$29 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$29 an hour is $57,304 a year before tax and $48,587 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$29 an Hour After Tax
$29 an hour after tax is $934.37 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $24.59 of every hour. The effective tax rate is 15.2%, and the next dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $29.00 | $220.40 | $1,102.00 | $2,204.00 | $4,775.33 | $57,304.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$3.83 | −$29.12 | −$145.60 | −$291.19 | −$630.92 | −$7,571.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.58 | −$4.41 | −$22.04 | −$44.08 | −$95.50 | −$1,146.00 |
| Take-home pay | $24.59 | $186.87 | $934.37 | $1,868.73 | $4,048.92 | $48,587.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $3.48 | $26.45 | $132.23 | $264.46 | $573.00 | $6,876.00 |
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 $29 an Hour
$29 an hour is $2.56 (10%) above the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$57,304 a year is ahead of 14–20% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $51,048 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $29 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $29 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Retail AwardLevel 3Pay guide with this rate: Retail Worker | $28.89 | −$0.11 | $36.11 | 1 July 2026 |
| Live Performance AwardLevel 3 — Production and Support Staff 3 | $28.89 | −$0.11 | $36.11 | 1 July 2026 |
| Building and Construction AwardLevel 1(b) (CW/ECW 1) | $28.96* | −$0.04 | $36.20 | 1 July 2026 |
| Road Transport AwardTransport Worker Grade 6Pay guide with this rate: Truck Driver | $29.00 | same | $36.25 | 1 July 2026 |
| Manufacturing AwardD3 (driver) | $29.02 | +$0.02 | $36.28 | 1 July 2026 |
| Local Government AwardLevel 3 | $29.03 | +$0.03 | $36.29 | 1 July 2026 |
| SCHADS Award (home care — disability)Level 2 pay point 2Pay guide with this rate: Disability Support Worker | $29.06 | +$0.06 | $36.33 | 1 July 2026 |
| Clerks AwardLevel 1 — Year 3Pay guide with this rate: Receptionist | $29.11 | +$0.11 | $36.39 | 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. * Includes all-purpose allowances. Sources: General Retail Award (MA000004) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799285; Live Performance Award (MA000081) cl 11.1 (Production and Support Staff categories); Building and Construction Award (MA000020) cl 19.1(a) + cl 22.1(a), calculated under cl 19.3(b); Road Transport Award (MA000038) cl 17.1; Manufacturing Award (MA000010) cl 20.1(a); Local Government Award (MA000112) cl 16.1; SCHADS Award (MA000100) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799380 (SACS Levels 2–8 with Equal Remuneration Order PR525485); Clerks Award (MA000002) cl 16.1, Table 3.
Pay Scale Points Near $57,304 a Year
$29 an hour full time is $57,304 a year. Points within $988 of $57,304 on published public service, nursing, emergency services and aviation pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $57,304 |
|---|---|---|
| VIC public health nurses and midwivesTrainee Enrolled Nurse, Year 1From first full pay period on or after 11 May 2026 | $56,701 | −$603 |
| Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums)First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Multi engine 5660 kg UTBNI 8500 kgFrom 1 July 2026 | $57,388 | +$84 |
| Queensland public serviceOperational Officer 1, OO1/5From 1 September 2026 | $57,422 | +$118 |
| Australian Public ServiceAPS 1 threshold, bottom of bandFrom 12 March 2026 | $57,497 | +$193 |
| Victorian Public ServiceVPS Grade 1, Value Range 1.1, 1.1.2From 1 May 2026 | $57,836 | +$532 |
| South Australian public sectorOperational Services Officer 1, bottom of bandFrom the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 | $57,853 | +$549 |
| VIC firefightersRecruit to Qualified Firefighter (FRV published rates): Recruit FirefighterFrom 15 July 2026 (the date FRV published them; FRV does not say when they took effect) | $58,066 | +$762 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Weekend and Overtime Rates Near $29 an Hour
The closest award minimum to $29 with published penalty tables is Road Transport Award Transport Worker Grade 6 at $29.00 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoon shift — finishing after 6.30 pm and by 12.30 am (shiftworkers) | 117.5% | $34.08 |
| Night shift — finishing after 12.30 am and by 8.30 am (shiftworkers) | 130% | $37.70 |
| Non-continuous afternoon or night shift — first 3 hours | 150% | $43.50 |
| Non-continuous afternoon or night shift — after 3 hours | 200% | $58.00 |
| Saturday | 150% | $43.50 |
| Sunday | 200% | $58.00 |
| Public holiday — shiftworkers | 250% | $72.50 |
| Public holiday — day workers (other than Good Friday and Christmas Day) | 150% | $43.50 |
| Public holiday — day workers, Good Friday and Christmas Day | 200% | $58.00 |
| Overtime: Overtime — first 2 hours | 150% | $43.50 |
| Overtime: Overtime — after 2 hours | 200% | $58.00 |
| Overtime: Public holiday overtime (other than Good Friday and Christmas Day) | 250% | $72.50 |
| Overtime: Good Friday and Christmas Day overtime | 300% | $87.00 |
Road Transport Award (MA000038) cl 22.3, 22.8, 22.10, 23 and Schedule C and cl 21.1, 11.4 and Schedule C, applied to the $29.00 minimum; casual rates differ. Full Road Transport Award rates.
$29 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $580.00 | $554.83 | $30,160 | $28,851 |
| 25 | $725.00 | $667.52 | $37,700 | $34,711 |
| 30 | $870.00 | $780.08 | $45,240 | $40,564 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,102.00 | $934.37 | $57,304 | $48,587 |
| 45 | $1,305.00 | $1,069.71 | $67,860 | $55,625 |
| 38 as a casual$36.25 an hour: $29 plus 25% | $1,377.50 | $1,119.00 | $71,630 | $58,188 |
Dropping to 25 hours a week cuts gross pay by 34% but take-home by only 29%, because the part-time income ($37,700) tops out in the 15% bracket and no longer reaches the 30% rate: you keep $26.70 of each hour, against $24.59 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 $29 an hour?
- From 1 July 2026, adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $29 an hour include: General Retail Award Level 3 at $28.89; Live Performance Award Level 3 — Production and Support Staff 3 at $28.89; Building and Construction Award Level 1(b) (CW/ECW 1) at $28.96; Road Transport Award Transport Worker Grade 6 at $29.00; Manufacturing Award D3 (driver) at $29.02; Local Government Award Level 3 at $29.03; SCHADS Award (home care — disability) Level 2 pay point 2 at $29.06; Clerks Award Level 1 — Year 3 at $29.11. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.
- What are weekend and overtime rates near $29 an hour?
- On the Road Transport Award Transport Worker Grade 6 minimum of $29.00 (from 1 July 2026), a full-time or part-time employee gets Saturday: 150%, $43.50; Sunday: 200%, $58.00; Public holiday — shiftworkers: 250%, $72.50; overtime, Overtime — first 2 hours: 150%, $43.50. Casuals and other classifications are paid differently.
- Which published pay scales pay about $57,304 a year?
- Within $988 of $57,304, one point per employer: VIC public health nurses and midwives, Trainee Enrolled Nurse, Year 1, $56,701; Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums), First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Multi engine 5660 kg UTBNI 8500 kg, $57,388; Queensland public service, Operational Officer 1, OO1/5, $57,422; Australian Public Service, APS 1 threshold, bottom of band, $57,497; Victorian Public Service, VPS Grade 1, Value Range 1.1, 1.1.2, $57,836; South Australian public sector, Operational Services Officer 1, bottom of band, $57,853; VIC firefighters, Recruit to Qualified Firefighter (FRV published rates): Recruit Firefighter, $58,066. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
What to check next
People reading this page usually work these out too.