Income from $18,201 to $45,000 is taxed at 15% ($4,020), and the remaining $3,000 at 30%, for $4,920 in total. You still get a $280 low income tax offset, so you pay $4,640.
The Medicare levy adds 2%: $960. Altogether, tax and Medicare take 11.7% of your salary, and of your next $1,000 pay rise you'd keep $665.
Thanks to the tax cut on 1 July 2026, you pay $268 less income tax on $48,000 than you would have in 2025–26.
$48,000 as an hourly wage
$48,000 a year works out at $24.29 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 $48,000 in some common situations, compared with the figures above.
Situation
Per fortnight
Per year
Difference
Standard (as above)
$1,630.77
$42,400.00
-
With a HELP loan
$1,630.77
$42,400.00
-
Without private hospital cover
$1,630.77
$42,400.00
-
If the salary includes super
$1,489.75
$38,733.57
−$3,666.43
At $48,000 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 $48,000 a year after tax per fortnight?+
$1,630.77 a fortnight, or $3,533.33 a month, for an Australian resident in 2026–27 with no HELP debt and private hospital cover.
How much tax do I pay on $48,000?+
$4,640 income tax (after a $280 low income tax offset) and $960 Medicare levy: $5,600 in total, or 11.7% of your salary.
What is $48,000 a year as an hourly rate?+
$24.29 an hour before tax, based on 38 hours a week for 52 weeks. After tax that's $21.46 an hour.
How much super will I get on $48,000?+
Your employer pays 12% super guarantee on top of your salary: $5,760.00 a year into your super fund. If $48,000 is a package that includes super, your salary is $42,857.14 and you take home $1,489.75 a fortnight.