Electrician salary Melbourne: what you take home after tax and Medicare in 2026–27

How to estimate your take-home pay as an electrician in Melbourne

If you are an electrician working in Melbourne, your actual take-home pay depends on your classification, any allowances, and the tax system. This guide uses the latest award rates and national earnings data to show you how to work out what reaches your bank account each week or fortnight.

Award minimum rates set a floor

Fair Work publishes the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020, which covers most electricians in Melbourne. The minimum hourly rate for a full-time adult electrical worker grade 1 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week. That is the national minimum wage for this classification. With industry, tool and electrician’s licence allowances, a grade 5 electrical worker earns at least $1,223.11 per week ($32.19 per hour). These rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.

Median earnings give a market benchmark

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time weekly earnings for electricians nationally is $2,191, with a median hourly rate of $55. Most electricians in Melbourne work full-time (94% do) and average 45 hours per week. That median figure is a better guide to what experienced tradespeople earn than the award minimum.

From gross to net: tax and Medicare

Once you know your annual salary, you can estimate your take-home pay using the 2026–27 tax rates. For a single resident, the first $18,200 is tax-free. Income between $18,201 and $45,000 is taxed at 15 cents per dollar, and income between $45,001 and $135,000 at 30 cents per dollar. The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) reduces tax for incomes up to about $66,667, but above that it phases out to zero.

You also pay the Medicare levy of 2% of your taxable income if you earn more than $35,013 as a single person. Between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate. Full-time electrician salaries easily exceed the upper threshold, so you will pay the full 2%.

Example: median earner

Take the median weekly earnings of $2,191. Annualised (52 weeks) that is $113,932. Tax on that income is about $24,700, and Medicare adds $2,279. After subtracting both, your annual take-home is roughly $86,954. That works out to $1,672 per week or $3,344 per fortnight.

Example: award minimum grade 5

If you are on the award minimum for a grade 5 electrical worker with all allowances, your weekly pay is $1,223.11, or $63,602 per year. Tax comes to about $9,554 after LITO, and Medicare is $1,272. Your take-home is $52,776 annually, which is $1,015 per week or $2,030 per fortnight.

Super is on top, not deducted

Employers must pay superannuation at 12% of your ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2026. This is paid into your super fund and is not taken out of your take-home pay. When you see a salary advertised as “$100,000 plus super”, the super is extra. Your take-home is calculated on the $100,000 salary component.

Use a take-home pay calculator

To get a precise figure for your own situation, use the Take-home pay tool on this site. It applies the correct tax brackets, LITO, and Medicare levy for 2026–27. You can also read more about Tax and Medicare to understand how offsets and the levy affect your net income.

What about salary packaging?

Some Melbourne electricians, especially those working in hospitals or charities, may be able to salary package part of their income. This reduces your taxable income and can increase your take-home pay. The Salary packaging guide explains how it works.

Final note

These estimates are for a single resident with no HELP/HECS debt, no Medicare levy surcharge, and no salary sacrifice. Your actual take-home may differ slightly due to payroll rounding. Always check your pay slip and consult the Australian Taxation Office if you are unsure.