Australian PAYG tax is progressive — different slices of your income are taxed at different rates. The calculator above walks through the same five steps the ATO does on your payslip.
- 1. Apply resident tax brackets. The first $18,200 is tax-free. The next slice up to $45,000 is taxed at 15%, then 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% beyond.
- 2. Add the Medicare levy. A flat 2% on most incomes above the low-income threshold. The Medicare levy surcharge is separate and depends on private health cover.
- 3. Deduct any HECS/HELP repayment. From 1 July 2025 this is a marginal system: nil below $67,000 of repayment income, 15% between $67,000–$125,000, then 17% above that.
- 4. Set aside super. Your employer pays 12% on top of your wage into super — this isn't taken out of your take-home, but it is part of your total package.
- 5. The rest is yours. Gross minus tax minus Medicare minus HECS = take-home.
What is the take-home on common Australian salaries in 2026?
The median full-time wage in Australia is approximately $98,218 per year (ABS, May 2025). After the 15% second-bracket rate that took effect 1 July 2026, that earns a resident approximately $76,268 per year in take-home pay — or around $2,933 per fortnight — assuming no HECS debt and no salary sacrifice.
On a $80,000 salary, you pay roughly $14,520 in income tax plus $1,600 in Medicare levy, leaving approximately $63,880 per year ($2,457 per fortnight) before HECS. A $100,000 salary nets around $77,480 ($2,980 per fortnight). A $120,000 salary takes home approximately $91,080 ($3,503 per fortnight).
How to use this calculator
Enter your annual gross salary — the figure before any deductions — and select whether you have a HECS/HELP debt. Toggle “super included” if your employment contract states a package inclusiveof super; leave it off if your contract says “plus super” (the more common wording). The calculator outputs weekly, fortnightly and monthly figures alongside the annual total.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent error is confusing “plus super” and “inclusive of super” job offers. A $100,000 package inclusive of 12% super means your actual wage is only about $89,286. The second mistake is overlooking HECS: a $100,000 income with HECS reduces take-home by a further ~$4,950 compared to someone without a debt. Finally, employees on salary sacrifice arrangements (e.g. for a novated car lease or extra super) will see a lower PAYG withholding — the sacrifice reduces taxable income, which the calculator does not automatically account for.
State differences: does where you live change take-home pay?
Federal income tax and the Medicare levy are uniform across all states and territories — there is no state income tax in Australia. Your gross-to-net calculation is the same whether you work in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or anywhere else. Where location does matter is payroll tax (paid by employers, not employees) and state government salary bonus schemes for specific professions such as nursing and teaching. In those cases the employer's gross payment may differ by state, but the ATO calculation remains consistent.
2026–27 take-home by income
| Gross salary | Income tax | Medicare levy | Take-home (annual) | Fortnightly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $8,420 | $1,200 | $50,380 | $1,938 |
| $80,000 | $14,520 | $1,600 | $63,880 | $2,457 |
| $100,000 | $20,520 | $2,000 | $77,480 | $2,980 |
| $120,000 | $26,520 | $2,400 | $91,080 | $3,503 |
| $150,000 | $36,570 | $3,000 | $110,430 | $4,247 |
| $200,000 | $55,870 | $4,000 | $140,130 | $5,390 |
2026–27 rates · no HECS · no salary sacrifice