Australian Salary Tax Guide 2024-25: What You Actually Take Home
We calculated the real take-home pay at every salary level in Australia. See how tax brackets, Medicare levy, and HELP debt affect your pay.
Whether you're starting your career, comparing job offers, or planning for a raise, understanding Australian tax is essential. We ran the numbers to show you exactly what you take home at every salary level.
Australian Tax Brackets 2024-25
Australia uses a progressive tax system. Here are the current brackets:
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate | Tax on This Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| $0 - $18,200 | 0% | Nil |
| $18,201 - $45,000 | 16% | 16c per $1 over $18,200 |
| $45,001 - $135,000 | 30% | $4,288 + 30c per $1 over $45,000 |
| $135,001 - $190,000 | 37% | $31,288 + 37c per $1 over $135,000 |
| $190,001+ | 45% | $51,638 + 45c per $1 over $190,000 |
Plus the Medicare Levy of 2% on taxable income (with some exemptions for low incomes).
Take-Home Pay: $50,000 to $200,000
Using our Australian Salary Calculator, here's what you actually take home:
$50,000 Salary
| Component | Annual | Monthly | Fortnightly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $50,000 | $4,167 | $1,923 |
| Income Tax | $5,788 | $482 | $223 |
| Medicare Levy | $1,000 | $83 | $38 |
| Take-Home | $43,212 | $3,601 | $1,662 |
Effective tax rate: 13.6%
Plus your employer pays $5,750 super (11.5%) on top.
$80,000 Salary
| Component | Annual | Monthly | Fortnightly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $80,000 | $6,667 | $3,077 |
| Income Tax | $14,788 | $1,232 | $569 |
| Medicare Levy | $1,600 | $133 | $62 |
| Take-Home | $63,612 | $5,301 | $2,447 |
Effective tax rate: 20.5%
Super contribution: $9,200
$100,000 Salary
| Component | Annual | Monthly | Fortnightly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $100,000 | $8,333 | $3,846 |
| Income Tax | $20,788 | $1,732 | $800 |
| Medicare Levy | $2,000 | $167 | $77 |
| Take-Home | $77,212 | $6,434 | $2,970 |
Effective tax rate: 22.8%
Super contribution: $11,500
$150,000 Salary
| Component | Annual | Monthly | Fortnightly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $150,000 | $12,500 | $5,769 |
| Income Tax | $36,838 | $3,070 | $1,417 |
| Medicare Levy | $3,000 | $250 | $115 |
| Take-Home | $110,162 | $9,180 | $4,237 |
Effective tax rate: 26.6%
Super contribution: $17,250
$200,000 Salary
| Component | Annual | Monthly | Fortnightly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $200,000 | $16,667 | $7,692 |
| Income Tax | $56,138 | $4,678 | $2,159 |
| Medicare Levy | $4,000 | $333 | $154 |
| Take-Home | $139,862 | $11,655 | $5,379 |
Effective tax rate: 30.1%
The HELP/HECS Debt Impact
If you have a HELP debt (formerly HECS), repayments kick in at $54,435:
| Income Range | Repayment Rate |
|---|---|
| Below $54,435 | 0% |
| $54,435 - $62,850 | 1% |
| $62,851 - $66,620 | 2% |
| $66,621 - $70,618 | 2.5% |
| $70,619 - $74,855 | 3% |
| $74,856 - $79,346 | 3.5% |
| $79,347 - $84,107 | 4% |
| ... | ... |
| $151,201+ | 10% |
Example: $100,000 with HELP debt
| Component | Without HELP | With HELP |
|---|---|---|
| Take-Home | $77,212 | $69,712 |
| HELP Repayment | $0 | $7,500 |
That's $625/month going to your HELP debt.
***** HELP repayments aren't "lost" - they're paying down your debt. But they do reduce your cash flow significantly, so factor this into budgeting.
Superannuation: The Hidden Part of Your Package
Your employer must pay super on top of your salary:
| Year | Super Rate |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 11.5% |
| 2025-26 | 12% |
On a $100,000 salary:
- Employer pays $11,500 into your super
- Total package value: $111,500
Some jobs advertise "package including super" - this means less in your pocket:
| Advertised | Actual Salary | Super | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100K + super | $100,000 | $11,500 | $77,212 |
| $100K package | $89,686 | $10,314 | $69,755 |
Always clarify whether super is included!
Salary Sacrifice: Reducing Your Tax
You can sacrifice part of your pre-tax salary into super:
Example: $100,000 salary, sacrificing $10,000 to super
| Scenario | Taxable Income | Take-Home | Super Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| No sacrifice | $100,000 | $77,212 | $11,500 |
| $10K sacrifice | $90,000 | $70,612 | $21,500 |
You "lose" $6,600 in take-home but gain $10,000 in super. That's effectively a 34% return thanks to the tax difference (super is taxed at only 15%).
State-by-State: Does Location Matter?
Unlike the US or Canada, Australia has no state income taxes. Your take-home is the same whether you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, or Darwin.
However, other costs vary dramatically:
| City | Median Rent (2BR) | Take-Home Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | $3,200/month | Higher |
| Melbourne | $2,400/month | Medium |
| Brisbane | $2,600/month | Medium |
| Perth | $2,500/month | Medium |
| Adelaide | $2,000/month | Lower |
| Hobart | $2,100/month | Lower |
A $100,000 salary goes much further in Adelaide than Sydney.
Quick Reference: Take-Home by Salary
| Gross | Tax + Medicare | Take-Home | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $6,788 | $43,212 | $3,601 |
| $60,000 | $9,188 | $50,812 | $4,234 |
| $70,000 | $12,188 | $57,812 | $4,818 |
| $80,000 | $16,388 | $63,612 | $5,301 |
| $90,000 | $19,388 | $70,612 | $5,884 |
| $100,000 | $22,788 | $77,212 | $6,434 |
| $120,000 | $28,788 | $91,212 | $7,601 |
| $150,000 | $39,838 | $110,162 | $9,180 |
| $200,000 | $60,138 | $139,862 | $11,655 |
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home
Everyone's situation is different. Use our Australian Salary Calculator to factor in:
- Your exact salary
- HELP/HECS debt repayments
- Salary sacrifice arrangements
- Medicare levy exemptions
Calculate your Australian take-home pay
The Bottom Line
Key takeaways for Australian salaries:
- Tax-free threshold: First $18,200 is tax-free
- Medicare Levy: 2% on top of income tax
- HELP debt: Can take up to 10% of income above threshold
- Super: 11.5% on top (increasing to 12%)
- No state taxes: Same take-home regardless of location
Understanding these components helps you:
- Compare job offers properly
- Plan salary sacrifice strategies
- Budget based on actual take-home
- Negotiate knowing what a raise really means
Your gross salary is the starting point. What matters is what ends up in your bank account.