$31 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$31 an hour is $61,256 a year before tax and $51,215 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$31 an Hour After Tax
$31 an hour after tax is $984.90 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $25.92 of every hour. The effective tax rate is 16.4%, and the next dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $31.00 | $235.60 | $1,178.00 | $2,356.00 | $5,104.67 | $61,256.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$4.46 | −$33.91 | −$169.54 | −$339.08 | −$734.67 | −$8,816.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.62 | −$4.71 | −$23.56 | −$47.12 | −$102.08 | −$1,225.00 |
| Take-home pay | $25.92 | $196.98 | $984.90 | $1,969.81 | $4,267.92 | $51,215.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $3.72 | $28.27 | $141.37 | $282.73 | $612.58 | $7,351.00 |
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 $31 an Hour
$31 an hour is $4.56 (17%) above the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$61,256 a year is ahead of 14–20% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $47,096 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $31 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $31 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Transport AwardDistribution facility employee level 4; Transport Worker Grade 9Pay guide with this rate: Truck Driver | $30.78 | −$0.22 | $38.48 | 1 July 2026 |
| Clerks AwardLevel 3Pay guides with this rate: Receptionist, Bookkeeper, Payroll Officer | $31.11 | +$0.11 | $38.89 | 1 July 2026 |
| General Retail AwardLevel 6Pay guides with this rate: Retail Worker, Retail Manager | $31.11 | +$0.11 | $38.89 | 1 July 2026 |
| Legal Services AwardLevel 3 — Legal clerical and administrativePay guide with this rate: Paralegal | $31.11 | +$0.11 | $38.89 | 1 July 2026 |
| Electrical AwardElectrical worker grade 5Pay guide with this rate: Electrician | $31.13* | +$0.13 | $38.91 | 1 July 2026 |
| Building and Construction AwardLevel 3 (CW/ECW 3)Pay guide with this rate: Carpenter | $31.22* | +$0.22 | $39.03 | 1 July 2026 |
| Hospitality AwardLevel 5Pay guides with this rate: Chef, Bartender | $31.30 | +$0.30 | $39.13 | 1 July 2026 |
| Manufacturing AwardC8 / V7Pay guides with this rate: Boilermaker, Welder, Fitter and Turner | $31.30 | +$0.30 | $39.13 | 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: Road Transport Award (MA000038) cl 17.1; Clerks Award (MA000002) cl 16.1, Table 3; General Retail Award (MA000004) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799285; Legal Services Award (MA000116) cl 15.1; Electrical Award (MA000025) cl 16.2 + cl 18.3(a) and (g), Schedule B.2.1; Building and Construction Award (MA000020) cl 19.1(a) + cl 22.1(a), calculated under cl 19.3(b); Hospitality Award (MA000009) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799290; Manufacturing Award (MA000010) cl 20.1(a).
Pay Scale Points Near $61,256 a Year
$31 an hour full time is $61,256 a year. Points within $988 of $61,256 on published public service, defence, school, nursing, emergency services and aviation pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $61,256 |
|---|---|---|
| NT public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse in Training and Registered Nurse/Midwife in Training, Registered Nurse/Midwife in Training (75% of Nurse 2)From 19 August 2025 (first full pay period on or after 9 August 2025) | $60,501 | −$755 |
| Australian Defence ForceTrainee: Normal entry recruit during basic recruit trainingFrom 6 November 2025 | $60,517 | −$739 |
| Australian Public ServiceAPS 1 threshold, top of bandFrom 12 March 2026 | $60,946 | −$310 |
| Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums)First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Multi engine 8500 kg UTBNI 12000 kgFrom 1 July 2026 | $60,952 | −$304 |
| SA prison officersCorrectional Officer CO-1 to CO-3: CO-1 2nd year adultFrom 1 July 2026 | $61,125 | −$131 |
| Queensland public serviceOperational Officer 1, OO1/6From 1 September 2026 | $61,257 | +$1 |
| VIC public health nurses and midwivesTrainee Enrolled Nurse, Year 2From first full pay period on or after 11 May 2026 | $61,365 | +$109 |
| South Australian public sectorSchool Services Officer Level 1, SSO-1 increment 2From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026 | $61,383 | +$127 |
| NT public school teachersAboriginal team teachers: AT1 to AT7, and authorised persons: AT1From the first full pay period on or after 1 January 2026 | $61,415 | +$159 |
| NSW public sectorNSW Health Administration Officer Level 1, 2nd Year ($1,183.43 a week)From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 | $61,538 | +$282 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Weekend and Overtime Rates Near $31 an Hour
The closest award minimum to $31 with published penalty tables is Clerks Award Level 3 at $31.11 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% | $38.89 |
| Sunday (ordinary hours, where cl 13.5 applies) | 200% | $62.22 |
| Public holiday | 250% | $77.78 |
| Overtime: Monday to Saturday — first 2 hours | 150% | $46.67 |
| Overtime: Monday to Saturday — after 2 hours | 200% | $62.22 |
| Overtime: Sunday — all day | 200% | $62.22 |
| Overtime: Public holiday — all day | 250% | $77.78 |
Clerks Award (MA000002) cl 24 and Schedule B.3.1 and cl 21.4(a), Table 5, applied to the $31.11 minimum; casual rates differ. Full Clerks Award rates.
$31 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $620.00 | $584.83 | $32,240 | $30,411 |
| 25 | $775.00 | $706.52 | $40,300 | $36,739 |
| 30 | $930.00 | $820.00 | $48,360 | $42,640 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,178.00 | $984.90 | $61,256 | $51,215 |
| 45 | $1,395.00 | $1,130.90 | $72,540 | $58,807 |
| 38 as a casual$38.75 an hour: $31 plus 25% | $1,472.50 | $1,183.62 | $76,570 | $61,548 |
Dropping to 25 hours a week cuts gross pay by 34% but take-home by only 28%, because the part-time income ($40,300) tops out in the 15% bracket and no longer reaches the 30% rate: you keep $28.26 of each hour, against $25.92 full time. The 37% rate starts above $135,000, $68.32 an hour full time. Every threshold at this income: take-home pay on $60,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $31 an hour?
- From 1 July 2026, adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $31 an hour include: Road Transport Award Distribution facility employee level 4 and Transport Worker Grade 9 at $30.78; Clerks Award Level 3 at $31.11; General Retail Award Level 6 at $31.11; Legal Services Award Level 3 — Legal clerical and administrative at $31.11; Electrical Award Electrical worker grade 5 at $31.13; Building and Construction Award Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) at $31.22; Hospitality Award Level 5 at $31.30; Manufacturing Award C8 / V7 at $31.30. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.
- What are weekend and overtime rates near $31 an hour?
- On the Clerks Award Level 3 minimum of $31.11 (from 1 July 2026), a full-time or part-time employee gets Saturday (ordinary hours): 125%, $38.89; Sunday (ordinary hours, where cl 13.5 applies): 200%, $62.22; Public holiday: 250%, $77.78; overtime, Monday to Saturday — first 2 hours: 150%, $46.67. Casuals and other classifications are paid differently.
- Which published pay scales pay about $61,256 a year?
- Within $988 of $61,256, one point per employer: NT public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse in Training and Registered Nurse/Midwife in Training, Registered Nurse/Midwife in Training (75% of Nurse 2), $60,501; Australian Defence Force, Trainee: Normal entry recruit during basic recruit training, $60,517; Australian Public Service, APS 1 threshold, top of band, $60,946; Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums), First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Multi engine 8500 kg UTBNI 12000 kg, $60,952; SA prison officers, Correctional Officer CO-1 to CO-3: CO-1 2nd year adult, $61,125; Queensland public service, Operational Officer 1, OO1/6, $61,257; VIC public health nurses and midwives, Trainee Enrolled Nurse, Year 2, $61,365; South Australian public sector, School Services Officer Level 1, SSO-1 increment 2, $61,383; NT public school teachers, Aboriginal team teachers: AT1 to AT7, and authorised persons: AT1, $61,415; NSW public sector, NSW Health Administration Officer Level 1, 2nd Year ($1,183.43 a week), $61,538. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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