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$80,000 a Year Is How Much an Hour?

$40.49 an hour before tax and $32.33 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 $80,000

FrequencyGross (Before Tax)Net (After Tax)
Hourly (38 hrs/wk)$40.49$32.33
Daily (7.6 hrs)$307.69$245.69
Weekly$1,538$1,228
Fortnightly$3,077$2,457
Monthly$6,667$5,323
Annual$80,000$63,880

Of each $40.49 hour, $7.35 goes in income tax and $0.81 in Medicare levy, leaving $32.33. With a HECS-HELP debt, the compulsory repayment takes that to $31.53. FY2026-27 resident rates, no Medicare Levy Surcharge (method in full).

Minimum Award Rates Near $40.49 an Hour

$40.49 an hour is 1.5 times the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour for adults from 1 July 2026.

$80,000 a year is ahead of 36–43% of full-time employees (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and $28,352 below the average full-time salary of $108,352 (May 2026).

These award classifications have an adult minimum rate within $1.26 of $40.49 an hour.

Adult minimum award rates compared with $40.49 an hour
Award and classificationMinimum ratevs $40.49From
Manufacturing AwardC2(b) / V14$39.83−$0.661 July 2026
Local Government AwardLevel 9$39.83−$0.661 July 2026
Nurses AwardOccupational health nurse level 2 — pay point 2; Registered nurse level 2 — pay point 2Pay guides with this rate: Nurse, Midwife$40.22−$0.271 July 2026
SCHADS Award (social and community services)Level 3 pay point 1Pay guides with this rate: Disability Support Worker, Social Worker, Youth Worker$40.49same1 July 2026
Health Professionals AwardHealth Professional Level 1 — AQF 5, 7th year+Pay guide with this rate: Lab Technician$40.56+$0.071 October 2026
Aged Care AwardDirect care — level 6 (Team Leader)Pay guide with this rate: Aged Care Worker$40.58+$0.091 July 2026
SCHADS Award (home care — aged care)Level 6 Team leader$40.58+$0.091 July 2026
Pharmacy AwardPharmacistPay guide with this rate: Pharmacist$41.74+$1.251 July 2026

Adult minimums for ordinary hours from the first full pay period on or after the date shown; pay can be higher. Sources: Manufacturing Award (MA000010) cl 20.1(a); Local Government Award (MA000112) cl 16.1; Nurses Award (MA000034) cl 15.1 and 15.3; SCHADS Award (MA000100) award text and FWO pay guide, determination PR799380 (SACS Levels 2–8 with Equal Remuneration Order PR525485); Health Professionals Award (MA000027) cl 16.2(a) (Support Services) and cl 17.1–17.2 (Health Professionals); Aged Care Award (MA000018) cl 14.1 to 14.3; Pharmacy Award (MA000012) cl 16.1, Table 3.

Pay Scale Points Near $80,000 a Year

Points within $2,500 of $80,000 on published public service, defence, nursing and emergency services pay scales, one per employer (full-time hours vary, so compare salaries):

Published pay scale points near $80,000 a year
Employer and pointSalaryvs $80,000
South Australian public sectorSchool Services Officer Level 2, SSO-2 increment 3From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026$79,526−$474
ACT prison officersCorrectional Officer Class 1: Class 1 — entryFrom 4 December 2025$79,546−$454
Western Australian public sectorGeneral Division Level 2, Level 2.1From 13 June 2026$79,604−$396
Northern Territory Public SectorAdministrative Officer 4, AO4 pay point 1From 13 August 2026$79,664−$336
Victorian Public ServiceVPS Grade 2, Value Range 2.2, 2.2.7From 1 May 2026$79,753−$247
TAS prison officersCorrectional Officer and First Class Correctional Officer — day workers (Schedule 1): First Class Correctional Officer (FCCO) Level 1From 1 December 2025$80,016+$16
NT firefightersFirefighters (Schedule 3 — base annual salary): Recruit Firefighter - first 4 monthsFrom 21 November 2024$80,285+$285
NSW prison officersCorrectional officer ranks: Correctional Officer 2nd year and thereafterFrom 1 July 2026$80,292+$292
NSW public sectorAdministrative and Clerical Officer, Grade 1, thereafterFrom the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026$80,292+$292
Australian Defence ForcePrivate Proficient / Able Seaman / Leading Aircraftman, increment 0, pay grade 1From 6 November 2025$80,341+$341
SA prison officersCorrectional Officer CO-1 to CO-3: CO-3 increment 3From 1 July 2026$80,349+$349
TAS public health nurses and midwivesEnrolled Nurse, Grade 2 Year 4From 1 December 2025$80,524+$524

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

$80,000 as an Hourly Rate Including Super

With $9,600 of Super Guarantee on top (12% of salary in 2026-27), the package is $89,600, or $45.34 an hour. How super works.

Reverse: $40 an hour is how much a year. Other figures: hourly to annual salary calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

$45.34 an hour: $40.49 of salary plus $4.86 of employer super ($9,600 a year, 12% of salary).

Adult minimum rates within $1.26 of $40.49 an hour include: Manufacturing Award C2(b) / V14 at $39.83 from 1 July 2026; Local Government Award Level 9 at $39.83 from 1 July 2026; Nurses Award Occupational health nurse level 2 — pay point 2 and Registered nurse level 2 — pay point 2 at $40.22 from 1 July 2026; SCHADS Award (social and community services) Level 3 pay point 1 at $40.49 from 1 July 2026; Health Professionals Award Health Professional Level 1 — AQF 5, 7th year+ at $40.56 from 1 October 2026; Aged Care Award Direct care — level 6 (Team Leader) at $40.58 from 1 July 2026; SCHADS Award (home care — aged care) Level 6 Team leader at $40.58 from 1 July 2026; Pharmacy Award Pharmacist at $41.74 from 1 July 2026. These are legal minimums for ordinary hours, not typical pay: many employees are paid more.

Within $2,500 of $80,000, one point per employer: South Australian public sector, School Services Officer Level 2, SSO-2 increment 3, $79,526; ACT prison officers, Correctional Officer Class 1: Class 1 — entry, $79,546; Western Australian public sector, General Division Level 2, Level 2.1, $79,604; Northern Territory Public Sector, Administrative Officer 4, AO4 pay point 1, $79,664; Victorian Public Service, VPS Grade 2, Value Range 2.2, 2.2.7, $79,753; TAS prison officers, Correctional Officer and First Class Correctional Officer — day workers (Schedule 1): First Class Correctional Officer (FCCO) Level 1, $80,016; NT firefighters, Firefighters (Schedule 3 — base annual salary): Recruit Firefighter - first 4 months, $80,285; NSW prison officers, Correctional officer ranks: Correctional Officer 2nd year and thereafter, $80,292; NSW public sector, Administrative and Clerical Officer, Grade 1, thereafter, $80,292; Australian Defence Force, Private Proficient / Able Seaman / Leading Aircraftman, increment 0, pay grade 1, $80,341; SA prison officers, Correctional Officer CO-1 to CO-3: CO-3 increment 3, $80,349; TAS public health nurses and midwives, Enrolled Nurse, Grade 2 Year 4, $80,524. 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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