$40 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$40 an hour is $79,040 a year before tax and $63,227 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$40 an Hour After Tax
$40 an hour after tax is $1,215.90 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $32.00 of every hour. The effective tax rate is 20.0%, and the next dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $40.00 | $304.00 | $1,520.00 | $3,040.00 | $6,586.67 | $79,040.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$7.20 | −$54.74 | −$273.69 | −$547.38 | −$1,186.00 | −$14,232.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.80 | −$6.08 | −$30.40 | −$60.81 | −$131.75 | −$1,581.00 |
| Take-home pay | $32.00 | $243.18 | $1,215.90 | $2,431.81 | $5,268.92 | $63,227.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $4.80 | $36.48 | $182.40 | $364.81 | $790.42 | $9,485.00 |
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 $1,427 brings the year to $61,800.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $40 an Hour
$40 an hour is 1.5 times the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$79,040 a year is ahead of 36–43% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $29,312 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $40 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $40 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 2 pay point 4Pay guides with this rate: Disability Support Worker, Youth Worker | $39.53 | −$0.47 | $49.41 | 1 July 2026 |
| Manufacturing AwardC2(b) / V14 | $39.83 | −$0.17 | $49.79 | 1 July 2026 |
| Local Government AwardLevel 9 | $39.83 | −$0.17 | $49.79 | 1 July 2026 |
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 2 — pay point 2; Registered nurse level 2 — pay point 2Pay guides with this rate: Nurse, Midwife | $40.22 | +$0.22 | $50.28 | 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: SCHADS Award (MA000100) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799380 (SACS Levels 2–8 with Equal Remuneration Order PR525485); Manufacturing Award (MA000010) cl 20.1(a); Local Government Award (MA000112) cl 16.1; Nurses Award (MA000034) cl 15.1 and 15.3.
Pay Scale Points Near $79,040 a Year
$40 an hour full time is $79,040 a year. Points within $988 of $79,040 on published public service, defence, school, nursing and emergency services pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $79,040 |
|---|---|---|
| TAS paramedicsParamedic Intern and Paramedic Level 2 (Schedule 1, Table 1): Paramedic Intern 01From 1 December 2025 | $78,771 | −$269 |
| NSW prison officersCorrectional officer ranks: Correctional Officer 1st yearFrom 1 July 2026 | $78,821 | −$219 |
| WA prison officersPrison Officer (Monday to Friday): Prison Officer 1st Year (Mon–Fri)From 11 June 2026 | $78,881 | −$159 |
| NT prison officersCorrectional Officer (CO) and First Class: CO 1/C (2)From 2 December 2024 | $78,888 | −$152 |
| QLD public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse, Pay point 4From 1 April 2026 | $78,949 | −$91 |
| Australian Defence ForcePrivate / Seaman / Aircraftman, increment 0, pay grade 1From 6 November 2025 | $79,096 | +$56 |
| QLD public school teachersAssistant teachers and community teachers: Community Teacher, Step 2From 1 September 2026 (community teachers: 7 September 2026) | $79,176 | +$136 |
| NT public school teachersAboriginal team teachers: AT1 to AT7, and authorised persons: AT4From the first full pay period on or after 1 January 2026 | $79,229 | +$189 |
| TAS public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse, Grade 2 Year 3From 1 December 2025 | $79,304 | +$264 |
| Tasmanian State ServiceGeneral Stream Band 3, Band 3 Range 1 Level 3From the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2025 | $79,356 | +$316 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Is $40 an Hour a Casual Award Rate?
As a casual rate, $40 is a base of $32.00 plus the 25% loading paid instead of leave. These award classifications have a casual minimum within 50c of $40:
| Award and classification | Permanent minimum | Casual minimum | vs $40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair and Beauty AwardLevel 6 | $32.00 | $40.00 | same |
| Health Professionals AwardSupport Services Level 6 | $32.09 | $40.11 | +$0.11 |
| Timber AwardGeneral Timber — Level 7; Pulp and Paper — Level 8; Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 7 | $32.13 | $40.16 | +$0.16 |
| Fitness Industry AwardLevel 4A | $32.13 | $40.16 | +$0.16 |
| SCHADS Award (home care — disability)Level 4 pay point 1 | $32.13 | $40.16 | +$0.16 |
| Miscellaneous AwardLevel 4 | $32.13 | $40.16 | +$0.16 |
| Restaurant AwardLevel 6 | $32.13 | $40.16 | +$0.16 |
| Building and Construction AwardLevel 4 (CW/ECW 4) | $32.15 | $40.19 | +$0.19 |
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 $40 an Hour
The closest award minimum to $40 with published penalty tables is Manufacturing Award C2(b) / V14 at $39.83 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% | $59.75 |
| Day worker — Sunday ordinary hours (only where agreed under cl 17.2(c)) | 200% | $79.66 |
| Day worker — public holiday (minimum 3 hours) | 250% | $99.58 |
| Afternoon or night shift | 115% | $45.80 |
| Permanent night shift | 130% | $51.78 |
| Shiftworker — Saturday | 150% | $59.75 |
| Shiftworker (other than continuous) — Sunday | 200% | $79.66 |
| Shiftworker (other than continuous) — public holiday | 250% | $99.58 |
| Overtime: Overtime — first 3 hours (other than continuous shiftworkers) | 150% | $59.75 |
| Overtime: Overtime — after 3 hours | 200% | $79.66 |
| Overtime: Saturday overtime, day worker — first 3 hours (minimum 4 hours) | 150% | $59.75 |
| Overtime: Saturday overtime, day worker — after 3 hours | 200% | $79.66 |
| Overtime: Sunday overtime (minimum 3 hours) | 200% | $79.66 |
| Overtime: Public holiday overtime, day worker (minimum 3 hours) | 250% | $99.58 |
| Overtime: Continuous shiftworker — all overtime | 200% | $79.66 |
Manufacturing Award (MA000010) cl 33 and cl 32, applied to the $39.83 minimum; casual rates differ. Full Manufacturing Award rates.
$40 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $800.00 | $726.02 | $41,600 | $37,753 |
| 25 | $1,000.00 | $866.54 | $52,000 | $45,060 |
| 30 | $1,200.00 | $999.54 | $62,400 | $51,976 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,520.00 | $1,215.90 | $79,040 | $63,227 |
| 45 | $1,800.00 | $1,406.31 | $93,600 | $73,128 |
| 38 as a casual$50.00 an hour: $40 plus 25% | $1,900.00 | $1,474.31 | $98,800 | $76,664 |
Dropping to 25 hours a week cuts gross pay by 34% but take-home by only 29%, 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 $34.66 of each hour, against $32.00 full time. The 37% rate starts above $135,000, $68.32 an hour full time. Every threshold at this income: take-home pay on $80,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $40 an hour?
- From 1 July 2026, adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $40 an hour include: SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 2 pay point 4 at $39.53; Manufacturing Award C2(b) / V14 at $39.83; Local Government Award Level 9 at $39.83; Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 2 — pay point 2 and Registered nurse level 2 — pay point 2 at $40.22. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.
- Is $40 an hour a casual award rate?
- $40 is within 50c of the casual minimum for: Hair and Beauty Award Level 6 ($40.00 casual, $32.00 permanent); Health Professionals Award Support Services Level 6 ($40.11 casual, $32.09 permanent); Timber Award General Timber — Level 7 and Pulp and Paper — Level 8 and Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 7 ($40.16 casual, $32.13 permanent); Fitness Industry Award Level 4A ($40.16 casual, $32.13 permanent); SCHADS Award (home care — disability) Level 4 pay point 1 ($40.16 casual, $32.13 permanent); Miscellaneous Award Level 4 ($40.16 casual, $32.13 permanent); Restaurant Award Level 6 ($40.16 casual, $32.13 permanent); Building and Construction Award Level 4 (CW/ECW 4) ($40.19 casual, $32.15 permanent). A casual rate includes a 25% loading paid instead of leave, so the permanent base of $40 as a casual rate is $32.00.
- What are weekend and overtime rates near $40 an hour?
- On the Manufacturing Award C2(b) / V14 minimum of $39.83 (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%, $59.75; Day worker — Sunday ordinary hours (only where agreed under cl 17.2(c)): 200%, $79.66; Day worker — public holiday (minimum 3 hours): 250%, $99.58; overtime, Overtime — first 3 hours (other than continuous shiftworkers): 150%, $59.75. Casuals and other classifications are paid differently.
- Which published pay scales pay about $79,040 a year?
- Within $988 of $79,040, one point per employer: TAS paramedics, Paramedic Intern and Paramedic Level 2 (Schedule 1, Table 1): Paramedic Intern 01, $78,771; NSW prison officers, Correctional officer ranks: Correctional Officer 1st year, $78,821; WA prison officers, Prison Officer (Monday to Friday): Prison Officer 1st Year (Mon–Fri), $78,881; NT prison officers, Correctional Officer (CO) and First Class: CO 1/C (2), $78,888; QLD public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse, Pay point 4, $78,949; Australian Defence Force, Private / Seaman / Aircraftman, increment 0, pay grade 1, $79,096; QLD public school teachers, Assistant teachers and community teachers: Community Teacher, Step 2, $79,176; NT public school teachers, Aboriginal team teachers: AT1 to AT7, and authorised persons: AT4, $79,229; TAS public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse, Grade 2 Year 3, $79,304; Tasmanian State Service, General Stream Band 3, Band 3 Range 1 Level 3, $79,356. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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