$38 an Hour Is How Much a Year? (2026–27)
$38 an hour full-time is $75,088 a year before tax and $2,328 a fortnight after tax. Weekly, fortnightly, monthly and casual figures below.
$38 an hour by hours worked
Pay before tax at $38 an hour.
| Hours | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours a week | $760 | $1,520 | $3,293 | $39,520 |
| 30 hours a week | $1,140 | $2,280 | $4,940 | $59,280 |
| 35 hours a week | $1,330 | $2,660 | $5,763 | $69,160 |
| 38 hours (full-time) | $1,444 | $2,888 | $6,257 | $75,088 |
| 40 hours a week | $1,520 | $3,040 | $6,587 | $79,040 |
After tax
Working full-time at $38 an hour earns $75,088 a year (38 hours × 52 weeks). After $13,046 income tax and $1,502 Medicare levy, you take home about $60,540: $5,045 a month, $2,328 a fortnight or $1,164 a week. Your employer also pays $9,011 super on top.
Casual rates
Casual employees usually get a 25% loading instead of paid leave. $38 an hour as a casual is roughly the same as $30.40 an hour in a permanent job, before counting the value of sick leave and annual leave. If you're comparing a casual offer of $38 with a permanent job, compare it with a permanent rate of about $30.40.
Overtime and extra hours at $38 an hour
$38 is 1.44 times the adult minimum wage of $26.44. Many awards pay overtime at time and a half for the first two or three hours ($57.00 an hour here) and double time after that ($76.00). Five hours of time-and-a-half overtime a week would add about $285 a week, or $13,680 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 $38 drops your pay before tax by $15,808 a year. A 4% pay rise would lift your rate to $39.52 and add about $3,004 a year before tax.
What $75,088 means in practice
Housing on this income. The common 30% guide puts comfortable rent at about $349 a week, based on take-home pay. For buying, 30% of your gross pay ($1,877 a month) would cover repayments on a loan of roughly $297,000 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 $75,088.
Things worth knowing at this income. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| $36 an hour | $71,136 | $2,225 |
| $37 an hour | $73,112 | $2,277 |
| $38 an hour | $75,088 | $2,328 |
| $39 an hour | $77,064 | $2,380 |
| $40 an hour | $79,040 | $2,432 |
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
$38 an hour is how much a year in Australia?
Full-time at 38 hours a week, $38 an hour is $75,088 a year before tax, or about $60,540 after tax and Medicare in 2026–27.
How much is $38 an hour a week after tax?
About $1,164 a week after tax for 38 hours ($1,444 before tax), or $2,328 a fortnight.
Is $38 an hour a good wage in Australia?
The national minimum wage for adults is $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, so $38 is above the minimum wage. Many awards set higher minimums. Full-time it works out to $75,088 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.