How to compare a job offer using the minimum salary for 482 visa and your take-home pay

Understanding the minimum salary for 482 visa

If you are a skilled worker considering a sponsored role in Australia, the minimum salary for 482 visa is a critical number. It sets the floor your employer must pay you under the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa. From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills stream requires at least $79,499 per year, and the Specialist Skills stream requires $146,717 per year, according to the Department of Home Affairs . These thresholds are indexed annually by 3.8% for 2026–27, as confirmed by Baker McKenzie .

But the headline figure is only part of the story. What really matters is the amount that lands in your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy. This guide walks you through the take-home pay for the two main streams, so you can compare a job offer with confidence.

Core Skills stream: $79,499 – your take-home estimate

On a salary of $79,499, your income tax for 2026–27 is calculated using the resident tax rates:

• First $18,200: nil
• Next $26,800 (up to $45,000): taxed at 15c per dollar = $4,020
• Remaining $34,499 (from $45,001 to $79,499): taxed at 30c per dollar = $10,349.70
• Total tax before offsets: $14,369.70

You are eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). At $79,499, LITO is $325 minus 1.5c per dollar over $45,000. That’s $325 – (34,499 × 0.015) = $325 – $517.49 = –$192.49, so LITO is zero. Your tax is $14,370.

The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income: $1,589.98. (The full 2% applies because your income is well above the single upper threshold of $35,013.)

Total deductions: $14,370 + $1,590 = $15,960. Your annual take-home pay is $63,539. Per fortnight (26 pays), that’s $2,444. This is the amount that reaches your bank account, assuming no HELP/HECS, salary sacrifice, or Medicare levy surcharge.

Specialist Skills stream: $146,717 – your take-home estimate

For the higher threshold, tax is:

• First $18,200: nil
• Next $26,800: $4,020
• Next $90,000 (from $45,001 to $135,000): taxed at 30c per dollar = $27,000
• Remaining $11,717 (from $135,001 to $146,717): taxed at 37c per dollar = $4,335.29
• Total tax before offsets: $35,355.29

LITO is zero at this income. Medicare levy: 2% of $146,717 = $2,934.34.

Total deductions: $35,355 + $2,934 = $38,289. Annual take-home: $108,428. Per fortnight: $4,170.

These estimates use the Take-home pay calculator on this site. Remember, they are estimates – not a tax assessment.

How the minimum salary for 482 visa compares to other benchmarks

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week, which equals $52,255 per year (Fair Work Ombudsman). The Core Skills threshold of $79,499 is about 52% higher than the minimum wage. The Specialist Skills threshold is nearly three times the minimum wage.

When you receive a job offer, compare the salary to the Benchmarks for your occupation. The ABS reports full‑time adult ordinary time earnings of $108,352 per year (May 2026). The Specialist Skills stream sits well above that average, while the Core Skills stream is below it – but still a solid professional salary.

What about super and other conditions?

The minimum salary for 482 visa must be paid excluding superannuation. Your employer must also pay the super guarantee of 12% on top from 1 July 2026. That means on a $79,499 salary, your super contribution is $9,540 per year, paid into your super fund. That money is not part of your take-home pay, but it builds your retirement savings.

Always check whether the advertised salary is ‘plus super’ or ‘including super’. If it’s ‘including super’, the base salary may be lower than the threshold – which could make the nomination invalid. Use the Salary packaging guide to understand how benefits like a car or housing affect your taxable income.

Medicare levy: what you need to know

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income for most residents. If your income is below $28,011 (single), you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate (10c per dollar over the lower threshold). Above $35,013, the full 2% applies. Both thresholds are the latest published single‑person figures from the ATO. For a 482 visa holder earning $79,499 or more, you will pay the full 2%.

If you have private hospital cover and earn above $93,000 (single), you may also be liable for the Medicare levy surcharge – but that is separate from the standard levy.

How to use this information when comparing offers

1. Confirm the nominated salary meets the minimum for your stream (Core or Specialist).
2. Ask if the salary is ‘plus super’ – it should be.
3. Use the Tax and Medicare calculator to estimate your fortnightly take-home.
4. Factor in any salary sacrifice arrangements – they reduce taxable income but also reduce the amount counted toward the threshold.
5. Remember that the market salary requirement means your pay must also be at least what an Australian worker would get for the same role in the same location. Your employer must prove this.

By focusing on the amount that reaches your bank account, you can make a realistic budget and decide if the offer meets your needs. The minimum salary for 482 visa is a starting point – your actual financial picture depends on tax, Medicare, and your personal situation.