Is $30 an Hour Good in Australia? Annual Salary $59,280, After Tax $49,901 (2026-27)

At $30 per hour working standard full-time hours (38 hours per week, 52 weeks per year), your annual gross salary is $59,280. If you work the more common 40-hour week, it's $62,400 per year. Here is the complete breakdown at 38 hours/week: hourly $30.00, daily (7.6 hours) $228.00, weekly $1,140.00, fortnightly $2,280.00, monthly (average) $4,940.00, and annually $59,280.00.

At 40 hours/week: weekly $1,200.00, fortnightly $2,400.00, monthly $5,200.00, and annually $62,400.00. These figures are before tax.

The actual amount that hits your bank account depends on your tax situation, HECS debt, and any salary sacrifice arrangements. $30/hour is approximately 13% above the national minimum wage of $26.44/hour.

On an annual salary of $59,280 (38 hours at $30/hour), your after-tax take-home pay for 2026-27 is $49,901 per year, $4,158 per month, $1,919 per fortnight, or $960 per week — income tax of $8,193 (after the low income tax offset) plus the $1,186 Medicare levy. This assumes you're an Australian resident claiming the tax-free threshold, and uses the 2026-27 resident rates (15% from $18,201, 30% from $45,001 — ATO). Your effective tax rate is 15.8%.

If you work 40 hours/week ($62,400 annual), your take-home is $51,976 per year or $1,999 per fortnight. A HECS/HELP debt makes no difference at this income: under the marginal repayment system the 2026-27 threshold is $69,528, so nothing is withheld below it (HECS repayment calculator).

Your employer also pays 12% super ($7,114/year at 38 hours) on top of your hourly rate. Check your own hours, HECS and salary sacrifice in the take-home pay calculator.

Common roles paying approximately $30 per hour in Australia include: retail supervisors and team leaders, administrative assistants with experience, customer service officers (corporate), hospitality supervisors and bar managers, warehouse team leaders, childcare educators (Diploma qualified), dental assistants, pharmacy assistants, first and second-year trade workers (post-apprenticeship), security guards (base rate without penalties), and entry-level government roles. With penalty rates, many award-covered workers earn above $30/hour — for example, a permanent Retail Employee Level 1 on the $27.81 base rate (from 1 July 2026) earns $34.76/hour on Saturdays (125%) and $41.72/hour on Sundays (150%), and a casual gets $41.72 and $48.67 (150% and 175%, loading included). Use the Retail Award pay rates page or our Pay Calculator to check if $30/hour is the correct rate for your award classification.

If you're currently earning $30/hour and want to increase your income, consider these strategies. Check your award: many workers are underpaid relative to their correct classification — a reclassification from Level 2 to Level 3 could mean an extra $2-4/hour. Negotiate: if you have been in your role for 12+ months without a raise, prepare a case based on your contributions, market rates, and the cost of replacing you.

Upskill: short courses in data analysis, project management, or specialised software can push your rate into the $35-45/hour range. Change industries: the same administrative role might pay $30/hour in retail but $38/hour in mining or professional services.

Go casual: if you do not need leave entitlements, the 25% casual loading takes $30/hour to $37.50/hour. Work penalty rate shifts: weekend and evening shifts at $30/hour base can yield $45-60/hour with penalties.