$42 an Hour Is How Much a Year? (2026–27)
$42 an hour full-time is $82,992 a year before tax and $2,535 a fortnight after tax. Weekly, fortnightly, monthly and casual figures below.
$42 an hour by hours worked
Pay before tax at $42 an hour.
| Hours | Week | Fortnight | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours a week | $840 | $1,680 | $3,640 | $43,680 |
| 30 hours a week | $1,260 | $2,520 | $5,460 | $65,520 |
| 35 hours a week | $1,470 | $2,940 | $6,370 | $76,440 |
| 38 hours (full-time) | $1,596 | $3,192 | $6,916 | $82,992 |
| 40 hours a week | $1,680 | $3,360 | $7,280 | $87,360 |
After tax
Working full-time at $42 an hour earns $82,992 a year (38 hours × 52 weeks). After $15,418 income tax and $1,660 Medicare levy, you take home about $65,915: $5,493 a month, $2,535 a fortnight or $1,268 a week. Your employer also pays $9,959 super on top.
Casual rates
Casual employees usually get a 25% loading instead of paid leave. $42 an hour as a casual is roughly the same as $33.60 an hour in a permanent job, before counting the value of sick leave and annual leave. If you're comparing a casual offer of $42 with a permanent job, compare it with a permanent rate of about $33.60.
Overtime and extra hours at $42 an hour
$42 is 1.59 times the adult minimum wage of $26.44. Many awards pay overtime at time and a half for the first two or three hours ($63.00 an hour here) and double time after that ($84.00). Five hours of time-and-a-half overtime a week would add about $315 a week, or $15,120 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 $42 drops your pay before tax by $17,472 a year. A 4% pay rise would lift your rate to $43.68 and add about $3,320 a year before tax.
What $82,992 means in practice
Housing on this income. The common 30% guide puts comfortable rent at about $380 a week, based on take-home pay. For buying, 30% of your gross pay ($2,075 a month) would cover repayments on a loan of roughly $328,000 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 $82,992.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| $40 an hour | $79,040 | $2,432 |
| $41 an hour | $81,016 | $2,484 |
| $42 an hour | $82,992 | $2,535 |
| $43 an hour | $84,968 | $2,587 |
| $44 an hour | $86,944 | $2,639 |
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
$42 an hour is how much a year in Australia?
Full-time at 38 hours a week, $42 an hour is $82,992 a year before tax, or about $65,915 after tax and Medicare in 2026–27.
How much is $42 an hour a week after tax?
About $1,268 a week after tax for 38 hours ($1,596 before tax), or $2,535 a fortnight.
Is $42 an hour a good wage in Australia?
The national minimum wage for adults is $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, so $42 is above the minimum wage. Many awards set higher minimums. Full-time it works out to $82,992 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.