What your HR salary looks like after tax in Australia

What your HR salary means for take-home pay

If you work in human resources, your hr salary is likely one of the higher-paying professional roles in Australia. But the figure on your contract isn't what lands in your bank account. After income tax and the Medicare levy, the amount changes significantly depending on your pay level and personal circumstances.

This guide uses the latest public data from the Hays Salary Guide FY26/27 and Jobs and Skills Australia to show where HR salaries sit against the national minimum and full-time ordinary time earnings, and what you can expect as take-home pay.

Typical HR salary ranges in Australia

According to the Hays Salary Guide, base salaries for core HR roles in capital cities are:

• HR advisor: $90,000 to $130,000
• HR business partner: $120,000 to $150,000
• HR manager: $140,000 to $200,000
• Head of HR or HR director: $160,000 to $300,000

These figures are base salary only and exclude superannuation. Organisation size is the biggest factor: HR leaders in companies with more than 1,000 employees earn significantly more than those in smaller firms.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time weekly earnings for Human Resource Managers (ANZSCO 1323) is $2,768, which annualises to about $143,936. That's well above the full-time adult ordinary time average of $2,083.70 per week ($108,352) and far above the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week ($52,255).

What your take-home pay looks like

To estimate your take-home, you start with your base salary, then subtract:

• Income tax using the 2026–27 resident rates: nil up to $18,200, then 15c per dollar up to $45,000, 30c up to $135,000, 37c up to $190,000, and 45c above that.
• Medicare levy at 2% of taxable income (full rate applies once you earn over $35,013 as a single person; between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate).
• The Low Income Tax Offset (up to $700) reduces tax for incomes up to $66,667.

For example, an HR manager earning $150,000 base would have:

• Tax: about $36,420 (using the formula)
• Medicare levy: $3,000
• Take-home: approximately $110,580 per year, or $4,253 per fortnight.

A head of HR on $250,000 would pay about $79,120 in tax plus $5,000 Medicare, leaving around $165,880 take-home ($6,380 per fortnight).

Remember: super is not deducted from take-home if your salary is quoted as 'plus super'. The 12% super guarantee (from 1 July 2026) is paid on top.

How HR salaries compare to benchmarks

The Benchmarks page shows the national minimum wage and average earnings. Here's how typical HR roles stack up:

• HR advisor ($90k–$130k): 1.7 to 2.5 times the minimum wage
• HR manager ($140k–$200k): 2.7 to 3.8 times the minimum wage
• Head of HR ($160k–$300k): 3.1 to 5.7 times the minimum wage

Even the lowest HR advisor salary is well above the full-time ordinary time average of $108,352. This reflects the specialised skills and experience required.

Factors that push your HR salary higher

• Organisation size: HR leaders in firms with 1,000+ employees earn a premium.
• Specialisation: Employee relations and industrial relations specialists often earn more than generalists.
• Location: Capital city salaries are higher than regional rates.
• Skills demand: Talent acquisition, workforce planning, and HRIS experience attract higher pay.

Use the Take-home pay tool to calculate your own after-tax figure, and check the Tax and Medicare page for the latest thresholds.