$42 an hour is above the $26.44 National Minimum Wage that applies from 1 July 2026. If you're covered by an award or enterprise agreement, check its minimum rate for your classification too.
$42 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
$43,680.00
$1,514.44
25
$54,600.00
$1,799.58
30
$65,520.00
$2,078.88
35
$76,440.00
$2,363.82
38
$82,992.00
$2,535.18
45
$98,280.00
$2,935.02
Tax on $42 an hour
On $82,992 a year you pay $15,417.60 income tax and $1,659.84 Medicare levy, leaving $65,914.56 a year. Full salary breakdowns: $82,000 after tax · $83,000 after tax.
$2,535.18 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 $3,192 a fortnight.
How much super do I get on $42 an hour?+
Your employer pays 12% super on top: $9,959.04 a year into your super fund at 38 hours a week.
What is $42 an hour for 20 hours a week?+
$43,680 a year before tax, or about $1,514.44 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 $42 an hour already includes casual loading, the yearly figure assumes you work every week, with no unpaid time off.