What this calculator shows
Your take-home pay, also called net pay, is what remains of your gross pay after income tax and other compulsory amounts are taken out. For most Australian employees that means income tax worked out on resident rates, the low income tax offset (LITO) where you qualify, the 2% Medicare levy, and a compulsory repayment if you have a study loan such as HECS-HELP. Superannuation is paid by your employer on top of your salary unless your contract says your package includes super, so it does not reduce your take-home pay — but it does change how much of a total package is actually salary.
The result panel splits every amount by pay cycle, so you can compare a weekly roster job with a fortnightly salaried role, or check whether a new offer beats your current pay once tax is taken into account.
How to use it
- Enter your pay before tax and choose how often that amount is paid. A $3,000 fortnightly wage and a $78,000 salary are entered differently but give the same annual result.
- Pick the income year. 2026–27 runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 and is selected by default.
- Choose your tax residency. Most people living and working in Australia are residents; working holiday makers on 417 or 462 visas have their own rates.
- Tell us whether super is on top of or included in the amount, and tick the study loan or Medicare exemption boxes if they apply.
- Switch between week, fortnight, month and year in the result to see each figure in the cycle you are paid.
How take-home pay is calculated
The calculator converts your pay to an annual figure, then applies the resident tax scale for the selected year. In 2026–27 the first $18,200 is tax-free, income from $18,201 to $45,000 is taxed at 15 cents per dollar, $45,001 to $135,000 at 30 cents, $135,001 to $190,000 at 37 cents and anything above $190,000 at 45 cents. The 15% rate replaced the previous 16% rate on 1 July 2026, which is worth up to $268 a year.
LITO of up to $700 is then subtracted from that tax for residents earning under $66,667. The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income, shaded in for low incomes above the singles threshold. If you tick the study loan box, the compulsory repayment is worked out on the marginal system the ATO introduced in 2025–26: nothing below $69,528 in 2026–27, then 15 cents for each dollar above it. Finally the annual net amount is divided back into weeks (52), fortnights (26) and months (12).
Worked example: $80,000 salary in 2026–27
An Australian resident on an $80,000 salary plus super, with no study loan, pays $14,520 income tax and a $1,600 Medicare levy. LITO is nil at this income. Take-home pay is $63,880 a year — $2,456.92 a fortnight, $1,228.46 a week or $5,323.33 a month. That is an average rate of 20.2% across all deductions. The employer also pays $9,600 into super (12%).
With a HELP debt the same person repays $1,570.80 for the year, leaving $62,309.20.
| Salary | Income tax | Medicare | Take-home (year) | Per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $8,420 | $1,200 | $50,380 | $1,937.69 |
| $70,000 | $11,520 | $1,400 | $57,080 | $2,195.38 |
| $90,000 | $17,520 | $1,800 | $70,680 | $2,718.46 |
| $100,000 | $20,520 | $2,000 | $77,480 | $2,980.00 |
| $120,000 | $26,520 | $2,400 | $91,080 | $3,503.08 |
| $150,000 | $36,570 | $3,000 | $110,430 | $4,247.31 |
| $200,000 | $55,870 | $4,000 | $140,130 | $5,389.62 |
Why your payslip might differ
Employers withhold tax using the ATO's weekly, fortnightly and monthly tax tables. Those tables spread your annual tax evenly, but they round each pay to whole dollars and can't know about deductions, other income or offsets you will claim in your tax return. Small differences between this estimate and your payslip are normal, and they are reconciled when you lodge. Larger differences usually come from not claiming the tax-free threshold with that employer, salary sacrifice, allowances, or a second job.
What is not included
To keep the result honest, the calculator leaves out items it cannot know from a salary alone: work-related deductions, the Medicare levy surcharge for people without private hospital cover, family Medicare thresholds, the seniors and pensioners tax offset, Division 293 tax on super for very high incomes, and reportable fringe benefits. If any of those apply, use the result as a starting point and confirm with the ATO's own tools or a registered tax agent.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do I pay on $80,000 in Australia?
In 2026–27 an Australian resident pays $14,520 income tax plus a $1,600 Medicare levy on $80,000, leaving $63,880 a year before any study loan repayment.
Is super taken out of my take-home pay?
No. Compulsory super is paid by your employer on top of your salary. It only reduces the salary component when your contract quotes a total package that includes super.
Does the calculator use the new 15% tax rate?
Yes. 2026–27 results use the 15% rate on income between $18,201 and $45,000, which applies from 1 July 2026. You can switch to 2025–26 to see the old 16% rate.
What is the Medicare levy?
A 2% levy on taxable income that helps fund Medicare. People on low incomes pay a reduced levy or none, and some people are exempt.
Why is my fortnightly pay different from the result?
Payroll withholding uses ATO tax tables that round to whole dollars and depend on what you claimed on your TFN declaration. The calculator shows your annual tax position spread evenly.
