$26 an hour is below the $26.44 National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026. It can still be legal under some award, junior, apprentice or introductory rates, so check the award that covers the job.
$26 an hour on different hours
Gross pay and fortnightly take-home on other weekly hours, over 52 paid weeks at the ordinary rate. Awards usually pay more for overtime beyond 38 hours, so if yours does, the 45-hour figure is a minimum.
Hours a week
Per year, before tax
Take-home a fortnight
20
$27,040.00
$1,015.92
25
$33,800.00
$1,214.66
30
$40,560.00
$1,420.84
35
$47,320.00
$1,613.38
38
$51,376.00
$1,717.12
45
$60,840.00
$1,959.18
Tax on $26 an hour
On $51,376 a year you pay $5,703.44 income tax (after a $229.36 low income tax offset) and $1,027.52 Medicare levy, leaving $44,645.04 a year. Full salary breakdowns: $51,000 after tax · $52,000 after tax.
$1,717.12 a fortnight for a 38-hour week in 2026–27, for a resident with private hospital cover and no HELP debt. Before tax it's $1,976 a fortnight.
How much super do I get on $26 an hour?+
Your employer pays 12% super on top: $6,165.12 a year into your super fund at 38 hours a week.
What is $26 an hour for 20 hours a week?+
$27,040 a year before tax, or about $1,015.92 a fortnight take-home.
What if I work casual?+
Casual employees usually get a 25% casual loading instead of paid leave, so a casual rate is higher than the equivalent permanent rate. If $26 an hour already includes casual loading, the yearly figure assumes you work every week, with no unpaid time off.