How to compare job offers using our australia take home pay calculator

Compare job offers with your take-home pay

When you receive a job offer, the headline salary can look attractive. But what really matters is the amount that lands in your bank account each pay cycle. That is your take-home pay after income tax and the Medicare levy. Our australia take home pay calculator helps you see the real figure so you can compare offers fairly.

Why take-home pay matters more than gross salary

Two jobs might both pay $90,000 a year, but your take-home could differ if one includes salary packaging or if you have HELP debt. For a straightforward comparison, start with the gross salary and apply the tax rates. The 2026–27 resident tax brackets are:

• Up to $18,200: nil
• $18,201 to $45,000: 15c per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 to $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c per $1 over $190,000

Then add the Medicare levy at 2%, but check if you qualify for a reduction. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your taxable income is below $28,011, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay 10c per dollar over the lower threshold. Above $35,013 you pay the full 2%.

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). For 2026–27, the maximum LITO is $700 for incomes up to $37,500, then it phases out. LITO can only reduce your tax to zero, not create a refund.

How to use the calculator for job comparisons

Our australia take home pay calculator lets you enter a gross salary and see your estimated weekly, fortnightly, and annual take-home pay. For example, if you are considering a role paying the national minimum wage—$26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on 38 hours)—the calculator will show you what remains after tax and Medicare. The annual minimum wage is $52,255 (rounded).

To compare two offers, enter each gross salary into the calculator. Note whether the advertised salary is 'plus super' or 'including super'. Most job ads show a base salary plus super, meaning the super is extra. The super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not deducted from your take-home pay, but it is a valuable part of your total remuneration.

Other factors that affect take-home pay

This estimate does not include HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge (if you earn over a threshold and don't have appropriate private hospital cover), salary sacrifice arrangements, or payroll tax-table rounding. For a precise figure, you should check your individual circumstances with the Australian Taxation Office or a tax professional. Our calculator is a resident estimate only and not a tax assessment.

Using benchmarks to gauge an offer

You can also compare a job offer against national averages. According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026, seasonally adjusted), the average weekly total earnings for all employees is $1,579.20 (annualised $82,118). For full-time adult ordinary time earnings, the average is $2,083.70 per week (annualised $108,352). These figures exclude overtime and employer super. Use our Benchmarks page to see how an offer stacks up.

Final tips

• Always ask if the salary is 'plus super' or 'package'.
• Consider the total value: salary plus super plus any bonuses.
• Use our australia take home pay calculator to see the net amount you will actually spend.
• Remember that tax rates and thresholds can change each year. The figures here are for 2026–27.

By focusing on take-home pay, you can make a clearer decision between job offers and avoid being misled by a high gross figure that shrinks after tax. For more details on tax and Medicare, see our Tax and Medicare guide.