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A $30.00 base rate with 25% loading becomes $37.50 an hour. At 24 paid hours a week for 48 weeks, that is $43,200 before tax and about $5,184 employer super. The loading and base rate must match your award, agreement or offer.
Start with the base rate, then add the loading
For a 25% loading, multiply the base hourly rate by 1.25. A $30 base becomes $37.50, made up of $30 in base pay and $7.50 in loading. The loading is calculated on the base, so it is 20% of the final $37.50 rate.
These are chosen examples, not minimum rates for a job. Fair Work describes 25% as the general loading, but your employment terms decide what applies. Check the classification, award or agreement before using a rate for an underpayment question.
| Base per hour | Loading per hour | Casual rate |
|---|---|---|
| $20.00 | $5.00 | $25.00 |
| $30.00 | $7.50 | $37.50 |
| $40.00 | $10.00 | $50.00 |
Check whether the quoted rate already includes loading
A job advertisement saying “$37.50 an hour including casual loading” usually gives you the complete hourly rate. Adding another 25% would overstate the offer. Ask for the base rate and loading to be shown separately if the wording is unclear.
To work backwards from a rate that includes 25%, divide it by 1.25. A $35 casual rate contains a $28 base and $7 loading. Subtracting 25% from $35 gives the wrong base because the percentage originally applied to a smaller amount.
A steady hourly rate can still mean an uneven year
The annual forecast multiplies the complete rate by paid hours and paid weeks. Use the shifts you realistically expect, allowing for holidays, illness, quiet periods and work you might decline. The calculator’s 48-week starting point is an editable example.
At $37.50 for 24 hours, a paid week brings $900 before tax. Forty paid weeks give $36,000 across the year; 48 give $43,200. The same hourly rate therefore supports different annual budgets.
| Paid weeks | Annual gross | Average gross per calendar month |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | $36,000 | $3,000 |
| 46 | $41,400 | $3,450 |
| 48 | $43,200 | $3,600 |
| 52 | $46,800 | $3,900 |
Loading does not answer every pay question
A flat loading calculation does not work out weekend penalties, public-holiday pay, overtime, minimum shift payments or allowances. The way payments combine depends on the applicable employment terms. Use Fair Work’s pay tool or the actual agreement for those questions.
Casual employees generally miss out on paid annual leave and ordinary paid sick leave, but it is misleading to say they have no paid leave at all. Eligible casuals have paid family and domestic violence leave, and state or territory long-service rules can also matter.
Super is shown separately and assumes an eligible adult employee receiving ordinary earnings. Under-18 eligibility and some kinds of work have extra conditions; overtime can also have a different treatment. For after-tax spending money, take the annual gross to the salary calculator or compare it with a permanent offer below.
Common questions
Is casual loading always 25%?
25% is the general example used here. Check the loading or specific casual rate in your award, agreement or employment terms. Some employment arrangements differ.
Do I add loading to a quoted casual rate?
Only if the quote is a base rate that excludes loading. If it already includes loading, adding it again overstates the hourly pay.
Does the annual figure include holiday pay?
It multiplies the rate by the paid hours and weeks you enter. No extra paid annual-leave amount is added to the casual rate.
Is employer super included in the hourly rate?
This calculator assumes the rate excludes employer super and that you are eligible for it. It estimates super separately on ordinary pay. If you are under 18, check the ATO eligibility rules before using that estimate.
Sources you can check
Sources checked for this page on 3 October 2026. Statistics keep their own measurement dates.