$37 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$37 an hour is $73,112 a year before tax and $59,196 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$37 an Hour After Tax
$37 an hour after tax is $1,138.38 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $29.96 of every hour. The effective tax rate is 19.0%, and the next dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $37.00 | $281.20 | $1,406.00 | $2,812.00 | $6,092.67 | $73,112.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$6.30 | −$47.90 | −$239.50 | −$479.00 | −$1,037.83 | −$12,454.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.74 | −$5.62 | −$28.12 | −$56.23 | −$121.83 | −$1,462.00 |
| Take-home pay | $29.96 | $227.68 | $1,138.38 | $2,276.77 | $4,933.00 | $59,196.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $4.44 | $33.74 | $168.71 | $337.42 | $731.08 | $8,773.00 |
2026-27 resident rates, tax-free threshold claimed; each pay's withholding can differ by a few dollars. With a HECS-HELP debt, the compulsory repayment of $538 brings the year to $58,658.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $37 an Hour
$37 an hour is $10.56 (40%) above the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$73,112 a year is ahead of 31–36% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $35,240 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $37 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $37 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 3; Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 6Pay guides with this rate: Nurse, Midwife | $36.53 | −$0.47 | $45.66 | 1 July 2026 |
| Aged Care AwardGeneral — level 6 (most senior food services employee) | $36.91 | −$0.09 | $46.14 | 1 July 2026 |
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 7, 2nd–3rd yearPay guides with this rate: Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Dental Hygienist, Radiographer and 3 more | $37.08 | +$0.08 | $46.35 | 1 October 2026 |
| Plumbing AwardAdvanced sprinkler fitter Level 2 | $37.11* | +$0.11 | $46.39 | 1 July 2026 |
| Clerks AwardCall centre technical associate | $37.24 | +$0.24 | $46.55 | 1 July 2026 |
| Manufacturing AwardC3 / V12 | $37.24 | +$0.24 | $46.55 | 1 July 2026 |
| Local Government AwardLevel 8 | $37.24 | +$0.24 | $46.55 | 1 July 2026 |
| SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 2 pay point 2Pay guides with this rate: Disability Support Worker, Youth Worker | $37.36 | +$0.36 | $46.70 | 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: Nurses Award (MA000034) cl 15.1 and 15.3; Aged Care Award (MA000018) cl 14.1 to 14.3; Health Professionals Award (MA000027) cl 16.2(a) (Support Services) and cl 17.1–17.2 (Health Professionals); Plumbing Award (MA000036) cl 18.1 + cl 21.3, calculated as the ordinary hourly rate (cl 2; Schedules B, C and D); Clerks Award (MA000002) cl 16.1, Table 3; 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).
Pay Scale Points Near $73,112 a Year
$37 an hour full time is $73,112 a year. Points within $988 of $73,112 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 $73,112 |
|---|---|---|
| NSW public sectorNSW Health Administration Officer Level 2A, 1st Year ($1,396.56 a week)From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 | $72,621 | −$491 |
| SA public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse (Diploma), or Enrolled Nurse (Certificate) authorised in medication administration, 5th incrementFrom first full pay period after 1 January 2025 | $72,729 | −$383 |
| Queensland public serviceOperational Officer 3, OO3/3From 1 September 2026 | $72,867 | −$245 |
| VIC paramedicsGraduate and Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics (Appendix 1): Graduate Ambulance Paramedic Level 1From 21 October 2025 | $72,908 | −$204 |
| NSW public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse Without Medication Qualification, 1st yearFrom 1 July 2026 | $73,148 | +$36 |
| VIC prison officersPrison Officer (COG2A): Prison Officer COG2A C2aE07From 1 May 2026 | $73,335 | +$223 |
| Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums)First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Dash 8 400–28998 kg MTOWFrom 1 July 2026 | $73,359 | +$247 |
| South Australian public sectorSchool Services Officer Level 2, SSO-2 increment 1From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026 | $73,478 | +$366 |
| TAS policeConstable (clause 8.1.1, Column A): Constable Level 1From 1 December 2025 | $73,518 | +$406 |
| ACT Public ServiceAdministrative Services Officer Class 2, ASO 2 pay point 3From 4 December 2025 | $73,575 | +$463 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Is $37 an Hour a Casual Award Rate?
As a casual rate, $37 is a base of $29.60 plus the 25% loading paid instead of leave. These award classifications have a casual minimum within 50c of $37:
| Award and classification | Permanent minimum | Casual minimum | vs $37 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair and Beauty AwardLevel 3 | $29.45 | $36.81 | −$0.19 |
| Hospitality AwardLevel 4 | $29.45 | $36.81 | −$0.19 |
| Pharmacy AwardPharmacy assistant level 3; Pharmacy student — 3rd year of course | $29.45 | $36.81 | −$0.19 |
| Cleaning AwardLevel 3 | $29.45 | $36.81 | −$0.19 |
| Health Professionals AwardSupport Services Level 4 | $29.45 | $36.81 | −$0.19 |
| Commercial Sales AwardCommercial Traveller / Advertising Sales Representative | $29.55 | $36.94 | −$0.06 |
| Plumbing AwardSprinkler fitting worker Level 1(a) — new entrant | $29.65 | $37.06 | +$0.06 |
| Security AwardSecurity Officer Level 3 | $29.73 | $37.16 | +$0.16 |
Adult minimums for ordinary hours; casual = permanent minimum plus each award's 25% loading. What the loading replaces: casual loading calculator.
Weekend and Overtime Rates Near $37 an Hour
The closest award minimum to $37 with published penalty tables is Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 7, 2nd–3rd year at $37.08 an hour from 1 October 2026. For a full-time or part-time employee on that minimum, the award's own tables give:
| When worked | Rate | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday or Sunday ordinary hours | 150% | $55.62 |
| Public holiday (all time worked) | 250% | $92.70 |
| Shiftwork, afternoon or night (finishing 6 pm to 8 am or starting 6 pm to 6 am) | 115% | $42.64 |
| Overtime: Monday to Saturday — first 2 hours | 150% | $55.62 |
| Overtime: Monday to Saturday — after 2 hours | 200% | $74.16 |
| Overtime: Sunday — all overtime | 200% | $74.16 |
| Overtime: Public holiday — all overtime | 250% | $92.70 |
Health Professionals Award (MA000027) cl 26, cl 33.2 and Schedule C and cl 25.2–25.3 and Schedule C.1.4, C.2.2, applied to the $37.08 minimum; casual rates differ. Full Health Professionals Award rates.
$37 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $740.00 | $679.21 | $38,480 | $35,319 |
| 25 | $925.00 | $816.65 | $48,100 | $42,466 |
| 30 | $1,110.00 | $939.69 | $57,720 | $48,864 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,406.00 | $1,138.38 | $73,112 | $59,196 |
| 45 | $1,665.00 | $1,314.50 | $86,580 | $68,354 |
| 38 as a casual$46.25 an hour: $37 plus 25% | $1,757.50 | $1,377.40 | $91,390 | $71,625 |
Dropping to 25 hours a week cuts gross pay by 34% but take-home by only 28%, because the tax-free threshold and the Low Income Tax Offset cover a bigger share of the smaller income (both sit in the 30% bracket): you keep $32.67 of each hour, against $29.96 full time. The 37% rate starts above $135,000, $68.32 an hour full time. Every threshold at this income: take-home pay on $75,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $37 an hour?
- Adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $37 an hour include: Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 3 and Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 6 at $36.53 from 1 July 2026; Aged Care Award General — level 6 (most senior food services employee) at $36.91 from 1 July 2026; Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 7, 2nd–3rd year at $37.08 from 1 October 2026; Plumbing Award Advanced sprinkler fitter Level 2 at $37.11 from 1 July 2026; Clerks Award Call centre technical associate at $37.24 from 1 July 2026; Manufacturing Award C3 / V12 at $37.24 from 1 July 2026; Local Government Award Level 8 at $37.24 from 1 July 2026; SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 2 pay point 2 at $37.36 from 1 July 2026. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.
- Is $37 an hour a casual award rate?
- $37 is within 50c of the casual minimum for: Hair and Beauty Award Level 3 ($36.81 casual, $29.45 permanent); Hospitality Award Level 4 ($36.81 casual, $29.45 permanent); Pharmacy Award Pharmacy assistant level 3 and Pharmacy student — 3rd year of course ($36.81 casual, $29.45 permanent); Cleaning Award Level 3 ($36.81 casual, $29.45 permanent); Health Professionals Award Support Services Level 4 ($36.81 casual, $29.45 permanent); Commercial Sales Award Commercial Traveller / Advertising Sales Representative ($36.94 casual, $29.55 permanent); Plumbing Award Sprinkler fitting worker Level 1(a) — new entrant ($37.06 casual, $29.65 permanent); Security Award Security Officer Level 3 ($37.16 casual, $29.73 permanent). A casual rate includes a 25% loading paid instead of leave, so the permanent base of $37 as a casual rate is $29.60.
- What are weekend and overtime rates near $37 an hour?
- On the Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 7, 2nd–3rd year minimum of $37.08 (from 1 October 2026), a full-time or part-time employee gets Saturday or Sunday ordinary hours: 150%, $55.62; Public holiday (all time worked): 250%, $92.70; overtime, Monday to Saturday — first 2 hours: 150%, $55.62. Casuals and other classifications are paid differently.
- Which published pay scales pay about $73,112 a year?
- Within $988 of $73,112, one point per employer: NSW public sector, NSW Health Administration Officer Level 2A, 1st Year ($1,396.56 a week), $72,621; SA public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse (Diploma), or Enrolled Nurse (Certificate) authorised in medication administration, 5th increment, $72,729; Queensland public service, Operational Officer 3, OO3/3, $72,867; VIC paramedics, Graduate and Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics (Appendix 1): Graduate Ambulance Paramedic Level 1, $72,908; NSW public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse Without Medication Qualification, 1st year, $73,148; VIC prison officers, Prison Officer (COG2A): Prison Officer COG2A C2aE07, $73,335; Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums), First Officer / Second Pilot: airline and general aviation minimum salaries (clause A.1.1): Dash 8 400–28998 kg MTOW, $73,359; South Australian public sector, School Services Officer Level 2, SSO-2 increment 1, $73,478; TAS police, Constable (clause 8.1.1, Column A): Constable Level 1, $73,518; ACT Public Service, Administrative Services Officer Class 2, ASO 2 pay point 3, $73,575. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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