$38 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$38 an hour is $75,088 a year before tax and $60,540 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$38 an Hour After Tax
$38 an hour after tax is $1,164.23 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $30.64 of every hour. With the Medicare levy included, the effective tax rate is 19.4%, and each extra dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $38.00 | $288.80 | $1,444.00 | $2,888.00 | $6,257.33 | $75,088.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$6.60 | −$50.18 | −$250.88 | −$501.77 | −$1,087.17 | −$13,046.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.76 | −$5.78 | −$28.88 | −$57.77 | −$125.17 | −$1,502.00 |
| Take-home pay | $30.64 | $232.85 | $1,164.23 | $2,328.46 | $5,045.00 | $60,540.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $4.56 | $34.66 | $173.29 | $346.58 | $750.92 | $9,011.00 |
2026-27 resident tax rates, with the tax-free threshold claimed and no HECS-HELP debt; each pay's withholding can differ from these figures by a few dollars. With a HECS-HELP debt, the compulsory repayment of $834 brings the year to $59,706.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $38 an Hour
$38 an hour is $11.56 (44%) above the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$75,088 a year is ahead of 31–36% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $33,264 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $38 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $38 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 4; Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 7Pay guides with this rate: Nurse, Midwife | $37.59 | −$0.41 | $46.99 | 1 July 2026 |
| Mining AwardLevel 7 (Dual trade instrumentation) | $37.62* | −$0.38 | $47.03 | 1 July 2026 |
| Aged Care AwardDirect care — level 4 (Senior)Pay guide with this rate: Aged Care Worker | $37.68 | −$0.32 | $47.10 | 1 July 2026 |
| SCHADS Award (home care — aged care)Level 4 Senior | $37.68 | −$0.32 | $47.10 | 1 July 2026 |
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 8, 2nd–3rd year; Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 9, 1st yearPay guides with this rate: Psychologist, Sonographer, Speech Pathologist, Audiologist and 1 more | $38.02 | +$0.02 | $47.53 | 1 October 2026 |
| Manufacturing AwardC2(a) / V13 | $38.16 | +$0.16 | $47.70 | 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; Mining Award (MA000011) cl 15.1(a) + cl 18.2(b), calculated as the ordinary hourly rate (Schedule B.1); Aged Care Award (MA000018) cl 14.1 to 14.3; SCHADS Award (MA000100) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799380 (SACS Levels 2–8 with Equal Remuneration Order PR525485); Health Professionals Award (MA000027) cl 16.2(a) (Support Services) and cl 17.1–17.2 (Health Professionals); Manufacturing Award (MA000010) cl 20.1(a).
Pay Scale Points Near $75,088 a Year
$38 an hour full time is $75,088 a year. Points within $988 of $75,088 on published public service, school, nursing and emergency services pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $75,088 |
|---|---|---|
| Western Australian public sectorGeneral Division Level 1, Level 1.3From 13 June 2026 | $74,547 | −$541 |
| Victorian Public ServiceVPS Grade 2, Value Range 2.2, 2.2.3From 1 May 2026 | $74,708 | −$380 |
| Tasmanian State ServiceGeneral Stream Band 2, Band 2 Range 1 Level 6From the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2025 | $74,837 | −$251 |
| TAS public school teachersTeachers: Band 1, Levels 1 to 13: Band 1 Level 1From the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 March 2026 | $74,869 | −$219 |
| SA prison officersCorrectional Officer CO-1 to CO-3: CO-2 increment 5From 1 July 2026 | $75,134 | +$46 |
| TAS public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse, Grade 2 Year 1From 1 December 2025 | $75,205 | +$117 |
| ACT policeTeam Member/Constable broadband (bands 2–5): Band 3.1From 9 December 2025 | $75,233 | +$145 |
| WA public health nurses and midwivesAssistant in Nursing, Year 3From 7 October 2026 | $75,266 | +$178 |
| VIC public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse Level 2 (Certificate IV), Year 3From first full pay period on or after 11 May 2026 | $75,358 | +$270 |
| QLD public health nurses and midwivesAssistant in Nursing/Midwifery, Pay point 5From 1 April 2026 | $75,549 | +$461 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Is $38 an Hour a Casual Award Rate?
As a casual rate, $38 is a base of $30.40 plus the 25% loading paid instead of leave. These award classifications have a casual minimum within 50c of $38:
| Award and classification | Permanent minimum | Casual minimum | vs $38 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food AwardLevel 3 (in charge of 2 or more people) | $30.27 | $37.84 | −$0.16 |
| Road Transport AwardTransport Worker Grade 8 | $30.28 | $37.85 | −$0.15 |
| Aged Care AwardGeneral — level 4 | $30.34 | $37.93 | −$0.07 |
| SCHADS Award (home care — disability)Level 3 pay point 2 | $30.36 | $37.95 | −$0.05 |
| Live Performance AwardLevel 5 — Production and Support Staff 5 | $30.37 | $37.96 | −$0.04 |
| Manufacturing AwardC9 / V6 | $30.38 | $37.98 | −$0.02 |
| Timber AwardGeneral Timber — Level 6; Pulp and Paper — Level 6; Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 6 | $30.38 | $37.98 | −$0.02 |
| Building and Construction AwardLevel 2 (CW/ECW 2) | $30.39 | $37.99 | −$0.01 |
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 $38 an Hour
The closest award minimum to $38 with published penalty tables is Manufacturing Award C2(a) / V13 at $38.16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Day worker — Saturday ordinary hours (only where agreed under cl 17.2(c)) | 150% | $57.24 |
| Day worker — Sunday ordinary hours (only where agreed under cl 17.2(c)) | 200% | $76.32 |
| Day worker — public holiday (minimum 3 hours) | 250% | $95.40 |
| Afternoon or night shift | 115% | $43.88 |
| Permanent night shift | 130% | $49.61 |
| Shiftworker — Saturday | 150% | $57.24 |
| Shiftworker (other than continuous) — Sunday | 200% | $76.32 |
| Shiftworker (other than continuous) — public holiday | 250% | $95.40 |
| Overtime: Overtime — first 3 hours (other than continuous shiftworkers) | 150% | $57.24 |
| Overtime: Overtime — after 3 hours | 200% | $76.32 |
| Overtime: Saturday overtime, day worker — first 3 hours (minimum 4 hours) | 150% | $57.24 |
| Overtime: Saturday overtime, day worker — after 3 hours | 200% | $76.32 |
| Overtime: Sunday overtime (minimum 3 hours) | 200% | $76.32 |
| Overtime: Public holiday overtime, day worker (minimum 3 hours) | 250% | $95.40 |
| Overtime: Continuous shiftworker — all overtime | 200% | $76.32 |
Manufacturing Award (MA000010) cl 33 and cl 32, applied to the $38.16 minimum; casual rates differ. Full Manufacturing Award rates.
$38 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $760.00 | $694.83 | $39,520 | $36,131 |
| 25 | $950.00 | $833.29 | $49,400 | $43,331 |
| 30 | $1,140.00 | $959.63 | $59,280 | $49,901 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,444.00 | $1,164.23 | $75,088 | $60,540 |
| 45 | $1,710.00 | $1,345.12 | $88,920 | $69,946 |
| 38 as a casual$47.50 an hour: $38 plus 25% | $1,805.00 | $1,409.71 | $93,860 | $73,305 |
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 $33.33 of each hour, against $30.64 full time. The 37% tax rate starts above $135,000 a year, or $68.32 an hour full time. For every tax threshold near this salary, see take-home pay on $75,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $38 an hour?
- Adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $38 an hour include: Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 4 and Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 7 at $37.59 from 1 July 2026; Mining Award Level 7 (Dual trade instrumentation) at $37.62 from 1 July 2026; Aged Care Award Direct care — level 4 (Senior) at $37.68 from 1 July 2026; SCHADS Award (home care — aged care) Level 4 Senior at $37.68 from 1 July 2026; Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 8, 2nd–3rd year and Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 9, 1st year at $38.02 from 1 October 2026; Manufacturing Award C2(a) / V13 at $38.16 from 1 July 2026. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay, and an employer can pay above them.
- Is $38 an hour a casual award rate?
- $38 is within 50c of the casual minimum for: Fast Food Award Level 3 (in charge of 2 or more people) ($37.84 casual, $30.27 permanent); Road Transport Award Transport Worker Grade 8 ($37.85 casual, $30.28 permanent); Aged Care Award General — level 4 ($37.93 casual, $30.34 permanent); SCHADS Award (home care — disability) Level 3 pay point 2 ($37.95 casual, $30.36 permanent); Live Performance Award Level 5 — Production and Support Staff 5 ($37.96 casual, $30.37 permanent); Manufacturing Award C9 / V6 ($37.98 casual, $30.38 permanent); Timber Award General Timber — Level 6 and Pulp and Paper — Level 6 and Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 6 ($37.98 casual, $30.38 permanent); Building and Construction Award Level 2 (CW/ECW 2) ($37.99 casual, $30.39 permanent). A casual rate includes a 25% loading paid instead of leave, so the permanent base of $38 as a casual rate is $30.40.
- What are weekend and overtime rates near $38 an hour?
- On the Manufacturing Award C2(a) / V13 minimum of $38.16 (from 1 July 2026), a full-time or part-time employee gets Day worker — Saturday ordinary hours (only where agreed under cl 17.2(c)): 150%, $57.24; Day worker — Sunday ordinary hours (only where agreed under cl 17.2(c)): 200%, $76.32; Day worker — public holiday (minimum 3 hours): 250%, $95.40; overtime, Overtime — first 3 hours (other than continuous shiftworkers): 150%, $57.24. Casuals and other classifications are paid differently.
- Which published pay scales pay about $75,088 a year?
- The published pay scale points within $988 of $75,088, one per employer, are: Western Australian public sector, General Division Level 1, Level 1.3, $74,547; Victorian Public Service, VPS Grade 2, Value Range 2.2, 2.2.3, $74,708; Tasmanian State Service, General Stream Band 2, Band 2 Range 1 Level 6, $74,837; TAS public school teachers, Teachers: Band 1, Levels 1 to 13: Band 1 Level 1, $74,869; SA prison officers, Correctional Officer CO-1 to CO-3: CO-2 increment 5, $75,134; TAS public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse, Grade 2 Year 1, $75,205; ACT police, Team Member/Constable broadband (bands 2–5): Band 3.1, $75,233; WA public health nurses and midwives, Assistant in Nursing, Year 3, $75,266; VIC public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse Level 2 (Certificate IV), Year 3, $75,358; QLD public health nurses and midwives, Assistant in Nursing/Midwifery, Pay point 5, $75,549. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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