Income from $18,201 to $45,000 is taxed at 15% ($4,020), and the remaining $43,000 at 30%, for $16,920 in total.
The Medicare levy adds 2%: $1,760. Altogether, tax and Medicare take 21.2% of your salary, and of your next $1,000 pay rise you'd keep $680.
Thanks to the tax cut on 1 July 2026, you pay $268 less income tax on $88,000 than you would have in 2025–26.
$88,000 as an hourly wage
$88,000 a year works out at $44.53 an hour on a 38-hour week, before tax. See $44 an hour and $45 an hour for fortnightly take-home at an hourly rate.
What changes your take-home
The same $88,000 in some common situations, compared with the figures above.
Situation
Per fortnight
Per year
Difference
Standard (as above)
$2,666.15
$69,320.00
-
With a HELP loan
$2,559.58
$66,549.20
−$2,770.80
Without private hospital cover
$2,666.15
$69,320.00
-
If the salary includes super
$2,419.56
$62,908.57
−$6,411.43
A HELP loan takes $2,770.80 a year at this salary. You're under the $105,000 Medicare levy surcharge threshold, so private hospital cover doesn't affect your tax.
How much is $88,000 a year after tax per fortnight?+
$2,666.15 a fortnight, or $5,776.67 a month, for an Australian resident in 2026–27 with no HELP debt and private hospital cover.
How much tax do I pay on $88,000?+
$16,920 income tax and $1,760 Medicare levy: $18,680 in total, or 21.2% of your salary.
What is $88,000 a year as an hourly rate?+
$44.53 an hour before tax, based on 38 hours a week for 52 weeks. After tax that's $35.08 an hour.
How much super will I get on $88,000?+
Your employer pays 12% super guarantee on top of your salary: $10,560.00 a year into your super fund. If $88,000 is a package that includes super, your salary is $78,571.43 and you take home $2,419.56 a fortnight.