$45 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$45 an hour is $88,920 a year before tax and $69,946 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$45 an Hour After Tax
$45 an hour after tax is $1,345.12 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $35.40 of every hour. With the Medicare levy included, the effective tax rate is 21.3%, and each extra dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $45.00 | $342.00 | $1,710.00 | $3,420.00 | $7,410.00 | $88,920.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$8.70 | −$66.14 | −$330.69 | −$661.38 | −$1,433.00 | −$17,196.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.90 | −$6.84 | −$34.19 | −$68.38 | −$148.17 | −$1,778.00 |
| Take-home pay | $35.40 | $269.02 | $1,345.12 | $2,690.23 | $5,828.83 | $69,946.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $5.40 | $41.04 | $205.19 | $410.38 | $889.17 | $10,670.00 |
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 $2,909 brings the year to $67,037.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $45 an Hour
$45 an hour is 1.7 times the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$88,920 a year is ahead of 47–52% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $19,432 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $45 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $45 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 3 — pay point 4 and thereafter; Registered nurse level 3 — pay point 4 and thereafterPay guides with this rate: Nurse, Midwife | $45.27 | +$0.27 | $56.59 | 1 July 2026 |
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 8, 7th year+Pay guides with this rate: Sonographer, Speech Pathologist, Dietitian | $45.30 | +$0.30 | $56.63 | 1 October 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; Health Professionals Award (MA000027) cl 16.2(a) (Support Services) and cl 17.1–17.2 (Health Professionals).
Pay Scale Points Near $88,920 a Year
$45 an hour full time is $88,920 a year. Points within $988 of $88,920 on published public service, defence, nursing and emergency services pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $88,920 |
|---|---|---|
| South Australian public sectorSchool Services Officer Level 3, SSO-3 increment 2From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026 | $88,598 | −$322 |
| NT paramedicsIntern and Qualified Paramedic (Schedule 2, 1 July 2024 rates): Para 3+From 1 July 2024 | $88,621 | −$299 |
| NSW public sectorNSW Health Administration Officer Level 6, 2nd Year ($1,704.75 a week)From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 | $88,647 | −$273 |
| Australian Public ServiceAPS 5 threshold, bottom of bandFrom 12 March 2026 | $88,834 | −$86 |
| Queensland public serviceOperational Officer 5, OO5/2From 1 September 2026 | $88,956 | +$36 |
| Australian Defence ForceLance Corporal, increment 0, pay grade 3From 6 November 2025 | $88,963 | +$43 |
| WA public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse, Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse 2From 7 October 2026 | $89,019 | +$99 |
| VIC paramedicsBasic Life Support (BLS) paramedics (Appendix 1): Basic Life Support Ambulance Paramedic - Year 12From 21 October 2025 | $89,069 | +$149 |
| ACT prison officersCorrectional Officer Class 1: Class 1, next pay pointFrom 4 December 2025 | $89,092 | +$172 |
| ACT public health nurses and midwivesMidwife (RM) Level 1, Pay point 3From first full pay period on or after 1 December 2025 (4 December 2025) | $89,260 | +$340 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Is $45 an Hour a Casual Award Rate?
As a casual rate, $45 is a base of $36.00 plus the 25% loading paid instead of leave. These award classifications have a casual minimum within 50c of $45:
| Award and classification | Permanent minimum | Casual minimum | vs $45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCHADS Award (home care — disability)Level 5 pay point 2 | $35.81 | $44.76 | −$0.24 |
| Plumbing AwardPlumbing advanced tradesperson Level 2 (not registered) | $35.94 | $44.93 | −$0.07 |
| Legal Services AwardLevel 6 — Law clerk | $36.03 | $45.04 | +$0.04 |
| Electrical AwardElectrical worker grade 9 | $36.14 | $45.18 | +$0.18 |
| Mining AwardLevel 6 (Dual trade) | $36.20 | $45.25 | +$0.25 |
| SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 2 pay point 1 | $36.22 | $45.28 | +$0.28 |
| Aged Care AwardDirect care — level 3 (Qualified) | $36.23 | $45.29 | +$0.29 |
| SCHADS Award (home care — aged care)Level 3 Qualified | $36.23 | $45.29 | +$0.29 |
Adult minimums for ordinary hours; casual = permanent minimum plus each award's 25% loading. What the loading replaces: casual loading calculator.
$45 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $900.00 | $800.04 | $46,800 | $41,602 |
| 25 | $1,125.00 | $949.65 | $58,500 | $49,382 |
| 30 | $1,350.00 | $1,100.31 | $70,200 | $57,216 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,710.00 | $1,345.12 | $88,920 | $69,946 |
| 45 | $2,025.00 | $1,559.31 | $105,300 | $81,084 |
| 38 as a casual$56.25 an hour: $45 plus 25% | $2,137.50 | $1,635.81 | $111,150 | $85,062 |
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 $37.99 of each hour, against $35.40 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 $90,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $45 an hour?
- Adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $45 an hour include: Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 3 — pay point 4 and thereafter and Registered nurse level 3 — pay point 4 and thereafter at $45.27 from 1 July 2026; Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 8, 7th year+ at $45.30 from 1 October 2026. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay, and an employer can pay above them.
- Is $45 an hour a casual award rate?
- $45 is within 50c of the casual minimum for: SCHADS Award (home care — disability) Level 5 pay point 2 ($44.76 casual, $35.81 permanent); Plumbing Award Plumbing advanced tradesperson Level 2 (not registered) ($44.93 casual, $35.94 permanent); Legal Services Award Level 6 — Law clerk ($45.04 casual, $36.03 permanent); Electrical Award Electrical worker grade 9 ($45.18 casual, $36.14 permanent); Mining Award Level 6 (Dual trade) ($45.25 casual, $36.20 permanent); SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 2 pay point 1 ($45.28 casual, $36.22 permanent); Aged Care Award Direct care — level 3 (Qualified) ($45.29 casual, $36.23 permanent); SCHADS Award (home care — aged care) Level 3 Qualified ($45.29 casual, $36.23 permanent). A casual rate includes a 25% loading paid instead of leave, so the permanent base of $45 as a casual rate is $36.00.
- Which published pay scales pay about $88,920 a year?
- The published pay scale points within $988 of $88,920, one per employer, are: South Australian public sector, School Services Officer Level 3, SSO-3 increment 2, $88,598; NT paramedics, Intern and Qualified Paramedic (Schedule 2, 1 July 2024 rates): Para 3+, $88,621; NSW public sector, NSW Health Administration Officer Level 6, 2nd Year ($1,704.75 a week), $88,647; Australian Public Service, APS 5 threshold, bottom of band, $88,834; Queensland public service, Operational Officer 5, OO5/2, $88,956; Australian Defence Force, Lance Corporal, increment 0, pay grade 3, $88,963; WA public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse, Advanced Skill Enrolled Nurse 2, $89,019; VIC paramedics, Basic Life Support (BLS) paramedics (Appendix 1): Basic Life Support Ambulance Paramedic - Year 12, $89,069; ACT prison officers, Correctional Officer Class 1: Class 1, next pay point, $89,092; ACT public health nurses and midwives, Midwife (RM) Level 1, Pay point 3, $89,260. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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