$28 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$28 an hour is $55,328 a year before tax and $47,273 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$28 an Hour After Tax
$28 an hour after tax is $909.10 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $23.92 of every hour. The effective tax rate is 14.6%, and the next dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $28.00 | $212.80 | $1,064.00 | $2,128.00 | $4,610.67 | $55,328.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$3.52 | −$26.72 | −$133.62 | −$267.23 | −$579.00 | −$6,948.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.56 | −$4.26 | −$21.29 | −$42.58 | −$92.25 | −$1,107.00 |
| Take-home pay | $23.92 | $181.82 | $909.10 | $1,818.19 | $3,939.42 | $47,273.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $3.36 | $25.53 | $127.67 | $255.35 | $553.25 | $6,639.00 |
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 $28 an Hour
$28 an hour is $1.56 (6%) above the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$55,328 a year is ahead of 10–14% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $53,024 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $28 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $28 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aged Care AwardGeneral — level 1Pay guide with this rate: Aged Care Worker | $27.77 | −$0.23 | $34.71 | 1 July 2026 |
| Fast Food AwardLevel 1 | $27.81 | −$0.19 | $34.76 | 1 July 2026 |
| Hair and Beauty AwardLevel 1Pay guide with this rate: Hairdresser | $27.81 | −$0.19 | $34.76 | 1 July 2026 |
| Pharmacy AwardPharmacy assistant level 1; Pharmacy student — 1st year of coursePay guides with this rate: Pharmacist, Pharmacy Assistant | $27.81 | −$0.19 | $34.76 | 1 July 2026 |
| Hospitality AwardLevel 3Pay guides with this rate: Chef, Bartender | $27.97 | −$0.03 | $34.96 | 1 July 2026 |
| Fitness Industry AwardLevel 3Pay guide with this rate: Personal Trainer | $27.97 | −$0.03 | $34.96 | 1 July 2026 |
| Restaurant AwardLevel 3Pay guide with this rate: Barista | $27.97 | −$0.03 | $34.96 | 1 July 2026 |
| Real Estate AwardLevel 1 (Associate) — after 12 monthsPay guides with this rate: Real Estate Agent, Property Manager | $28.00 | same | $35.00 | 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: Aged Care Award (MA000018) cl 14.1 to 14.3; Fast Food Award (MA000003) cl 15.1, Table 3; Hair and Beauty Award (MA000005) cl 17.1, Table 4; Pharmacy Award (MA000012) cl 16.1, Table 3; Hospitality Award (MA000009) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799290; Fitness Industry Award (MA000094) cl 15.1; Restaurant Award (MA000119) cl 18.1, Table 3; Real Estate Award (MA000106) cl 14.1.
Pay Scale Points Near $55,328 a Year
$28 an hour full time is $55,328 a year. Points within $988 of $55,328 on published public service and aviation pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $55,328 |
|---|---|---|
| Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums)First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Multi engine 3360 kg UTBNI 5660 kgFrom 1 July 2026 | $55,083 | −$245 |
| Queensland public serviceAdministrative Officer 1, AO1/3From 1 September 2026 | $55,165 | −$163 |
| Tasmanian State ServiceGeneral Stream Band 1, Band 1 Range 1 Level 1From the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2025 | $55,616 | +$288 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Weekend and Overtime Rates Near $28 an Hour
The closest award minimum to $28 with published penalty tables is Real Estate Award Level 1 (Associate) — after 12 months at $28.00 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Public holiday (minimum 3 hours) | 200% | $56.00 |
| Overtime: Hours over the ordinary hours, not on a rostered day off, at the employer's specific direction | 100% | $28.00 |
| Overtime: Rostered day or half day off — first 2 hours | 150% | $42.00 |
| Overtime: Rostered day or half day off — after 2 hours | 200% | $56.00 |
Real Estate Award (MA000106) cl 25.3 and Schedule B.1.1 / B.2.2 and cl 19.1(a) and Schedule B.1.1, applied to the $28.00 minimum; casual rates differ. Full Real Estate Award rates.
$28 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $560.00 | $539.83 | $29,120 | $28,071 |
| 25 | $700.00 | $646.96 | $36,400 | $33,642 |
| 30 | $840.00 | $757.21 | $43,680 | $39,375 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,064.00 | $909.10 | $55,328 | $47,273 |
| 45 | $1,260.00 | $1,039.44 | $65,520 | $54,051 |
| 38 as a casual$35.00 an hour: $28 plus 25% | $1,330.00 | $1,086.71 | $69,160 | $56,509 |
Dropping to 25 hours a week cuts gross pay by 34% but take-home by only 29%, because the part-time income ($36,400) tops out in the 15% bracket and no longer reaches the 30% rate: you keep $25.88 of each hour, against $23.92 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 $28 an hour?
- From 1 July 2026, adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $28 an hour include: Aged Care Award General — level 1 at $27.77; Fast Food Award Level 1 at $27.81; Hair and Beauty Award Level 1 at $27.81; Pharmacy Award Pharmacy assistant level 1 and Pharmacy student — 1st year of course at $27.81; Hospitality Award Level 3 at $27.97; Fitness Industry Award Level 3 at $27.97; Restaurant Award Level 3 at $27.97; Real Estate Award Level 1 (Associate) — after 12 months at $28.00. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.
- What are weekend and overtime rates near $28 an hour?
- On the Real Estate Award Level 1 (Associate) — after 12 months minimum of $28.00 (from 1 July 2026), a full-time or part-time employee gets Public holiday (minimum 3 hours): 200%, $56.00; overtime, Hours over the ordinary hours, not on a rostered day off, at the employer's specific direction: 100%, $28.00. Casuals and other classifications are paid differently.
- Which published pay scales pay about $55,328 a year?
- Within $988 of $55,328, 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 3360 kg UTBNI 5660 kg, $55,083; Queensland public service, Administrative Officer 1, AO1/3, $55,165; Tasmanian State Service, General Stream Band 1, Band 1 Range 1 Level 1, $55,616. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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