The first $18,200 is tax-free and the remaining $19,800 is taxed at 15%, which comes to $2,970. The low income tax offset then takes $675 off, leaving $2,295.
The Medicare levy adds 2%: $760. Altogether, tax and Medicare take 8.0% of your salary, and of your next $1,000 pay rise you'd keep $780.
Thanks to the tax cut on 1 July 2026, you pay $198 less income tax on $38,000 than you would have in 2025–26.
$38,000 as an hourly wage
$38,000 a year works out at $19.23 an hour on a 38-hour week, before tax. See $25 an hour for fortnightly take-home at an hourly rate.
What changes your take-home
The same $38,000 in some common situations, compared with the figures above.
Situation
Per fortnight
Per year
Difference
Standard (as above)
$1,344.04
$34,945.00
-
With a HELP loan
$1,344.04
$34,945.00
-
Without private hospital cover
$1,344.04
$34,945.00
-
If the salary includes super
$1,218.37
$31,677.53
−$3,267.47
At $38,000 you're under the $69,528 HELP repayment threshold, so a study loan doesn't change your pay. You're under the $105,000 Medicare levy surcharge threshold, so private hospital cover doesn't affect your tax.
How much is $38,000 a year after tax per fortnight?+
$1,344.04 a fortnight, or $2,912.08 a month, for an Australian resident in 2026–27 with no HELP debt and private hospital cover.
How much tax do I pay on $38,000?+
$2,295 income tax (after a $675 low income tax offset) and $760 Medicare levy: $3,055 in total, or 8.0% of your salary.
What is $38,000 a year as an hourly rate?+
$19.23 an hour before tax, based on 38 hours a week for 52 weeks. After tax that's $17.68 an hour.
How much super will I get on $38,000?+
Your employer pays 12% super guarantee on top of your salary: $4,560.00 a year into your super fund. If $38,000 is a package that includes super, your salary is $33,928.57 and you take home $1,218.37 a fortnight.