On this page
The target tool searches for a gross salary that meets your chosen annualised take-home amount under the same tax settings. It is an estimate for planning or negotiation, rather than a guaranteed payroll amount.
Choose a target based on your actual costs
Add up regular bills, irregular expenses and a realistic savings allowance. A salary target based only on rent can leave little room for car repairs, insurance renewals or time off.
Set the target in the pay cycle you prefer. The tool converts it to a full-year amount before working backwards through income tax and repayments.
The same net target can need a different salary
HELP debt, salary sacrifice and the Medicare levy surcharge can change the gross salary needed. Keep those settings realistic before taking the result into a pay negotiation.
The required salary is cash salary before tax, with employer super shown separately. Compare both amounts with the wording of a job advertisement or offer.
Leave room for a payslip difference
The estimate includes eligible standard work deductions for the current year by default. That benefit may come through at tax time rather than each payday. Turn it off if you want a more conservative estimate before the annual deduction is settled.
A part-year job, other income or private cover for only some of the year can change the calculation. Use the result as a starting point and check the contract and expected annual income.
Sources you can check
Sources checked for this page on 2 October 2026. Statistics keep their own measurement dates.