How to calculate a three-day week salary
This page should do more than preload a number. The cleanest starting point is a pro-rata comparison: if a standard role is five equal days and you move to three, the gross annual salary is usually 3/5 of the full-time salary before tax, unless your employer uses a different arrangement.
| Full-time salary | Three-day equivalent | Simple method |
|---|---|---|
| $80,000 | $48,000 | $80,000 × 3/5 |
| $100,000 | $60,000 | $100,000 × 3/5 |
| $120,000 | $72,000 | $120,000 × 3/5 |
That gives you the gross pay starting point. Then you use the calculator to estimate the after-tax version after tax, Medicare, HELP and super assumptions are applied.
What changes when you move to three days
Gross pay drops first
The most obvious change is annual salary. If the arrangement is truly pro-rata, the new salary usually scales with the reduction in days or hours.
Net pay does not fall in a perfectly straight line
Because tax is progressive, the after-tax drop is usually smaller than the gross drop in percentage terms. HELP or Medicare settings can also move if taxable income changes enough.
Employer super may also reduce
Employer super is generally calculated on ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2025 the minimum SG rate is 12%, so a lower earnings base usually means lower employer super as well.
Worked comparison you can copy
Use the page in two passes:
- Run the original full-time salary first so you have a clean annual, monthly and fortnightly baseline.
- Then switch the gross salary to the three-day equivalent and compare the net pay, hourly value and employer super.
If your arrangement is based on hours rather than clean days, use the same pro-rata logic. For example, if you move from 38 hours to 22.8 hours, the ratio is still roughly 60%.
Questions worth asking your employer
- Is the arrangement a straight pro-rata salary cut or are any benefits preserved?
- Will leave accrue in the same proportion as the new work pattern?
- Are bonuses, allowances or fixed payments affected differently from base salary?
- Will employer super still be paid on the reduced earnings base only?
Source-backed notes
- ATO super guarantee confirms the SG rate is 12% from 1 July 2025.
- ATO ordinary time earnings guidance explains which payments count for super guarantee purposes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a three-day week salary?
The simplest starting point is a pro-rata method. If a full-time role is five equal days, a three-day schedule is usually 3/5 of the annual salary before tax unless the employer keeps the role structured differently.
Will super also drop on a three-day week?
Usually yes if ordinary time earnings fall, because employer super is based on eligible earnings. From 1 July 2025 the SG rate is 12%.
Can a three-day arrangement still keep some full-time benefits?
Sometimes. Some employers keep leave, allowances or fixed benefits on different terms, so use the calculator as a planning tool and then compare it against your actual contract.