 2026-27 | Gain / year | Gain / week | Take-home 2027-28* | Avg rate 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $0 | $20,000 | $0 | $20,000 | $0 | $0.00 | $20,000 | 0.0% |
| $25,000 | $388 | $24,612 | $320 | $24,680 | +$68 | +$1.31 | $24,748 | 1.3% |
| $30,000 | $1,387 | $28,613 | $1,269 | $28,731 | +$118 | +$2.27 | $28,849 | 4.2% |
| $35,000 | $2,687 | $32,313 | $2,519 | $32,481 | +$168 | +$3.23 | $32,649 | 7.2% |
| $40,000 | $3,713 | $36,287 | $3,495 | $36,505 | +$218 | +$4.19 | $36,723 | 8.7% |
| $45,000 | $4,863 | $40,137 | $4,595 | $40,405 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $40,673 | 10.2% |
| $50,000 | $6,538 | $43,462 | $6,270 | $43,730 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $43,998 | 12.5% |
| $55,000 | $8,213 | $46,787 | $7,945 | $47,055 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $47,323 | 14.4% |
| $60,000 | $9,888 | $50,112 | $9,620 | $50,380 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $50,648 | 16.0% |
| $65,000 | $11,563 | $53,437 | $11,295 | $53,705 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $53,973 | 17.4% |
| $70,000 | $13,188 | $56,812 | $12,920 | $57,080 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $57,348 | 18.5% |
| $75,000 | $14,788 | $60,212 | $14,520 | $60,480 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $60,748 | 19.4% |
| $80,000 | $16,388 | $63,612 | $16,120 | $63,880 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $64,148 | 20.2% |
| $90,000 | $19,588 | $70,412 | $19,320 | $70,680 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $70,948 | 21.5% |
| $100,000 | $22,788 | $77,212 | $22,520 | $77,480 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $77,748 | 22.5% |
| $110,000 | $25,988 | $84,012 | $25,720 | $84,280 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $84,548 | 23.4% |
| $120,000 | $29,188 | $90,812 | $28,920 | $91,080 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $91,348 | 24.1% |
| $130,000 | $32,388 | $97,612 | $32,120 | $97,880 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $98,148 | 24.7% |
| $135,000 | $33,988 | $101,012 | $33,720 | $101,280 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $101,548 | 25.0% |
| $150,000 | $39,838 | $110,162 | $39,570 | $110,430 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $110,698 | 26.4% |
| $175,000 | $49,588 | $125,412 | $49,320 | $125,680 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $125,948 | 28.2% |
| $190,000 | $55,438 | $134,562 | $55,170 | $134,830 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $135,098 | 29.0% |
| $200,000 | $60,138 | $139,862 | $59,870 | $140,130 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $140,398 | 29.9% |
| $250,000 | $83,638 | $166,362 | $83,370 | $166,630 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $166,898 | 33.3% |
| $300,000 | $107,138 | $192,862 | $106,870 | $193,130 | +$268 | +$5.15 | $193,398 | 35.6% |
* 2027-28 uses the legislated 14% rate on the same thresholds; it is law but not yet in force. Australian resident for the full year, no HECS/HELP, no Medicare levy surcharge, no deductions. Medicare levy low-income thresholds are the latest the ATO has published (2025-26) for all three years, so the gain column isolates the rate cut. See any salary in full on take-home pay by salary or use the take-home pay calculator.
Download this table (CSV): Take-home pay by salary, 2025-26 vs 2026-27 (and legislated 2027-28)
Minimum wage vs median vs average earnings
The National Minimum Wage rose 4.75% on 1 July 2026 to $1,004.90 a week. The average full-time wage is 2.07 times that. The median sits between the two because the average is lifted by a small number of very high earners, and the all-employee figures include part-time workers.
| Measure | Weekly | Yearly | Hourly | Take-home 2026-27 | × minimum wage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Minimum Wage (full-time, 38 hours) | $1,004.90 | $52,255 | $26.44 | $45,230 | 1.00 | Fair Work Commission, Annual Wage Review 2026 [2026] FWCFB 3500, from 1 July 2026 |
| Median earnings, all employees (incl. part-time) | $1,425.00 | $74,100 | $42.90 | $59,868 | 1.42 | ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025 |
| Average earnings, all employees (total earnings) | $1,579.20 | $82,118 | — | $65,321 | 1.57 | ABS Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026 |
| Median earnings, full-time employees | $1,741.00 | $90,532 | $45.82 | $71,041 | 1.73 | ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025 |
| Average full-time earnings (AWOTE) | $2,083.70 | $108,352 | $54.83 | $83,159 | 2.07 | ABS Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026 |
Yearly = weekly × 52. Hourly for full-time measures = yearly ÷ 1,976 (38 × 52); the all-employee median hourly figure is the ABS's own. Take-home applies the 2026-27 resident engine to the yearly figure. More on the minimum wage and average salary by state, industry and age.
Download this table (CSV): Minimum wage vs median vs average earnings
30 award minimums, ranked
The entry-level adult rate in each modern award we publish verified tables for, from 1 July 2026 — the rate a new adult starter is most likely to be on. Most sit a little above the minimum wage; aged care and nursing sit well above it after the Fair Work Commission's work value decisions.
| # | Award | Classification | Hourly | Weekly | Yearly | vs minimum wage | Take-home 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aged Care Award 2010 MA000018 | Direct care — level 1 (Introductory) | $32.61 | $1,239.00 | $64,428 | +23.3% | $53,324 |
| 2 | Nurses Award 2020 MA000034 | Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 1 | $32.09 | $1,219.50 | $63,414 | +21.4% | $52,651 |
| 3 | Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 MA000020 | Level 1(a) (CW/ECW 1) | $28.44 | $1,080.65 | $56,194 | +7.6% | $47,849 |
| 4 | Security Services Industry Award 2020 MA000016 | Security Officer Level 1 | $28.42 | $1,080.10 | $56,165 | +7.5% | $47,830 |
| 5 | Legal Services Award 2020 MA000116 | Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative | $28.24 | $1,073.10 | $55,801 | +6.8% | $47,588 |
| 6 | Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2020 MA000036 | Plumbing worker Level 1(a) — new entrant | $27.97 | $1,062.71 | $55,261 | +5.8% | $47,229 |
| 7 | Fast Food Industry Award 2020 MA000003 | Level 1 | $27.81 | $1,056.80 | $54,954 | +5.2% | $47,024 |
| 8 | General Retail Industry Award 2020 MA000004 | Level 1 | $27.81 | $1,056.80 | $54,954 | +5.2% | $47,024 |
| 9 | Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020 MA000005 | Level 1 | $27.81 | $1,056.80 | $54,954 | +5.2% | $47,024 |
| 10 | Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 MA000012 | Pharmacy assistant level 1 | $27.81 | $1,056.80 | $54,954 | +5.2% | $47,024 |
| 11 | Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 MA000100 | SACS Level 1 pay point 1 | $27.55 | $1,046.90 | $54,439 | +4.2% | $46,682 |
| 12 | Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 MA000025 | Electrical worker grade 1 | $27.53 | $1,046.31 | $54,408 | +4.1% | $46,661 |
| 13 | Mining Industry Award 2020 MA000011 | Entry level (Introductory) | $27.53 | $1,046.31 | $54,408 | +4.1% | $46,661 |
| 14 | Local Government Industry Award 2020 MA000112 | Level 1 | $27.11 | $1,030.10 | $53,565 | +2.5% | $46,101 |
| 15 | Cleaning Services Award 2020 MA000022 | Level 1 | $27.08 | $1,028.90 | $53,503 | +2.4% | $46,060 |
| 16 | Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 MA000002 | Level 1 — Year 1 | $26.97 | $1,024.70 | $53,284 | +2.0% | $45,914 |
| 17 | Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 MA000027 | Support Services Level 1 | $26.97 | $1,024.70 | $53,284 | +2.0% | $45,914 |
| 18 | Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020 MA000038 | Transport Worker Grade 1 | $26.87 | $1,021.00 | $53,092 | +1.6% | $45,786 |
| 19 | Commercial Sales Award 2020 MA000083 | Probationary Traveller | $26.59 | $1,010.52 | $52,547 | +0.6% | $45,424 |
| 20 | Real Estate Industry Award 2020 MA000106 | Level 1 (Associate) — first 12 months | $26.59 | $1,010.60 | $52,551 | +0.6% | $45,426 |
| 21 | Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 MA000009 | Level 1 | $26.44 | $1,004.90 | $52,255 | +0.0% | $45,230 |
| 22 | Restaurant Industry Award 2020 MA000119 | Level 1 | $26.44 | $1,004.90 | $52,255 | +0.0% | $45,230 |
| 23 | Fitness Industry Award 2020 MA000094 | Level 1 | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,861 | -2.6% | $44,303 |
| 24 | Horticulture Award 2020 MA000028 | Level 1 | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,861 | -2.6% | $44,303 |
| 25 | Live Performance Award 2020 MA000081 | Level 1 — Production and Support Staff 1 (induction/training) | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,861 | -2.6% | $44,303 |
| 26 | Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 MA000010 | C14 / V1 | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,861 | -2.6% | $44,303 |
| 27 | Meat Industry Award 2020 MA000059 | MI 1 | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,861 | -2.6% | $44,303 |
| 28 | Miscellaneous Award 2020 MA000104 | Level 1 | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,861 | -2.6% | $44,303 |
| 29 | Pastoral Award 2020 MA000035 | FLH1 | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,861 | -2.6% | $44,303 |
| 30 | Timber Industry Award 2020 MA000071 | General Timber — Level 1 | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,861 | -2.6% | $44,303 |
Full-time adult rates before penalty rates, loadings and allowances. The introductory entry grades some awards set for the first weeks or months of employment — for example Manufacturing C14 (first 38 hours of induction training) and Level 1 in the Miscellaneous, Fitness Industry, Live Performance, Horticulture, Pastoral, Meat Industry and Timber awards — can sit below the National Minimum Wage; the lowest award rate that applies to ongoing employment cannot. Full classification tables are on each award page and on the award rates hub.
Download this table (CSV): Entry-level award minimum rates, ranked
Public-sector pay by state
Entry and top-of-scale salaries for classroom teachers, registered nurses and general public servants, read from each state's current enterprise agreement or award. Public servants run from the bottom of the entry grade to the top of the highest non-executive grade.
| State / service | Entry | Entry salary | Top | Top salary | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Graduate classroom teacher | $92,882 | Top of classroom scale | $133,422 | verified 9 October 2026 |
| Victoria | Graduate classroom teacher | $79,589 | Top of classroom scale | $118,063 | verified 24 September 2026 |
| Queensland | Graduate classroom teacher | $86,068 | Top of classroom scale | $113,957 | verified 24 September 2026 |
| Western Australia | Graduate classroom teacher | $88,178 | Top of classroom scale | $127,737 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| South Australia | Graduate classroom teacher | $84,971 | Top of classroom scale | $123,236 | verified 24 September 2026 |
| Tasmania | Graduate classroom teacher | $85,313 | Top of classroom scale | $122,393 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| Australian Capital Territory | Graduate classroom teacher | $91,396 | Top of classroom scale | $129,106 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| Northern Territory | Graduate classroom teacher | $96,180 | Top of classroom scale | $136,997 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| State / service | Entry | Entry salary | Top | Top salary | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 1st year | $81,468 | 8th year and thereafter | $114,379 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| Victoria | Year 1 (graduate year) | $84,188 | Year 8 | $107,510 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| Queensland | Re-entry | $83,872 | Pay point 7 | $112,607 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| Western Australia | Level 1.1 | $82,945 | Level 2.4 | $115,682 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| South Australia | 1st increment | $74,831 | 9th increment | $102,103 | verified 24 September 2026 |
| Tasmania | Year 1 | $80,524 | Year 9 | $102,295 | verified 28 August 2026 |
| Australian Capital Territory | Pay point 1 | $82,993 | Pay point 8 | $108,780 | verified 24 September 2026 |
| Northern Territory | 2.1 | $80,665 | 2.8 | $107,800 | verified 24 September 2026 |
| State / service | Entry | Entry salary | Top | Top salary | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Public Service | APS 1 (bottom) | $57,497 | EL 2 (top) | $153,336 | from 12 March 2026 |
| NSW public sector | Clerk Grade 1 (bottom) | $78,000 | Clerk Grade 12 (top) | $178,369 | from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 |
| Victorian Public Service | VPS 1.1 (bottom) | $56,677 | VPS 6.2 (top) | $191,084 | from 1 May 2026 |
| Queensland public service | AO1 (bottom) | $49,126 | AO8 (top) | $163,552 | from 1 September 2026 |
| Western Australian public sector | Level 1 (bottom) | $68,028 | Level 9 (top) | $200,259 | from 13 June 2026 |
| South Australian public sector | ASO-1 (bottom) | $58,626 | ASO-8 (top) | $134,956 | from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 |
| Tasmanian State Service | Band 1 (bottom) | $55,616 | Band 9 (top) | $194,052 | from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2025 |
| ACT Public Service | ASO 1 (bottom) | $65,124 | SOG A (top) | $172,246 | from 4 December 2025 |
| Northern Territory Public Sector | AO2 (bottom) | $63,931 | SAO2 (top) | $171,482 | from 13 August 2026 |
Not included yet, and not estimated: Police, firefighters and paramedics (their verified state tables are on the police, firefighter and paramedic pay pages, but they are not in this comparison yet). Full scales: teacher pay, nurse pay, public service pay scales.
Download this table (CSV): Public-sector pay by state: teachers, registered nurses, public service
Hours of work to earn $1,000
How long it takes to earn $1,000 before and after tax at four common rates, assuming the rate is worked 38 hours a week all year. The last columns put the $268 tax cut into hours of work.
| Rate | Gross / hour | Take-home / hour | Hours for $1,000 gross | Hours for $1,000 take-home | Hours to take home $268 | Weeks to take home $10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Minimum Wage | $26.44 | $22.89 | 37.8 | 43.7 | 11.7 | 11.5 |
| National Minimum Wage, casual (+25%) | $33.05 | $27.28 | 30.3 | 36.7 | 9.8 | 9.6 |
| Median hourly earnings, all employees | $42.90 | $33.97 | 23.3 | 29.4 | 7.9 | 7.7 |
| Average full-time earnings (AWOTE ÷ 38) | $54.83 | $42.08 | 18.2 | 23.8 | 6.4 | 6.3 |
Take-home per hour = 2026-27 take-home on (hourly × 1,976) ÷ 1,976. The casual row assumes the casual rate for a full 38-hour year, which overstates a typical casual's annual income. Convert any rate with the hourly to annual salary calculator.
Download this table (CSV): Hours of work to earn $1,000
Methodology
- Tax. ATO resident scales for 2025-26 (16% second rate) and 2026-27 (15%), and the legislated 2027-28 scale (14%, Act No. 28 of 2025). Low income tax offset applied and non-refundable. Medicare levy 2% with low-income shading. No HECS/HELP, Medicare levy surcharge, deductions or other offsets. Rounded to the dollar, the same engine as the site's calculators.
- Minimum wage and awards. Annual Wage Review 2026 ([2026] FWCFB 3500), operative 1 July 2026. Award rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides and the consolidated award text, full-time adult entry classification.
- Earnings. ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) for averages; ABS Employee Earnings (August 2025) for medians. Weekly × 52.
- Public sector. Each state's published enterprise agreement, award or salary schedule, as recorded (with the date verified) on the linked state page.
- What this is not. A survey of actual pay. Award and agreement rates are legal minimums or scale points; many people are paid above them.
Cite this report
Journalists, researchers, unions, schools and bloggers are welcome to quote or republish any figure or table under CC BY 4.0 — the only condition is a link back to this page. Permalink: https://pay-calculator-australia.com/australian-pay-report-2026/
Pay Calculator Australia (2026). Australian Pay Report 2026: take-home pay, minimum wages and award rates (version 1.0). Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://pay-calculator-australia.com/australian-pay-report-2026/
<a href="https://pay-calculator-australia.com/australian-pay-report-2026/">Australian Pay Report 2026</a> (Pay Calculator Australia)
Download the data
- Take-home pay by salary, 2025-26 vs 2026-27 (and legislated 2027-28) (CSV)
- Minimum wage vs median vs average earnings (CSV)
- Entry-level award minimum rates, ranked (CSV)
- Public-sector pay by state: teachers, registered nurses, public service (CSV)
- Hours of work to earn $1,000 (CSV)
Want the calculator on your own site? Embed the free take-home pay widget.
Sources & References
- 1Tax rates – Australian residents (2025-26 and 2026-27)— Australian Taxation Office
- 2Personal income tax – new tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer— Australian Taxation Office
- 3Low income tax offset— Australian Taxation Office
- 4Annual Wage Review 2026 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 5Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 6Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, May 2026— Australian Bureau of Statistics
- 7Employee Earnings, August 2025— Australian Bureau of Statistics
- 8Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025— Australian Bureau of Statistics
Last verified: 24 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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