$46 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$46 an hour is $90,896 a year before tax and $71,289 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$46 an Hour After Tax
$46 an hour after tax is $1,370.94 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $36.08 of every hour. With the Medicare levy included, the effective tax rate is 21.6%, and each extra dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $46.00 | $349.60 | $1,748.00 | $3,496.00 | $7,574.67 | $90,896.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$9.00 | −$68.42 | −$342.10 | −$684.19 | −$1,482.42 | −$17,789.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.92 | −$6.99 | −$34.96 | −$69.92 | −$151.50 | −$1,818.00 |
| Take-home pay | $36.08 | $274.19 | $1,370.94 | $2,741.88 | $5,940.75 | $71,289.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $5.52 | $41.95 | $209.77 | $419.54 | $909.00 | $10,908.00 |
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 $3,205 brings the year to $68,084.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $46 an Hour
$46 an hour is 1.7 times the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$90,896 a year is ahead of 47–52% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $17,456 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $46 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $46 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy AwardExperienced pharmacistPay guide with this rate: Pharmacist | $45.72 | −$0.28 | $57.15 | 1 July 2026 |
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 9, 7th year+Pay guides with this rate: Psychologist, Speech Pathologist, Audiologist, Dietitian | $46.18 | +$0.18 | $57.73 | 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: Pharmacy Award (MA000012) cl 16.1, Table 3; Health Professionals Award (MA000027) cl 16.2(a) (Support Services) and cl 17.1–17.2 (Health Professionals).
Pay Scale Points Near $90,896 a Year
$46 an hour full time is $90,896 a year. Points within $988 of $90,896 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 $90,896 |
|---|---|---|
| NT policeConstable to Senior Constable (seven weeks leave): Constable 3From 7 August 2026 | $90,520 | −$376 |
| VIC firefightersRecruit to Qualified Firefighter (FRV published rates): Qualified FirefighterFrom a date FRV does not state (its page, last updated 15 July 2026, lists them as current) | $90,669 | −$227 |
| TAS policeConstable (clause 8.1.1, Column A): Constable Level 8From 1 December 2025 | $90,680 | −$216 |
| SA paramedicsIntern and Paramedic (Schedule 1, Parts 2.2 and 2.3): Paramedic - pay point 2.3From 1 July 2026 | $90,756 | −$140 |
| Northern Territory Public SectorAdministrative Officer 4, AO4 pay point 6From 13 August 2026 | $90,824 | −$72 |
| Tasmanian State ServiceGeneral Stream Band 4, Band 4 Range 1 Level 4From the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2025 | $90,842 | −$54 |
| NT public school teachersAboriginal team teachers: AT1 to AT7, and authorised persons: AT7From the first full pay period on or after 1 January 2026 | $90,881 | −$15 |
| SA public health nurses and midwivesClinical Nurse/Midwife (Level 2), 2nd incrementFrom first full pay period after 1 January 2025 | $90,931 | +$35 |
| VIC public school teachersClassroom teachers, Range 1 and Range 2: 1-5From the first pay period on or after 1 July 2025 | $91,056 | +$160 |
| VIC prison officersSenior Prison Officer / Industry Officer (COG2B): Senior Prison Officer COG2B C2bE04From 1 May 2026 | $91,302 | +$406 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Is $46 an Hour a Casual Award Rate?
As a casual rate, $46 is a base of $36.80 plus the 25% loading paid instead of leave. These award classifications have a casual minimum within 50c of $46:
| Award and classification | Permanent minimum | Casual minimum | vs $46 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 3; Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 6 | $36.53 | $45.66 | −$0.34 |
| Aged Care AwardGeneral — level 6 (most senior food services employee) | $36.91 | $46.14 | +$0.14 |
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 7, 2nd–3rd year | $37.08 | $46.35 | +$0.35 |
| Plumbing AwardAdvanced sprinkler fitter Level 2 | $37.11 | $46.39 | +$0.39 |
Adult minimums for ordinary hours; casual = permanent minimum plus each award's 25% loading. What the loading replaces: casual loading calculator.
$46 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $920.00 | $813.33 | $47,840 | $42,293 |
| 25 | $1,150.00 | $966.29 | $59,800 | $50,247 |
| 30 | $1,380.00 | $1,120.71 | $71,760 | $58,277 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,748.00 | $1,370.94 | $90,896 | $71,289 |
| 45 | $2,070.00 | $1,589.90 | $107,640 | $82,675 |
| 38 as a casual$57.50 an hour: $46 plus 25% | $2,185.00 | $1,668.12 | $113,620 | $86,742 |
Dropping to 25 hours a week cuts gross pay by 34% but take-home by only 30%, 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 $38.65 of each hour, against $36.08 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 $46 an hour?
- Adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $46 an hour include: Pharmacy Award Experienced pharmacist at $45.72 from 1 July 2026; Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 9, 7th year+ at $46.18 from 1 October 2026. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay, and an employer can pay above them.
- Is $46 an hour a casual award rate?
- $46 is within 50c of the casual minimum for: Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 3 and Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 6 ($45.66 casual, $36.53 permanent); Aged Care Award General — level 6 (most senior food services employee) ($46.14 casual, $36.91 permanent); Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 7, 2nd–3rd year ($46.35 casual, $37.08 permanent); Plumbing Award Advanced sprinkler fitter Level 2 ($46.39 casual, $37.11 permanent). A casual rate includes a 25% loading paid instead of leave, so the permanent base of $46 as a casual rate is $36.80.
- Which published pay scales pay about $90,896 a year?
- The published pay scale points within $988 of $90,896, one per employer, are: NT police, Constable to Senior Constable (seven weeks leave): Constable 3, $90,520; VIC firefighters, Recruit to Qualified Firefighter (FRV published rates): Qualified Firefighter, $90,669; TAS police, Constable (clause 8.1.1, Column A): Constable Level 8, $90,680; SA paramedics, Intern and Paramedic (Schedule 1, Parts 2.2 and 2.3): Paramedic - pay point 2.3, $90,756; Northern Territory Public Sector, Administrative Officer 4, AO4 pay point 6, $90,824; Tasmanian State Service, General Stream Band 4, Band 4 Range 1 Level 4, $90,842; NT public school teachers, Aboriginal team teachers: AT1 to AT7, and authorised persons: AT7, $90,881; SA public health nurses and midwives, Clinical Nurse/Midwife (Level 2), 2nd increment, $90,931; VIC public school teachers, Classroom teachers, Range 1 and Range 2: 1-5, $91,056; VIC prison officers, Senior Prison Officer / Industry Officer (COG2B): Senior Prison Officer COG2B C2bE04, $91,302. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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