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$120,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour?

$60.73 an hour before tax and $46.09 an hour after tax (2026-27), based on a 38-hour week and 1,976 hours a year.

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Hourly Rate Breakdown for $120,000

FrequencyGross (Before Tax)Net (After Tax)
Hourly (38 hrs/wk)$60.73$46.09
Daily (7.6 hrs)$461.54$350.31
Weekly$2,308$1,752
Fortnightly$4,615$3,503
Monthly$10,000$7,590
Annual$120,000$91,080

Of each $60.73 hour, $13.42 goes in income tax and $1.21 in Medicare levy, leaving $46.09. With a HECS-HELP debt, the compulsory repayment takes that to $42.26. FY2026-27 resident rates, no Medicare Levy Surcharge (method in full).

Minimum Award Rates Near $60.73 an Hour

$60.73 an hour is 2.3 times the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.

$120,000 a year is ahead of 71–74% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $11,648 above the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).

These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $1.26 of $60.73 an hour.

Adult minimum award rates compared with $60.73 an hour
Award and classificationMinimum ratevs $60.73From
SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 6 pay point 3Pay guide with this rate: Social Worker$60.95+$0.221 July 2026

Adult minimums for ordinary hours from the first full pay period on or after the date shown; pay can be higher. 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 $120,000 a Year

Points within $2,500 of $120,000 on published public service, defence, emergency services and aviation pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):

Published pay scale points near $120,000 a year
Employer and pointSalaryvs $120,000
TAS firefightersLeading Firefighters and officers (Schedule 1, clause 16.1.1): Station Officer 3From 1 December 2025$119,361−$639
Victorian Public ServiceVPS Grade 5, Value Range 5.1, 5.1.2From 1 May 2026$119,902−$98
Australian Public ServiceTreasury APS 6, APS 6.3From 12 March 2026$119,921−$79
South Australian public sectorProfessional Officer 3, top of bandFrom the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026$119,994−$6
VIC policeConstable to Leading Senior Constable (Schedule A, Levels 1–2): Leading Senior Constable 13From 1 June 2026$120,135+$135
Australian Defence ForceCaptain / Lieutenant / Flight Lieutenant, O3-4, pay grade 1From 6 November 2025$120,330+$330
TAS paramedicsIntensive care, extended care and critical care flight paramedics (Schedule 1, Table 1): Extended Care Paramedic, 02From 1 December 2025$120,414+$414
TAS policeSergeant (clause 8.1.1, Column A): Sergeant Level 5From 1 December 2025$120,422+$422
NSW public sectorAdministrative and Clerical Officer, Grade 7, thereafterFrom the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026$120,478+$478
Northern Territory Public SectorAdministrative Officer 7, AO7 pay point 1From 13 August 2026$120,877+$877
WA policeConstable, First Class Constable and Senior Constable: Senior Constable Increment IIIFrom 1 July 2026$120,886+$886
Air traffic controllersSimulator Support Officer (SSO) classification and base salary: SSO7 - Level 7 Exercise Design and DevelopmentFrom 7 October 2026$120,939+$939

Base salaries as published; allowances, loadings and super are extra.

$120,000 as an Hourly Rate Including Super

With $14,400 of Super Guarantee on top (12% of salary in 2026-27), the package is $134,400, or $68.02 an hour. Matching that as a contractor takes about $655 a day excluding GST ($86.18 an hour) over 210 billable days, after $3,000 of insurance and admin. How super works · contractor pay calculator.

Reverse: $61 an hour is how much a year. Other figures: hourly to annual salary calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

$68.02 an hour: $60.73 of salary plus $7.29 of employer super ($14,400 a year, 12% of salary).

From 1 July 2026, adult minimum rates within $1.26 of $60.73 an hour include: SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 6 pay point 3 at $60.95. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.

Within $2,500 of $120,000, one point per employer: TAS firefighters, Leading Firefighters and officers (Schedule 1, clause 16.1.1): Station Officer 3, $119,361; Victorian Public Service, VPS Grade 5, Value Range 5.1, 5.1.2, $119,902; Australian Public Service, Treasury APS 6, APS 6.3, $119,921; South Australian public sector, Professional Officer 3, top of band, $119,994; VIC police, Constable to Leading Senior Constable (Schedule A, Levels 1–2): Leading Senior Constable 13, $120,135; Australian Defence Force, Captain / Lieutenant / Flight Lieutenant, O3-4, pay grade 1, $120,330; TAS paramedics, Intensive care, extended care and critical care flight paramedics (Schedule 1, Table 1): Extended Care Paramedic, 02, $120,414; TAS police, Sergeant (clause 8.1.1, Column A): Sergeant Level 5, $120,422; NSW public sector, Administrative and Clerical Officer, Grade 7, thereafter, $120,478; Northern Territory Public Sector, Administrative Officer 7, AO7 pay point 1, $120,877; WA police, Constable, First Class Constable and Senior Constable: Senior Constable Increment III, $120,886; Air traffic controllers, Simulator Support Officer (SSO) classification and base salary: SSO7 - Level 7 Exercise Design and Development, $120,939. These are full-time base salaries; hours, allowances and super differ between employers.

Sources & References

  1. 1
    National Minimum Wage— Fair Work Ombudsman
  2. 2
  3. 3

Last verified: 9 October 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.

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