$27 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$27 an hour is $53,352 a year before tax and $45,959 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.

$27 an Hour After Tax
$27 an hour after tax is $883.83 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $23.26 of every hour. The effective tax rate is 13.9%, and the next dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $27.00 | $205.20 | $1,026.00 | $2,052.00 | $4,446.00 | $53,352.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$3.20 | −$24.33 | −$121.65 | −$243.31 | −$527.17 | −$6,326.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.54 | −$4.10 | −$20.52 | −$41.04 | −$88.92 | −$1,067.00 |
| Take-home pay | $23.26 | $176.77 | $883.83 | $1,767.65 | $3,829.92 | $45,959.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $3.24 | $24.62 | $123.12 | $246.23 | $533.50 | $6,402.00 |
2026-27 resident rates, tax-free threshold claimed; each pay's withholding can differ by a few dollars.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $27 an Hour
$27 an hour is $0.56 (2%) above the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$53,352 a year is ahead of 10–14% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $55,000 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $27 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $27 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horticulture AwardLevel 3 | $26.84 | −$0.16 | $33.55 | 1 July 2026 |
| Road Transport AwardTransport Worker Grade 1Pay guide with this rate: Truck Driver | $26.87 | −$0.13 | $33.59 | 1 July 2026 |
| Clerks AwardLevel 1 — Year 1Pay guide with this rate: Receptionist | $26.97 | −$0.03 | $33.71 | 1 July 2026 |
| Health Professionals AwardSupport Services Level 1Pay guides with this rate: Medical Receptionist, Lab Technician | $26.97 | −$0.03 | $33.71 | 1 July 2026 |
| Nurses AwardStudent enrolled nurse — 21 and over | $26.97 | −$0.03 | $33.71 | 1 July 2026 |
| Cleaning AwardLevel 1Pay guide with this rate: Cleaner | $27.08 | +$0.08 | $33.85 | 1 July 2026 |
| Pastoral AwardFLH4 | $27.08 | +$0.08 | $33.85 | 1 July 2026 |
| Local Government AwardLevel 1 | $27.11 | +$0.11 | $33.89 | 1 July 2026 |
Adult minimums for ordinary hours from the first full pay period on or after the date shown; pay can be higher. Casual: plus the 25% loading. Sources: Horticulture Award (MA000028) cl 15.1(a); Road Transport Award (MA000038) cl 17.1; Clerks Award (MA000002) cl 16.1, Table 3; Health Professionals Award (MA000027) cl 16.2(a) (Support Services) and cl 17.1–17.2 (Health Professionals); Nurses Award (MA000034) cl 15.1 and 15.3; Cleaning Award (MA000022) cl 15.1, Table 2; Pastoral Award (MA000035) cl 32.1; Local Government Award (MA000112) cl 16.1.
Pay Scale Points Near $53,352 a Year
$27 an hour full time is $53,352 a year. Points within $988 of $53,352 on published public service, nursing and aviation pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $53,352 |
|---|---|---|
| Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums)First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Multi engine UTBNI 3360 kgFrom 1 July 2026 | $53,036 | −$316 |
| NT public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse in Training and Registered Nurse/Midwife in Training, Enrolled Nurse in Training (75% of Nurse 1)From 19 August 2025 (first full pay period on or after 9 August 2025) | $53,523 | +$171 |
| Queensland public serviceOperational Officer 1, OO1/4From 1 September 2026 | $53,897 | +$545 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Weekend and Overtime Rates Near $27 an Hour
The closest award minimum to $27 with published penalty tables is Clerks Award Level 1 — Year 1 at $26.97 an hour from 1 July 2026. For a full-time or part-time employee on that minimum, the award's own tables give:
| When worked | Rate | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday (ordinary hours) | 125% | $33.71 |
| Sunday (ordinary hours, where cl 13.5 applies) | 200% | $53.94 |
| Public holiday | 250% | $67.43 |
| Overtime: Monday to Saturday — first 2 hours | 150% | $40.46 |
| Overtime: Monday to Saturday — after 2 hours | 200% | $53.94 |
| Overtime: Sunday — all day | 200% | $53.94 |
| Overtime: Public holiday — all day | 250% | $67.43 |
Clerks Award (MA000002) cl 24 and Schedule B.3.1 and cl 21.4(a), Table 5, applied to the $26.97 minimum; casual rates differ. Full Clerks Award rates.
$27 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $540.00 | $524.83 | $28,080 | $27,291 |
| 25 | $675.00 | $626.21 | $35,100 | $32,563 |
| 30 | $810.00 | $733.83 | $42,120 | $38,159 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,026.00 | $883.83 | $53,352 | $45,959 |
| 45 | $1,215.00 | $1,009.50 | $63,180 | $52,494 |
| 38 as a casual$33.75 an hour: $27 plus 25% | $1,282.50 | $1,054.40 | $66,690 | $54,829 |
Dropping to 25 hours a week cuts gross pay by 34% but take-home by only 29%, because the part-time income ($35,100) tops out in the 15% bracket and no longer reaches the 30% rate: you keep $25.05 of each hour, against $23.26 full time. The 37% rate starts above $135,000, $68.32 an hour full time. Every threshold at this income: take-home pay on $55,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $27 an hour?
- From 1 July 2026, adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $27 an hour include: Horticulture Award Level 3 at $26.84; Road Transport Award Transport Worker Grade 1 at $26.87; Clerks Award Level 1 — Year 1 at $26.97; Health Professionals Award Support Services Level 1 at $26.97; Nurses Award Student enrolled nurse — 21 and over at $26.97; Cleaning Award Level 1 at $27.08; Pastoral Award FLH4 at $27.08; Local Government Award Level 1 at $27.11. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.
- What are weekend and overtime rates near $27 an hour?
- On the Clerks Award Level 1 — Year 1 minimum of $26.97 (from 1 July 2026), a full-time or part-time employee gets Saturday (ordinary hours): 125%, $33.71; Sunday (ordinary hours, where cl 13.5 applies): 200%, $53.94; Public holiday: 250%, $67.43; overtime, Monday to Saturday — first 2 hours: 150%, $40.46. Casuals and other classifications are paid differently.
- Which published pay scales pay about $53,352 a year?
- Within $988 of $53,352, one point per employer: Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums), First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Multi engine UTBNI 3360 kg, $53,036; NT public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse in Training and Registered Nurse/Midwife in Training, Enrolled Nurse in Training (75% of Nurse 1), $53,523; Queensland public service, Operational Officer 1, OO1/4, $53,897. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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