$26 an Hour Is How Much a Year? (2026–27)
$26 an hour full-time is $51,376 a year before tax and $1,717 a fortnight after tax. Weekly, fortnightly, monthly and casual figures below.
$26 an hour by hours worked
Pay before tax at $26 an hour.
| Hours | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours a week | $520 | $1,040 | $2,253 | $27,040 |
| 30 hours a week | $780 | $1,560 | $3,380 | $40,560 |
| 35 hours a week | $910 | $1,820 | $3,943 | $47,320 |
| 38 hours (full-time) | $988 | $1,976 | $4,281 | $51,376 |
| 40 hours a week | $1,040 | $2,080 | $4,507 | $54,080 |
After tax
Working full-time at $26 an hour earns $51,376 a year (38 hours × 52 weeks). After $5,703 income tax and $1,028 Medicare levy, you take home about $44,645: $3,720 a month, $1,717 a fortnight or $859 a week. Your employer also pays $6,165 super on top.
Casual rates
Casual employees usually get a 25% loading instead of paid leave. $26 an hour as a casual is roughly the same as $20.80 an hour in a permanent job, before counting the value of sick leave and annual leave. If you're comparing a casual offer of $26 with a permanent job, compare it with a permanent rate of about $20.80.
Overtime and extra hours at $26 an hour
$26 is below the adult minimum wage of $26.44. Many awards pay overtime at time and a half for the first two or three hours ($39.00 an hour here) and double time after that ($52.00). Five hours of time-and-a-half overtime a week would add about $195 a week, or $9,360 over a 48-week working year, before tax. Sunday and public holiday rates are often higher again: work out penalty rates.
Going from 38 to 30 hours a week at $26 drops your pay before tax by $10,816 a year. A 4% pay rise would lift your rate to $27.04 and add about $2,055 a year before tax.
What $51,376 means in practice
Housing on this income. The common 30% guide puts comfortable rent at about $258 a week, based on take-home pay. For buying, 30% of your gross pay ($1,284 a month) would cover repayments on a loan of roughly $203,000 at 6.50% over 30 years. Lenders test at a higher rate and count your living costs, so see what a bank might lend on $51,376.
Things worth knowing at this income. At $51,376 you may qualify for the government super co-contribution: put $861 of after-tax money into super and the government could add up to $431. Your top tax rate is 30% plus the 2% Medicare levy. Salary sacrificing $5,000 into super would cut your tax by about $1,600; after the 15% contributions tax, you're about $850 better off overall. Model salary sacrifice.
Compare nearby hourly rates
| Rate | Full-time a year | Take-home a fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| $25 an hour | $49,400 | $1,667 |
| $26 an hour | $51,376 | $1,717 |
| $27 an hour | $53,352 | $1,768 |
| $28 an hour | $55,328 | $1,818 |
| $29 an hour | $57,304 | $1,869 |
Assumes 38 hours a week for 52 weeks (paid leave included), an Australian resident for tax, Medicare levy, no HECS debt and super paid on top. See all hourly rates.
Frequently asked questions
$26 an hour is how much a year in Australia?
Full-time at 38 hours a week, $26 an hour is $51,376 a year before tax, or about $44,645 after tax and Medicare in 2026–27.
How much is $26 an hour a week after tax?
About $859 a week after tax for 38 hours ($988 before tax), or $1,717 a fortnight.
Is $26 an hour a good wage in Australia?
The national minimum wage for adults is $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, so $26 is below the adult minimum wage (junior, apprentice and some trainee rates can be lower). Many awards set higher minimums. Full-time it works out to $51,376 a year; Australia's average full-time salary is roughly $100,000.
Last reviewed October 2026. Estimates for general information only, based on 2026–27 rates. Check important figures with the relevant government agency or a licensed professional.