$52 an Hour Is How Much a Year?
$52 an hour is $102,752 a year before tax and $79,351 after tax in 2026-27, based on a 38-hour week.
$52 an Hour After Tax
$52 an hour after tax is $1,525.98 a week on a 38-hour week: you keep $40.16 of every hour. With the Medicare levy included, the effective tax rate is 22.8%, and each extra dollar is taxed at 32%.
| 38 hrs a week | Hour | Day | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $52.00 | $395.20 | $1,976.00 | $3,952.00 | $8,562.67 | $102,752.00 |
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$10.80 | −$82.10 | −$410.50 | −$821.00 | −$1,778.83 | −$21,346.00 |
| Medicare levy | −$1.04 | −$7.90 | −$39.52 | −$79.04 | −$171.25 | −$2,055.00 |
| Take-home pay | $40.16 | $305.20 | $1,525.98 | $3,051.96 | $6,612.58 | $79,351.00 |
| Employer super (on top) | $6.24 | $47.42 | $237.12 | $474.23 | $1,027.50 | $12,330.00 |
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 $4,984 brings the year to $74,367.
Award Jobs With a Minimum Rate of About $52 an Hour
$52 an hour is 2.0 times the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.
$102,752 a year is ahead of 56–60% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $5,600 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).
These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $0.50 of $52 an hour.
| Award and classification | Minimum rate | vs $52 | Casual minimum | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses AwardRegistered nurse level 5 — grade 2 | $52.06 | +$0.06 | $65.08 | 1 July 2026 |
| Pharmacy AwardPharmacist managerPay guide with this rate: Pharmacist | $52.15 | +$0.15 | $65.19 | 1 July 2026 |
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 2.2; Health Professional Level 3Pay guides with this rate: Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Dental Hygienist and 6 more | $52.19 | +$0.19 | $65.24 | 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; 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 $102,752 a Year
$52 an hour full time is $102,752 a year. Points within $988 of $102,752 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 $102,752 |
|---|---|---|
| QLD firefightersLeading Firefighters and Station Officers (CA25 Schedule 1, base rates): Station Officer 3 PP1From 1 August 2026 (award-floor rows from 1 September 2026) | $102,369 | −$383 |
| TAS public health nurses and midwivesCommunity Health and Family Child Health Nurse, Grade 4 Year 1 (application for progression)From 1 December 2025 | $102,439 | −$313 |
| Northern Territory Public SectorAdministrative Officer 6, AO6 pay point 1From 13 August 2026 | $102,505 | −$247 |
| SA public school teachersTeachers: Step 1 to Step 9: Step 5From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026 | $102,509 | −$243 |
| TAS firefightersFirefighters (Schedule 1, clause 16.1.1): Senior Firefighter 1From 1 December 2025 | $102,550 | −$202 |
| NT public health nurses and midwivesNurse 2 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife), 2.6From 19 August 2025 (first full pay period on or after 9 August 2025) | $102,554 | −$198 |
| Queensland public serviceProfessional Officer 2, PO2/6From 1 September 2026 | $102,634 | −$118 |
| VIC policeConstable to Leading Senior Constable (Schedule A, Levels 1–2): Senior Constable 5From 1 June 2026 | $102,648 | −$104 |
| South Australian public sectorSchool Services Officer Level 4, SSO-4 increment 3From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026 | $102,809 | +$57 |
| NSW public sectorAdministrative and Clerical Officer, Grade 5, 1st year of serviceFrom the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 | $102,936 | +$184 |
Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.
Is $52 an Hour a Casual Award Rate?
As a casual rate, $52 is a base of $41.60 plus the 25% loading paid instead of leave. These award classifications have a casual minimum within 50c of $52:
| Award and classification | Permanent minimum | Casual minimum | vs $52 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 2 — pay point 4; Registered nurse level 2 — pay point 4 and thereafter; Senior occupational health clinical nurse | $41.59 | $51.99 | −$0.01 |
| SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 3 pay point 2 | $41.66 | $52.08 | +$0.08 |
| Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 8, 4th–6th year | $41.71 | $52.14 | +$0.14 |
| Pharmacy AwardPharmacist | $41.74 | $52.18 | +$0.18 |
Adult minimums for ordinary hours; casual = permanent minimum plus each award's 25% loading. What the loading replaces: casual loading calculator.
$52 an Hour by Hours Worked
| Hours a week | Week before tax | Week after tax | Year before tax | Year after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $1,040.00 | $893.13 | $54,080 | $46,443 |
| 25 | $1,300.00 | $1,066.31 | $67,600 | $55,448 |
| 30 | $1,560.00 | $1,243.12 | $81,120 | $64,642 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,976.00 | $1,525.98 | $102,752 | $79,351 |
| 45 | $2,340.00 | $1,773.50 | $121,680 | $92,222 |
| 38 as a casual$65.00 an hour: $52 plus 25% | $2,470.00 | $1,861.90 | $128,440 | $96,819 |
Dropping to 25 hours a week cuts gross pay by 34% but take-home by only 30%, because the tax-free threshold covers a bigger share of the smaller income (both sit in the 30% bracket): you keep $42.65 of each hour, against $40.16 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 $105,000.
Quick Answers
- Which award jobs have a minimum rate of about $52 an hour?
- Adult minimum rates within $0.50 of $52 an hour include: Nurses Award Registered nurse level 5 — grade 2 at $52.06 from 1 July 2026; Pharmacy Award Pharmacist manager at $52.15 from 1 July 2026; Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 2.2 and Health Professional Level 3 at $52.19 from 1 October 2026. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay, and an employer can pay above them.
- Is $52 an hour a casual award rate?
- $52 is within 50c of the casual minimum for: Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 2 — pay point 4 and Registered nurse level 2 — pay point 4 and thereafter and Senior occupational health clinical nurse ($51.99 casual, $41.59 permanent); SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 3 pay point 2 ($52.08 casual, $41.66 permanent); Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 8, 4th–6th year ($52.14 casual, $41.71 permanent); Pharmacy Award Pharmacist ($52.18 casual, $41.74 permanent). A casual rate includes a 25% loading paid instead of leave, so the permanent base of $52 as a casual rate is $41.60.
- Which published pay scales pay about $102,752 a year?
- The published pay scale points within $988 of $102,752, one per employer, are: QLD firefighters, Leading Firefighters and Station Officers (CA25 Schedule 1, base rates): Station Officer 3 PP1, $102,369; TAS public health nurses and midwives, Community Health and Family Child Health Nurse, Grade 4 Year 1 (application for progression), $102,439; Northern Territory Public Sector, Administrative Officer 6, AO6 pay point 1, $102,505; SA public school teachers, Teachers: Step 1 to Step 9: Step 5, $102,509; TAS firefighters, Firefighters (Schedule 1, clause 16.1.1): Senior Firefighter 1, $102,550; NT public health nurses and midwives, Nurse 2 (Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife), 2.6, $102,554; Queensland public service, Professional Officer 2, PO2/6, $102,634; VIC police, Constable to Leading Senior Constable (Schedule A, Levels 1–2): Senior Constable 5, $102,648; South Australian public sector, School Services Officer Level 4, SSO-4 increment 3, $102,809; NSW public sector, Administrative and Clerical Officer, Grade 5, 1st year of service, $102,936. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.
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