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Take Home Salary Calculator: State and Industry Differences Explained
Use our take home salary calculator to see how your state and industry affect your after-tax pay. Compare with the Australian average using the Salary Index.
Your take-home pay varies by state and industry; the national index is 100 ($108,352 gross), and our calculator helps estimate after-tax income.
What is a take home salary calculator?
A take home salary calculator estimates the net pay you receive after the Australian Tax Office (ATO) takes out income tax and the Medicare levy. It starts with your gross salary – the figure in your employment contract – and subtracts the required deductions. The result is what lands in your bank account each pay cycle.
But gross pay alone doesn't tell you how you compare with other Australians. That's where the Salary Index comes in. The index sets the national line at 100, which equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Your own index is your yearly gross divided by that line, multiplied by 100. A score above 100 means you earn more than the typical full-time worker; below 100 means less.
A good take home salary calculator also lets you factor in your state and industry, because earnings – and therefore take-home pay – vary widely across Australia.
How state differences affect your take-home pay
Where you live matters. The states page on Salary Index shows the average earnings index for each state and territory. For example:
- ACT: 109.9 (annualised $119,090)
- Western Australia: 106.9 ($115,825)
- New South Wales: 101.2 ($109,658)
- Victoria: 98.0 ($106,137)
- Queensland: 97.9 ($106,064)
- Northern Territory: 95.2 ($103,173)
- South Australia: 94.6 ($102,450)
- Tasmania: 88.6 ($96,008)
These are gross ordinary-time benchmarks. To see the effect on take-home pay, let's run two examples through a take home salary calculator.
Example: ACT average earner – Gross $119,090. Tax (2026–27 rates, including Medicare):
- $0–$18,200: nil
- $18,201–$45,000: 15% on $26,800 = $4,020
- $45,001–$119,090: 30% on $74,090 = $22,227
- Total tax: $26,247
- Medicare levy (2%): $2,381.80
- Total deductions: $28,628.80
- Take-home: $90,461.20
Example: Tasmanian average earner – Gross $96,008. Tax:
- $0–$18,200: nil
- $18,201–$45,000: 15% on $26,800 = $4,020
- $45,001–$96,008: 30% on $51,008 = $15,302.40
- Total tax: $19,322.40
- Medicare: $1,920.16
- Total deductions: $21,242.56
- Take-home: $74,765.44
The difference in take-home pay is about $15,700 a year, even before considering cost of living. A take home salary calculator that includes state data gives you a more realistic picture.
How industry differences affect your take-home pay
Your industry has an even bigger impact. The industries page lists indices for major sectors:
- Mining: 154.7
- Professional, scientific and technical: 114.7
- Education and training: 105.5
- Health care and social assistance: 97.8
- Retail trade: 75.9
- Accommodation and food services: 72.5
A mining worker on the industry average earns about $167,600 gross (154.7 × $108,352 / 100). After tax and Medicare, take-home is roughly $117,000. A retail worker on the industry average earns about $82,200 gross (75.9 × $108,352 / 100), with a take-home of about $63,500. That's a gap of over $53,000 in net pay.
Of course, these are broad averages. Your actual pay depends on your award classification, enterprise agreement, or individual contract. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week (index 48.2). Modern awards set higher minimums – for example, the entry-level award floor is $25.74 per hour. Junior rates apply lower percentages, such as $9.44 for under 16s. A take home salary calculator can't replace your specific award rate, but the index helps you see where your gross salary sits relative to your industry's typical earnings.
Using the Salary Index with the calculator
To get the most out of a take home salary calculator, start with your gross annual salary. Then compare it to the national line. If you earn $90,000, your index is 83.1 – below average. If you earn $130,000, your index is 120.0 – above average. The calculator then applies the tax brackets and Medicare to show your net.
Remember that superannuation is separate. The super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, paid by your employer on top of your gross salary (up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830). It does not reduce your take-home pay.
Also note that the take-home estimate from our calculator is a resident estimate using the tax-free threshold and a flat 2% Medicare levy. It ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice arrangements, the Medicare levy reduction for low-income earners, and the Medicare levy surcharge for those without private hospital cover. For a precise figure, consult the ATO's own calculator or your tax agent.
Putting it all together
A take home salary calculator is most useful when it accounts for the two biggest factors in Australian pay: where you work and what you do. The how the index works page explains the methodology behind the national line. The pay guides page has more detail on award rates and minimum wages. And the topics page links to articles on specific industries and states.
Whether you're comparing job offers, planning a move, or just curious about your position, the combination of state and industry data with a reliable calculator gives you a clear picture of your after-tax income. Start with your gross, check the index, and see what you really take home.
Questions people ask
How does my state affect my take-home pay?
Your state influences average earnings, which in turn affects your gross pay and take-home amount. For example, the ACT has an index of 109.9 (annualised $119,090), while Tasmania is 88.6 ($96,008). After tax and Medicare, a Tasmanian on the state average might take home around $74,800, compared to about $88,200 in the ACT. Our take home salary calculator uses these state benchmarks to give you a personalised estimate.
How do I use the take home salary calculator?
Enter your gross annual salary or weekly pay. The calculator applies the 2026–27 resident tax rates (tax-free threshold, then 15%, 30%, 37%, 45%) and a flat 2% Medicare levy to estimate your net pay. It also compares your gross to the national index of 100 ($108,352) so you can see where you sit. For a more precise result, select your state and industry to adjust for typical earnings in your area.
What is the difference between gross pay and take-home pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Take-home pay (net pay) is what you actually receive after tax and the Medicare levy are withheld. For example, someone earning the national average of $108,352 gross would take home roughly $83,200. The difference is about $25,200 in tax and Medicare. Superannuation is not deducted from your take-home pay; it is paid on top by your employer.