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Part-Time vs Full-Time vs Casual Calculator

Compare take-home pay and total entitlements across full-time, part-time, and casual employment. See the real value of leave, super, and casual loading side by side.

Official ATO ratesUpdated FY2026-27Free foreverNo signup required

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Full-time is always 38 hours/week

Metric
Full-Time
38h/wk
Part-Time
38h/wk
Casual
38h/wk
Effective Hourly Rate$35.00/hr$35.00/hr$43.75/hr
Annual Earnings$69,160$69,160$86,450
Annual Leave Value$5,320$5,320$0 (casual loading)
Personal/Sick Leave Value$2,660$2,660$0
Super Contribution (12%)$8,299$8,299$10,374
Total Package Value$85,439$85,439$96,824
Take-Home Pay (after tax)$56,509$56,509$68,266

Disclaimer:

Calculations use standard employment conditions. Actual entitlements depend on your award, enterprise agreement, or employment contract. Casual loading of 25% compensates for the absence of paid leave. Tax estimates use ATO FY2026-27 rates.

Based on Fair Work NES and ATO tax tables for FY2026-27

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How Do Full-Time, Part-Time, and Casual Compare?

The three main employment types in Australia differ in hours, entitlements, and pay structure. While casual employees receive a higher hourly rate through the 25% casual loading, permanent employees receive paid leave and greater job security.

Full-Time

  • 38 hours per week (standard)
  • 4 weeks annual leave
  • 10 days personal/sick leave
  • Ongoing employment
  • Notice period required

Part-Time

  • Under 38 hours, regular schedule
  • Pro-rata annual leave
  • Pro-rata personal leave
  • Ongoing employment
  • Notice period required

Casual

  • No guaranteed hours
  • 25% casual loading
  • No paid annual or sick leave
  • No notice period required
  • Can refuse shifts

Use the Hourly to Annual Salary Calculator to convert your hourly rate to an annual figure, or check the Award Rates page for your industry's minimum pay rates.

Is the 25% Casual Loading Worth It?

The 25% casual loading is designed to compensate for the absence of paid leave, notice of termination, and redundancy pay. To determine whether casual is better for you, consider the total value of permanent entitlements:

  • Annual leave: 4 weeks paid leave = 7.7% of annual earnings
  • Personal/sick leave: 10 days = 3.8% of annual earnings
  • Public holidays: ~8 days paid = ~3.1% of annual earnings
  • Notice period: 1-5 weeks guaranteed = varies
  • Redundancy pay: 4-16 weeks after 1+ years = varies

The combined value of leave alone (annual + personal + public holidays) is approximately 14.6% of annual earnings — meaning the 25% casual loading only provides a ~10% premium over permanent employment once leave is accounted for. For long-term employment, permanent roles generally offer better total value. The loading and the weekend penalties it stacks on are set by your award: see the Retail Award Pay Rates 2026-27 and the Hospitality Award Pay Rates 2026-27 for the two awards that cover most casuals.

Casual Conversion Rights

Since 26 August 2024, a casual employee who has worked for their employer for at least 6 months (12 months for a small business employer with fewer than 15 employees) and believes they no longer meet the casual definition can notify their employer that they want to become permanent. The employer must respond in writing within 21 days and can only refuse on fair and reasonable operational grounds. Employers are no longer required to offer conversion.

For a detailed comparison guide, see our Full-Time vs Part-Time vs Casual guide. To calculate your superannuation entitlements under any employment type, use the Superannuation Calculator.

How this calculator works▼
  1. Full-time annual earnings = hourly rate x 38 hours x 52 weeks.
  2. Part-time annual earnings = hourly rate x selected hours x 52 weeks.
  3. Casual annual earnings = hourly rate x 1.25 (casual loading) x selected hours x 52 weeks.
  4. Leave value = hourly rate x weekly hours x 4 weeks (annual) or 2 weeks (personal/sick).
  5. Super = 12% of annual earnings for all employment types.
  6. Tax calculated using ATO FY2026-27 progressive brackets with LITO and Medicare levy.

Entitlements from Fair Work Ombudsman, last verified 9 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

In pure pay terms, usually yes. Annual leave (4 weeks), personal leave (10 days) and public holidays together are worth roughly 17% of pay for the days actually worked, less than the 25% casual loading. Permanent employment makes up the difference in other ways: paid time off when you are sick, job security, notice periods, and potential redundancy pay.

Yes. Casuals receive the 12% superannuation guarantee like other employees (if they are under 18, only in weeks they work more than 30 hours). Super is calculated on the casual employee's ordinary time earnings, which includes the 25% casual loading.

Part-time employees work regular guaranteed hours (under 38 per week), receive paid annual and personal leave on a pro-rata basis, and have ongoing employment. Casual employees have no guaranteed hours, receive 25% casual loading instead of leave, and either party can end the arrangement without notice.

Yes. Since 26 August 2024, a casual employee who has worked for at least 6 months (12 months if the employer is a small business with fewer than 15 employees) can notify their employer in writing that they want to become permanent, if they believe they no longer meet the definition of a casual employee. The employer must respond in writing within 21 days and can refuse only on limited grounds; employers are no longer required to offer conversion.

Casual workers receive more cash in hand due to the 25% loading, but permanent employees receive a higher total package value when leave, job security, notice periods, and redundancy pay are included. The best option depends on whether you value flexibility (casual) or stability and entitlements (permanent).

Tax is based on total annual income, not employment type. A casual earning $70,000/year pays the same income tax as a full-time employee earning $70,000/year. However, casual employees earn more gross income (due to loading) for the same hours, which may place them in a higher tax bracket.

Related Calculators

Award Rates

Check minimum pay rates for your industry and classification

Leave Calculator

Calculate your annual leave and personal leave entitlements

Hourly to Annual Salary Calculator

Convert any hourly rate to annual, weekly, or fortnightly salary

Superannuation Calculator

See the 12% SG contribution on any employment type

See Your Full Pay Breakdown

Get the complete picture with income tax, Medicare, HECS, and super for any employment type.

Calculate Your Take-Home Pay →

Sources & References

  1. 1
    Employment types— Fair Work Ombudsman
  2. 2
    Casual loading and entitlements— Fair Work Ombudsman
  3. 3
    National minimum wage— Fair Work Ombudsman

Last verified: 9 October 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.

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