$48 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$48 an hour is $94,848 a year before tax and $73,977 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$48 an Hour After Tax
$48 an hour after tax is $1,422.63 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $37.44 of every hour. With the Medicare levy included, the effective tax rate is 22.0%, and each extra dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $48.00 | $364.80 | $1,824.00 | $3,648.00 | $7,904.00 | $94,848.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$9.60 | −$72.98 | −$364.88 | −$729.77 | −$1,581.17 | −$18,974.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$0.96 | −$7.30 | −$36.48 | −$72.96 | −$158.08 | −$1,897.00 |
| Take-home pay | $37.44 | $284.53 | $1,422.63 | $2,845.27 | $6,164.75 | $73,977.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $5.76 | $43.78 | $218.88 | $437.77 | $948.50 | $11,382.00 |
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 $3,798 brings the year to $70,179.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $48 an Hour
$48 an hour is 1.8 times the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$94,848 a year is ahead of 52–56% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $13,504 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $48 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $48 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 4 pay point 2Pay guides with this rate: Disability Support Worker, Social Worker, Youth Worker | $47.92 | −$0.08 | $59.90 | 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).
Pay Scale Points Near $94,848 a Year
$48 an hour full time is $94,848 a year. Points within $988 of $94,848 on published public service, school, nursing, emergency services and aviation pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):
| Employer and point | Salary | vs $94,848 |
|---|---|---|
| Western Australian public sectorSpecified Calling Level 1, SC 1.3From 13 June 2026 | $94,560 | −$288 |
| Queensland public serviceAdministrative Officer 4, AO4/1From 1 September 2026 | $94,567 | −$281 |
| QLD public school teachersClassroom teachers — Stream 1: Band 2, Step 2From 1 September 2026 (Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher: 7 September 2026) | $94,599 | −$249 |
| WA policeConstable, First Class Constable and Senior Constable: Constable 1st year of serviceFrom 1 July 2026 | $94,651 | −$197 |
| Tasmanian State ServiceGeneral Stream Band 4, Band 4 Range 2 Level 3From the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2025 | $94,692 | −$156 |
| Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums)Regional airlines: Captain minimum salaries (clause B.1.1): Group 6 (Jetstream 31, Beach 1900, Metro 23)From 1 July 2026 | $94,791 | −$57 |
| VIC prison officersSenior Prison Officer / Industry Officer (COG2B): Senior Prison Officer COG2B C2bE06From 1 May 2026 | $94,978 | +$130 |
| ACT policeTeam Member/Constable broadband (bands 2–5): Band 4.3From 9 December 2025 | $95,000 | +$152 |
| QLD firefightersLeading Firefighters and Station Officers (CA25 Schedule 1, base rates): Station Officer 1 PP1From 1 August 2026 (award-floor rows from 1 September 2026) | $95,010 | +$162 |
| NSW public health nurses and midwivesRegistered Nurse/Midwife, 4th yearFrom 1 July 2026 | $95,082 | +$234 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Is $48 an Hour a Casual Award Rate?
As a casual rate, $48 is a base of $38.40 plus the 25% loading paid instead of leave. These award classifications have a casual minimum within 50c of $48:
| Award and classification | Permanent minimum | Casual minimum | vs $48 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 8, 2nd–3rd year; Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 9, 1st year | $38.02 | $47.53 | −$0.47 |
| Manufacturing AwardC2(a) / V13 | $38.16 | $47.70 | −$0.30 |
| SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 2 pay point 3 | $38.50 | $48.13 | +$0.13 |
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 5; Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 8 and thereafter | $38.57 | $48.21 | +$0.21 |
Adult minimums for ordinary hours; casual = permanent minimum plus each award's 25% loading. What the loading replaces: casual loading calculator.
$48 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $960.00 | $839.94 | $49,920 | $43,677 |
| 25 | $1,200.00 | $999.54 | $62,400 | $51,976 |
| 30 | $1,440.00 | $1,161.50 | $74,880 | $60,398 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,824.00 | $1,422.63 | $94,848 | $73,977 |
| 45 | $2,160.00 | $1,651.12 | $112,320 | $85,858 |
| 38 as a casual$60.00 an hour: $48 plus 25% | $2,280.00 | $1,732.71 | $118,560 | $90,101 |
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 $39.98 of each hour, against $37.44 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 $95,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $48 an hour?
- From 1 July 2026, adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $48 an hour include: SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 4 pay point 2 at $47.92. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay, and an employer can pay above them.
- Is $48 an hour a casual award rate?
- $48 is within 50c of the casual minimum for: Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 8, 2nd–3rd year and Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 9, 1st year ($47.53 casual, $38.02 permanent); Manufacturing Award C2(a) / V13 ($47.70 casual, $38.16 permanent); SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 2 pay point 3 ($48.13 casual, $38.50 permanent); Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 1 — pay point 5 and Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 8 and thereafter ($48.21 casual, $38.57 permanent). A casual rate includes a 25% loading paid instead of leave, so the permanent base of $48 as a casual rate is $38.40.
- Which published pay scales pay about $94,848 a year?
- The published pay scale points within $988 of $94,848, one per employer, are: Western Australian public sector, Specified Calling Level 1, SC 1.3, $94,560; Queensland public service, Administrative Officer 4, AO4/1, $94,567; QLD public school teachers, Classroom teachers — Stream 1: Band 2, Step 2, $94,599; WA police, Constable, First Class Constable and Senior Constable: Constable 1st year of service, $94,651; Tasmanian State Service, General Stream Band 4, Band 4 Range 2 Level 3, $94,692; Pilots (Air Pilots Award minimums), Regional airlines: Captain minimum salaries (clause B.1.1): Group 6 (Jetstream 31, Beach 1900, Metro 23), $94,791; VIC prison officers, Senior Prison Officer / Industry Officer (COG2B): Senior Prison Officer COG2B C2bE06, $94,978; ACT police, Team Member/Constable broadband (bands 2–5): Band 4.3, $95,000; QLD firefighters, Leading Firefighters and Station Officers (CA25 Schedule 1, base rates): Station Officer 1 PP1, $95,010; NSW public health nurses and midwives, Registered Nurse/Midwife, 4th year, $95,082. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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