$43 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$43 an hour is $84,968 a year before tax and $67,259 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$43 an Hour After Tax
$43 an hour after tax is $1,293.44 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $34.04 of every hour. The effective tax rate is 20.8%, and the next dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $43.00 | $326.80 | $1,634.00 | $3,268.00 | $7,080.67 | $84,968.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$8.10 | −$61.58 | −$307.88 | −$615.77 | −$1,334.17 | −$16,010.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.86 | −$6.53 | −$32.67 | −$65.35 | −$141.58 | −$1,699.00 |
| Take-home pay | $34.04 | $258.69 | $1,293.44 | $2,586.88 | $5,604.92 | $67,259.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $5.16 | $39.22 | $196.08 | $392.15 | $849.67 | $10,196.00 |
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 $2,316 brings the year to $64,943.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $43 an Hour
$43 an hour is 1.6 times the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$84,968 a year is ahead of 43–47% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $23,384 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $43 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $43 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 3 — pay point 1; Registered nurse level 3 — pay point 1Pay guides with this rate: Nurse, Midwife | $42.93 | −$0.07 | $53.66 | 1 July 2026 |
| SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 3 pay point 4Pay guides with this rate: Disability Support Worker, Social Worker, Youth Worker | $43.42 | +$0.42 | $54.28 | 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: Nurses Award (MA000034) cl 15.1 and 15.3; SCHADS Award (MA000100) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799380 (SACS Levels 2–8 with Equal Remuneration Order PR525485).
Pay Scale Points Near $84,968 a Year
$43 an hour full time is $84,968 a year. Points within $988 of $84,968 on published public service, defence, school, emergency services and aviation pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $84,968 |
|---|---|---|
| VIC public school teachersClassroom teachers — Range 1 and Range 2: 1-3From the first pay period on or after 1 July 2025 | $84,690 | −$278 |
| NSW prison officersCorrectional officer ranks: Correctional Officer, First Class 1st yearFrom 1 July 2026 | $84,799 | −$169 |
| NSW public sectorAdministrative and Clerical Officer, Grade 2, thereafterFrom the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 | $84,799 | −$169 |
| Australian Defence ForceLance Corporal, increment 0, pay grade 2From 6 November 2025 | $84,833 | −$135 |
| WA prison officersPrison Officer (Monday to Friday): Prison Officer 3rd Year (Mon–Fri)From 11 June 2026 | $84,836 | −$132 |
| QLD public school teachersAssistant teachers and community teachers: Community Teacher, Step 4From 1 September 2026 (community teachers: 7 September 2026) | $84,913 | −$55 |
| VIC paramedicsBasic Life Support (BLS) paramedics (Appendix 1): Basic Life Support Ambulance Paramedic - Year 6From 21 October 2025 | $84,949 | −$19 |
| SA public school teachersTeachers — Step 1 to Step 9: Step 1From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026 | $84,971 | +$3 |
| Queensland public serviceProfessional Officer 2, PO2/2From 1 September 2026 | $85,207 | +$239 |
| Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums)Helicopter pilots — on-shore, single engine (clause D.5.1): 9th year of serviceFrom 1 July 2026 | $85,301 | +$333 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Is $43 an Hour a Casual Award Rate?
As a casual rate, $43 is a base of $34.40 plus the 25% loading paid instead of leave. These award classifications have a casual minimum within 50c of $43:
| Award and classification | Permanent minimum | Casual minimum | vs $43 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing AwardPlumbing special class Level 2 (not registered) | $34.31 | $42.89 | −$0.11 |
| Aged Care AwardDirect care — level 2 (Direct Carer) | $34.42 | $43.03 | +$0.03 |
| SCHADS Award (home care — aged care)Level 2 Home carer | $34.42 | $43.03 | +$0.03 |
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 5, 2nd–3rd year; Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 6, 2nd–3rd year; Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 7, 1st year | $34.44 | $43.05 | +$0.05 |
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 1; Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 4 | $34.45 | $43.06 | +$0.06 |
| SCHADS Award (home care — disability)Level 5 pay point 1 | $34.45 | $43.06 | +$0.06 |
| Manufacturing AwardC5 / V10 | $34.46 | $43.08 | +$0.08 |
| Mining AwardLevel 5 (Advanced specialist) | $34.56 | $43.20 | +$0.20 |
Adult minimums for ordinary hours; casual = permanent minimum plus each award's 25% loading. What the loading replaces: casual loading calculator.
$43 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $860.00 | $772.83 | $44,720 | $40,187 |
| 25 | $1,075.00 | $916.40 | $55,900 | $47,653 |
| 30 | $1,290.00 | $1,059.50 | $67,080 | $55,094 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,634.00 | $1,293.44 | $84,968 | $67,259 |
| 45 | $1,935.00 | $1,498.12 | $100,620 | $77,902 |
| 38 as a casual$53.75 an hour: $43 plus 25% | $2,042.50 | $1,571.21 | $106,210 | $81,703 |
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 $36.66 of each hour, against $34.04 full time. The 37% rate starts above $135,000, $68.32 an hour full time. Every threshold at this income: take-home pay on $85,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $43 an hour?
- From 1 July 2026, adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $43 an hour include: Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 3 — pay point 1 and Registered nurse level 3 — pay point 1 at $42.93; SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 3 pay point 4 at $43.42. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.
- Is $43 an hour a casual award rate?
- $43 is within 50c of the casual minimum for: Plumbing Award Plumbing special class Level 2 (not registered) ($42.89 casual, $34.31 permanent); Aged Care Award Direct care — level 2 (Direct Carer) ($43.03 casual, $34.42 permanent); SCHADS Award (home care — aged care) Level 2 Home carer ($43.03 casual, $34.42 permanent); Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 5, 2nd–3rd year and Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 6, 2nd–3rd year and Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 7, 1st year ($43.05 casual, $34.44 permanent); Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 1 and Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 4 ($43.06 casual, $34.45 permanent); SCHADS Award (home care — disability) Level 5 pay point 1 ($43.06 casual, $34.45 permanent); Manufacturing Award C5 / V10 ($43.08 casual, $34.46 permanent); Mining Award Level 5 (Advanced specialist) ($43.20 casual, $34.56 permanent). A casual rate includes a 25% loading paid instead of leave, so the permanent base of $43 as a casual rate is $34.40.
- Which published pay scales pay about $84,968 a year?
- Within $988 of $84,968, one point per employer: VIC public school teachers, Classroom teachers — Range 1 and Range 2: 1-3, $84,690; NSW prison officers, Correctional officer ranks: Correctional Officer, First Class 1st year, $84,799; NSW public sector, Administrative and Clerical Officer, Grade 2, thereafter, $84,799; Australian Defence Force, Lance Corporal, increment 0, pay grade 2, $84,833; WA prison officers, Prison Officer (Monday to Friday): Prison Officer 3rd Year (Mon–Fri), $84,836; QLD public school teachers, Assistant teachers and community teachers: Community Teacher, Step 4, $84,913; VIC paramedics, Basic Life Support (BLS) paramedics (Appendix 1): Basic Life Support Ambulance Paramedic - Year 6, $84,949; SA public school teachers, Teachers — Step 1 to Step 9: Step 1, $84,971; Queensland public service, Professional Officer 2, PO2/2, $85,207; Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums), Helicopter pilots — on-shore, single engine (clause D.5.1): 9th year of service, $85,301. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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