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Australian Pay Calculator
Enter your salary to see your take-home pay, PAYG income tax, Medicare levy, HELP repayment, and employer super, broken down by week, fortnight, and month.
How this calculator works
▶How your Australian pay is calculated
This pay calculator uses Australia's Pay As You Go (PAYG) system — the way income tax is collected from your salary throughout the year. Your employer withholds tax from each pay cycle based on ATO tax tables and remits it on your behalf.
Australia uses a progressive tax system — you pay higher rates only on the portion of income within each bracket, not on your entire salary. The first $18,200 is tax-free for Australian residents.
▶FY 2026-27 income tax brackets
The current Australian tax brackets for residents (FY 2026-27) are: 0% up to $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above $190,000. The 15% rate was 16% in FY 2025-26 and is legislated to drop to 14% from 1 July 2027.
For a deeper explanation of how each bracket works and how capital gains interact with your income tax, read our complete guide to Australian PAYG tax.
▶Understanding your take-home pay
Your take-home pay is your gross salary minus income tax, Medicare levy, and any HELP/HECS repayments. For most Australians, the effective tax rate (total tax as a percentage of income) is significantly lower than their marginal rate. For example, someone earning $100,000 pays an effective rate of around 22.5% including the Medicare levy, despite sitting in the 30% bracket.
The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) further reduces tax for incomes under $66,667. This pay calculator applies LITO automatically — you'll see the saving in your breakdown.
▶Medicare levy and surcharge
The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income for residents, with a low-income phase-in from $24,276 to $30,345 (FY 2025-26 thresholds, the latest published). If you earn over $105,000 as a single and don't have private hospital cover, you may also pay the Medicare levy surcharge (1%–1.5% depending on income).
▶HELP/HECS repayments
HELP repayments are calculated on your repayment income (taxable income plus fringe benefits). Repayments use the marginal system introduced in FY 2025-26. In FY 2026-27 you pay 15c per dollar over $69,528, then a further 17c per dollar above $129,717, capped at 10% of your repayment income. This is fairer than the old system, which created sudden jumps in repayment amounts at threshold boundaries.
▶Employer superannuation
Your employer contributes 12% of your ordinary time earnings to your super fund (the legislated maximum, reached 1 July 2025). This is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it. In FY 2026-27 the concessional contributions cap is $32,500 per year — contributions above this are taxed at your marginal rate instead of the concessional 15%.
Frequently asked questions
▶How much tax do I pay on my salary in Australia?
Australian residents pay no tax on the first $18,200 (tax-free threshold), then 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% on income over $190,000. These are the FY 2026-27 rates. The 15% rate is legislated to drop to 14% from 1 July 2027.
▶What is the difference between gross salary and take-home pay?
Your gross salary is your total annual pay before any deductions. Take-home pay (also called net pay) is what you actually receive after income tax, Medicare levy, and any HELP/HECS repayments are withheld by your employer. Use this pay calculator to see the exact breakdown.
▶How is employer superannuation calculated?
In FY 2026-27, your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings to your super fund (the legislated maximum, reached 1 July 2025). This is paid on top of your salary — it is not deducted from your gross pay. The concessional contributions cap is $32,500 per year.
▶Do I have to pay the Medicare levy surcharge?
The Medicare levy surcharge (MLS) applies if your taxable income exceeds $105,000 as a single and you do not have an appropriate level of private hospital cover. The surcharge ranges from 1% to 1.5% depending on your income. It is separate from the standard 2% Medicare levy, which applies to all residents.
▶How are HELP/HECS repayments calculated in FY 2026-27?
HELP repayments use the marginal system introduced in FY 2025-26. In FY 2026-27 you pay nothing below $69,528 in repayment income, 15 cents per dollar over $69,528, and a further 17 cents per dollar over $129,717, capped at 10% of your repayment income. This replaces the old tiered percentage system and is fairer for people just above the threshold.
This calculator uses FY 2026-27 tax rates for Australian resident individuals. It is for general information only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Consult a registered tax agent for advice specific to your situation. Last updated July 2026.
See how tax fits into your full financial picture
- ✓PAYG tax + CGT calculated together
- ✓Net worth tracked across every asset class
- ✓FIRE date based on your real numbers
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