Real estate salary: what you take home after tax and Medicare

Real estate salary: understanding your take-home pay

Your real estate salary can vary widely depending on your role, experience, and whether you are employed under an award or a contract. This guide focuses on employees covered by the Real Estate Industry Award and the broader market for real estate sales agents. We’ll walk through the award rates, median earnings, and how tax, Medicare, and super affect the amount that lands in your bank account each fortnight.

Award rates for real estate employees

Fair Work’s Real Estate Industry Award sets minimum pay for employees in real estate. The rates from 1 July 2026 are published in the pay guide . For a full-time adult employee at Level 1 (associate) in the first 12 months, the hourly rate is $26.59, which is slightly above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. After 12 months at Level 1, the rate rises to $28.00 per hour. Higher classifications – Level 2 (representative), Level 3 (supervisory), and Level 4 (in-charge) – pay $29.45, $32.39, and $33.88 per hour respectively. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, so a Level 1 casual earns $33.24 per hour.

Junior and apprentice rates also apply. For example, a 19-year-old full-time Level 1 associate earns $18.62 per hour. These rates are the legal minimum; many real estate professionals earn above award.

Median earnings for real estate sales agents

According to Jobs and Skills Australia , the median full-time weekly earnings for Real Estate Sales Agents (occupation code 6121) is $1,504 before tax. This figure is for non-managerial adult employees and excludes part-time workers. The median hourly earnings are $40 per hour. This is significantly higher than the award minimum, reflecting commissions and experience. About 79% of real estate sales agents work full-time, averaging 44 hours per week.

How tax brackets affect your take-home pay

Your real estate salary is taxed using the 2026–27 resident tax rates. The first $18,200 is tax-free. Then you pay 15 cents for each dollar between $18,201 and $45,000. From $45,001 to $135,000, the tax is $4,020 plus 30 cents per dollar. The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) can reduce tax for incomes up to $66,667. For a full-time worker earning the median $1,504 per week ($78,208 annually), the tax would be approximately $4,020 plus 30% of ($78,208 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $9,962 = $13,982, minus LITO of $325 (since income over $45,000 reduces LITO). The exact amount depends on your total taxable income.

Medicare levy: what you pay

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but there are thresholds for low-income earners. For singles, if your taxable income is $28,011 or less, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, the levy is 10 cents per dollar over the lower threshold. Above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. For a full-time real estate employee earning above $35,013, the levy is a flat 2% – that’s $1,564 on $78,208. This is not a new cut-off; it’s the latest published single-person table from the ATO.

Superannuation: not deducted from your salary

Employers must pay superannuation at 12% of your ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Super is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it. So if your real estate salary is advertised as $78,208, your employer also contributes $9,385 into your super fund. Your take-home pay is calculated from the salary before super.

Fortnightly take-home example

Let’s estimate the fortnightly take-home pay for a full-time real estate employee earning the median $1,504 per week ($78,208 per year). Assume no HELP/HECS, no salary sacrifice, and resident for tax purposes.

• Annual gross: $78,208
• Tax: approximately $13,657 (after LITO)
• Medicare levy: $1,564 (full 2%)
• Total deductions: $15,221
• Net annual: $62,987
• Fortnightly net: $62,987 / 26 = $2,423

This is a guide only. Your actual take-home may differ due to rounding in payroll tax tables, deductions, or other factors. Use the Take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.

Deductions and allowances

The Australian Taxation Office provides guidance for real estate employees on work-related deductions. You can claim expenses such as vehicle travel between properties, mobile phone use, and professional development, provided they are not reimbursed. Keep receipts and a logbook for vehicle expenses. Allowances like a mobile phone plan or motorcycle allowance are also common – these are reimbursements and not taxable income if they cover actual costs.

Summary

Your real estate salary’s take-home amount depends on your classification, hours, and whether you earn above award. The median full-time weekly earnings of $1,504 give a net fortnight of about $2,423 after tax and Medicare. Super is additional. For award-covered employees, minimum rates start at $26.59 per hour. Always check your pay against the award and use the Tax and Medicare resources to understand your obligations.