Your architecture salary: what changes your fortnightly take-home pay

Your architecture salary: understanding what reaches your bank account

When you see an architecture salary in a job advertisement or an award rate, it's the gross figure – the amount before tax, the Medicare levy, and other deductions. What actually lands in your bank account each fortnight depends on your tax bracket, your Medicare levy status, and whether super is quoted on top. This guide uses the Architects Award 2020 rates to show you how your architecture salary translates into take-home pay.

Gross pay under the Architects Award

The Architects Award 2020 (MA000079) sets minimum pay rates for architects and graduates. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Association of Consulting Architects (ACA), the rates from 1 July 2026 are:

• Level 1 Graduate of Architecture (entry): $68,191 per year ($34.40 per hour)
• Level 1 Graduate of Architecture (2nd pay point): $75,401 per year ($38.04 per hour)
• Level 2(a) Experienced Graduate of Architecture: $78,838 per year ($39.77 per hour)
• Level 2(b) Registered Architect (2nd pay point): $83,716 per year ($42.23 per hour)

These are the minimums. Many architects earn above award, but the award provides a useful baseline for calculating take-home pay.

What changes your fortnight: tax brackets, Medicare, and super

Your fortnightly take-home is affected by three main factors: income tax brackets, the Medicare levy, and superannuation (which is not deducted from your pay but is an employer contribution).

Income tax brackets (2026–27)

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) uses a progressive tax system. For the 2026–27 tax year, the rates are:

• $0 – $18,200: Nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
• $190,001 and over: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which reduces tax for incomes up to $66,667. The maximum LITO is $700 for taxable incomes up to $37,500, then phases out.

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but there are thresholds. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper). If you earn below $28,011, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate (10c per $1 over the lower threshold). Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. Most full-time architecture salaries exceed $35,013, so you'll pay the full 2%.

Superannuation

Super is not deducted from your salary. From 1 July 2026, employers must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings on top of your salary, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. When you see an architecture salary advertised, it's usually exclusive of super. Your take-home pay is calculated from the gross salary, and super is additional.

Take-home examples for architecture salaries

Let's look at two common architecture salary levels and calculate the fortnightly take-home after tax and Medicare. We'll assume no HELP/HECS, no salary sacrifice, and standard tax-table rounding.

Example 1: Entry-level Graduate of Architecture ($68,191)

• Gross annual: $68,191
• Gross fortnightly: $68,191 ÷ 26 = $2,622.73
• Tax on $68,191: Using the brackets: $4,020 + 30% × ($68,191 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $6,957.30 = $10,977.30
• LITO: At $68,191, LITO is $325 – 1.5c per $1 over $45,000 = $325 – $347.87 = $0 (phased out completely)
• Medicare levy: 2% × $68,191 = $1,363.82
• Total deductions: $10,977.30 + $1,363.82 = $12,341.12
• Net annual: $68,191 – $12,341.12 = $55,849.88
• Net fortnightly: $55,849.88 ÷ 26 = $2,148.07

Example 2: Registered Architect 2nd pay point ($83,716)

• Gross annual: $83,716
• Gross fortnightly: $83,716 ÷ 26 = $3,219.85
• Tax on $83,716: $4,020 + 30% × ($83,716 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $11,614.80 = $15,634.80
• LITO: Phased out completely at this income.
• Medicare levy: 2% × $83,716 = $1,674.32
• Total deductions: $15,634.80 + $1,674.32 = $17,309.12
• Net annual: $83,716 – $17,309.12 = $66,406.88
• Net fortnightly: $66,406.88 ÷ 26 = $2,554.11

These are estimates. Your actual take-home may vary due to HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge (if you don't have appropriate private hospital cover), or salary packaging arrangements.

How to use this information

When you're negotiating an architecture salary or reviewing a job offer, remember that the advertised figure is not what you'll see in your bank account. Use the Take-home pay calculator on this site to get a personalised estimate. You can also check the Tax and Medicare guide for more details on offsets and thresholds.

If you're a student of architecture, your pay is lower – for example, students 21 and over earn a minimum of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), which is the national minimum wage. At that level, your tax is minimal and you may not pay the Medicare levy if you earn below the threshold.

Final thoughts

Your architecture salary is more than just a number – it's the starting point for your financial planning. Understanding how tax brackets, the Medicare levy, and super affect your fortnightly take-home helps you budget and make informed career decisions. For the most accurate picture, always use the official ATO tax tables and your specific circumstances.

and provide the official award rates used in this guide.