How to calculate your take-home pay on the casual minimum wage in Australia

Understanding the casual minimum wage in Australia

If you're working casually in Australia, your minimum pay rate is higher than the standard national minimum wage. The Fair Work Ombudsman sets the national minimum wage at $26.44 per hour for permanent employees, but casual workers receive a 25% loading on top of that. That means the casual minimum wage in Australia is $33.05 per hour from 1 July 2026. This loading compensates you for not receiving paid leave entitlements like annual leave or sick leave.

Most casual employees are covered by a modern award, which may set higher rates. But if no award applies, the national minimum wage with casual loading is your legal minimum. You cannot be paid less than this, even if you agree to it.

How to estimate your take-home pay

Your take-home pay is what lands in your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy are deducted. Superannuation is paid on top of your wages by your employer (at 12% from 1 July 2026) and does not reduce your take-home amount.

Step 1: Calculate your annual earnings

Assume you work 38 hours per week (the standard full-time equivalent for casuals). Your hourly rate is $33.05, so:

• Weekly pay: 38 × $33.05 = $1,255.90
• Annual pay: $1,255.90 × 52 = $65,306.80

Step 2: Apply income tax (2026–27 resident rates)

Using the Australian Tax Office brackets:

• First $18,200: nil tax
• $18,201 to $45,000: 15c for each dollar over $18,200 = $4,020
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each dollar over $45,000

For $65,306.80:

• Tax on $45,001–$65,306.80: 30c × $20,306.80 = $6,092.04
• Total tax before offsets: $4,020 + $6,092.04 = $10,112.04

Step 3: Apply the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO)

LITO reduces your tax. For taxable income of $65,306, the offset is $325 minus 1.5c per dollar over $45,000. That works out to $325 – $304.60 = $20.40. So your final tax is $10,112.04 – $20.40 = $10,091.64.

Step 4: Add the Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For $65,306.80, that's $1,306.14. Since your income is above the single upper threshold of $35,013, you pay the full 2%. (The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013; if your income falls between them, a shading rate applies.)

Step 5: Your take-home pay

Total deductions: $10,091.64 (tax) + $1,306.14 (Medicare) = $11,397.78.

• Annual take-home: $65,306.80 – $11,397.78 = $53,909.02
• Weekly take-home: $53,909.02 ÷ 52 = $1,036.71
• Fortnightly take-home: $1,036.71 × 2 = $2,073.42

This is an example only. Your actual take-home may differ if you work fewer hours, have a HELP debt, or salary sacrifice. Use our Take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.

What about superannuation?

Employers must pay super guarantee contributions of 12% on top of your ordinary earnings. For a casual earning $65,306.80, that's an extra $7,836.82 paid into your super fund. This is not deducted from your take-home pay – it's an additional benefit.

Key points to remember

• The casual minimum wage in Australia is $33.05 per hour from 1 July 2026.
• Your take-home pay depends on your total hours and the tax brackets that apply.
• The Medicare levy is 2% for most full-time casual workers.
• Super is paid on top of your wage, not taken out of it.

For more details on minimum wage rates, see our Minimum wage guide. To compare your pay with industry averages, check the Benchmarks page.