How to Compare Job Offers with Our Salary Calculator Australia

Comparing Job Offers by Take-Home Pay

When you receive a job offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture. What matters is the amount that actually reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. Our After-tax salary tool helps you see that net figure. Use it alongside the Take-home pay guide to understand each component.

Understanding the 2026-27 Tax Rates

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) sets the resident tax rates for 2026-27. The first $18,200 is tax-free. Then:

• $18,201 to $45,000: 15 cents per dollar over $18,200
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30 cents per dollar over $45,000
• $135,001 to $190,000: $31,020 plus 37 cents per dollar over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45 cents per dollar over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). It gives up to $700 at taxable incomes up to $37,500, then reduces gradually until $66,667. The offset can only reduce your tax to zero.

Medicare Levy and Thresholds

The Medicare levy is a flat 2% of taxable income for most residents. However, if your income is below $28,281 (the lower threshold, $28,011) you pay no levy. Between that and the upper threshold, $35,031, you pay 10 cents per dollar over the lower threshold until you reach the upper threshold. For full-time salaries, the full 2% applies. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013.

How Super Affects Your Offer

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% on earnings up to $270,830 per year. If a job ad says "$80,000 plus super", your employer pays an extra 12% into your super fund. That money is not part of your take-home pay. Our Super guide explains how to factor this into comparisons. Always check whether the salary is inclusive or exclusive of super.

Using the Salary Calculator Australia

Our salary calculator Australia lets you enter your gross salary and see the estimated after-tax amount. It includes the Medicare levy and LITO automatically. You can then compare two offers side by side. For example, a job paying $100,000 with a generous super contribution may actually give you less take-home than a $95,000 job with a better tax position. The calculator shows you the net difference.

Benchmark Figures for Context

Fair Work sets the national minimum wage at $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week (annualised to $52,255). The ABS reports average weekly total earnings for all employees at $1,579.20 ($82,118 annual) and full-time adult ordinary time earnings at $2,083.70 ($108,352 annual). These benchmarks help you see where your offer sits. See our Benchmarks page for more details.

Other Factors to Consider

• **Salary packaging: Salary packaging](/topics/packaging) can reduce your taxable income, but it is not included in this estimate.
• HELP/HECS: Repayments are not shown here. Check with the ATO.
• Medicare levy surcharge: If you do not have appropriate private hospital cover, you may pay extra. This calculator does not include it.
• Payroll tax-table rounding: Your employer may round slightly differently.

Always treat this as an estimate, not a tax assessment. Use the Clearance tool to verify your situation.

Summary

To compare job offers wisely: focus on the amount that reaches your bank account. Use our salary calculator Australia to estimate that net figure. Consider super, Medicare thresholds, and LITO. Compare offers on take-home pay, not just gross salary.