How to Use the Hays Salary Guide 2025 to Compare Job Offers by Take-Home Pay
The Hays Salary Guide 2025 shows typical salaries by role and location, but actual take-home pay depends on tax, Medicare, and super. Use the guide to benchmark, then calculate net pay.
Introduction
When you receive a job offer, the headline salary is only part of the story. What actually lands in your bank account each fortnight depends on tax, the Medicare levy, and any salary-sacrifice arrangements. The Hays Salary Guide 2025 is a trusted benchmark for typical pay across industries and locations in Australia. This article shows you how to use the guide to compare offers based on real take-home pay.
Using the Hays Salary Guide 2025 to benchmark offers
The Hays Salary Guide 2025 is based on a survey of over 12,000 respondents across Australia and New Zealand. It provides salary ranges for roles from graduate to C-suite level. Salaries are listed exclusive of superannuation. For example, the guide reports that 58% of respondents earn between $100,000 and $150,000, while 19% earn $150,000–$200,000. You can find the typical salary for your role and location, then use that figure to estimate your net pay.
Understanding the salary figures
Each entry in the guide shows a typical salary (bold) and a range. For instance, a senior qualified accountant in Perth might have a typical salary of $180,000 with a range of $150,000–$210,000. These figures are before super and before tax. The guide also notes that six in ten workers believe they are underpaid, so use the range to negotiate.
Factoring in super and benefits
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% on earnings up to $270,830. Super is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it, unless you salary sacrifice. The Hays guide lists common benefits such as flexible work, additional super, and health cover. When comparing offers, add the value of benefits to the base salary before calculating tax.
Calculating your take-home pay
To compare offers, you need to estimate your after-tax income. Use the 2026–27 tax rates from the Australian Taxation Office. The ATO also publishes Medicare levy thresholds: for singles, the lower threshold is $28,011 and the upper is $35,013. Full-time workers earning above $35,013 pay the full 2% Medicare levy.
Tax and Medicare levy
Apply the resident tax rates:
- $0–$18,200: Nil
- $18,201–$45,000: 15c per $1 over $18,200
- $45,001–$135,000: $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000
- $135,001–$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 2% Medicare levy. You may be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (up to $700). The result is your annual tax. Subtract from gross salary to get annual take-home pay. Divide by 26 for fortnightly net pay.
Example calculation
Suppose a role in the Hays guide shows a typical salary of $120,000. Gross annual: $120,000. Tax: $4,020 + 30c per $1 over $45,000 = $4,020 + 0.30 × $75,000 = $4,020 + $22,500 = $26,520. Medicare levy: 2% × $120,000 = $2,400. Total tax: $28,920. Take-home: $120,000 – $28,920 = $91,080 per year, or about $3,503 per fortnight. This excludes super (which is additional) and any benefits.
Key considerations
Minimum wage and average earnings
Fair Work sets the national minimum wage at $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week (from 1 July 2026). The ABS reports average weekly total earnings for all employees at $1,579.20 (May 2026). Full-time adult ordinary time earnings average $2,083.70 per week. Use these benchmarks to see where your offer stands. See our Benchmarks page for more.
Beyond the base salary
The Hays guide highlights that flexibility is now a non-negotiable benefit. Also consider career development, training, and additional super. When comparing offers, convert benefits into a dollar value and add to the base salary before calculating tax. For example, an extra 2% super on a $120,000 salary adds $2,400 to your total compensation.
Conclusion
The Hays Salary Guide 2025 is an excellent starting point for understanding market rates. But to compare offers fairly, always calculate your take-home pay using the latest tax and Medicare rates. Use our Tax and Medicare guide for detailed tables. Remember that super is on top, and benefits can significantly boost your total package. By focusing on what reaches your bank account, you can make a more informed career decision.
Questions
What does the Hays Salary Guide 2025 show for typical salaries?
The Hays Salary Guide 2025 provides typical salary ranges for hundreds of roles across Australia and New Zealand, based on a survey of over 12,000 respondents. Salaries are shown exclusive of superannuation. For example, the guide reports that 58% of respondents earn between $100,000 and $150,000. You can find the typical salary for your role and location, then use that figure to estimate your take-home pay.
How do I calculate my take-home pay from a salary in the guide?
Start with the typical salary from the Hays guide (exclude super). Apply the 2026–27 tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, then 15c per $1 up to $45,000, 30c up to $135,000, 37c up to $190,000, and 45c above. Add the Medicare levy of 2% (full rate for most full-time workers). Subtract the Low Income Tax Offset if eligible. The result is your annual take-home pay. Divide by 26 for fortnightly net pay. Use our Take-home pay guide for a step-by-step example.
What benefits should I consider beyond base salary?
The Hays guide notes that employers offer up to 25 benefits, but few are universally valued. Common benefits include flexible working (now non-negotiable), additional super contributions, professional memberships, and health cover. When comparing offers, add the value of benefits to the base salary before calculating tax. Remember that super is paid on top of your salary (12% from 1 July 2026) and is not deducted from your take-home pay unless you salary sacrifice. See Salary packaging for more.