HR & Business · Australia
Calculate the total annual cost of employing someone in Australia including superannuation, leave loading, workers compensation and payroll tax. Shows total oncost percentage above salary.
Precision ±1–3% depending on industry-specific workers comp rate accuracy. Leave loading of 1.34% is a standard full-year approximation — part-year or casual arrangements will differ.
Calculator
Superannuation = salary × super rate ÷ 100. Leave loading = salary × 1.34% (17.5% of 4 weeks annual leave). Workers compensation = salary × workers comp rate ÷ 100. Payroll tax = salary × payroll tax rate ÷ 100. Total cost = salary + super + leave loading + workers comp + payroll tax. Oncost % = (total cost ÷ salary − 1) × 100.
This is the method behind the answer, so the result can be checked rather than simply trusted.Visual grid
Employee True Cost (Oncost) — Australia is not just a final answer. It is a step on a line: before and after, input and output, assumption and result.
CalculationTime keeps the path visible: the input, the method and the final number belong together.
CalculationTime
Superannuation = salary × super rate ÷ 100. Leave loading = salary × 1.34% (17.5% of 4 weeks annual leave). Workers compensation = salary × workers comp rate ÷ 100. Payroll tax = salary × payroll tax rate ÷ 100. Total cost = salary + super + leave loading + workers comp + payroll tax. Oncost % = (total cost ÷ salary − 1) × 100.
Use this space on the printed report for client, supplier, classroom, job-location, measurement, quote or approval notes.
Superannuation = salary × super rate ÷ 100. Leave loading = salary × 1.34% (17.5% of 4 weeks annual leave). Workers compensation = salary × workers comp rate ÷ 100. Payroll tax = salary × payroll tax rate ÷ 100. Total cost = salary + super + leave loading + workers comp + payroll tax. Oncost % = (total cost ÷ salary − 1) × 100.
For a $70,000 salary at 11.5% super, 4.85% payroll tax and 1.5% workers comp: super = $8,050; leave loading = $938; payroll tax = $3,395; workers comp = $1,050. Total = $83,433. Oncost = 19.2% above salary.
Master's Tip: when quoting a hire cost to a board or budget committee, always show the salary and each oncost component separately. A bare salary number understates the true cost by 15–30% depending on your industry.
Australian employment law. Superannuation Guarantee Act 1992. State payroll tax legislation varies. Workers compensation regulated by state WorkCover authorities. This is a planning tool — consult your payroll provider or HR adviser for your specific enterprise agreement and state obligations.
Methodology & Accuracy
CalculationTime pages are built around visible arithmetic: the formula, assumptions, worked example and practical limitations are shown so the result can be checked rather than simply trusted.
Superannuation = salary × super rate ÷ 100. Leave loading = salary × 1.34% (17.5% of 4 weeks annual leave). Workers compensation = salary × workers comp rate ÷ 100. Payroll tax = salary × payroll tax rate ÷ 100. Total cost = salary + super + leave loading + workers comp + payroll tax. Oncost % = (total cost ÷ salary − 1) × 100.
Australian employment law. Superannuation Guarantee Act 1992. State payroll tax legislation varies. Workers compensation regulated by state WorkCover authorities. This is a planning tool — consult your payroll provider or HR adviser for your specific enterprise agreement and state obligations.
Where a calculator follows a named legal, trade or industry standard, that standard is cited visibly. Otherwise the page uses transparent general arithmetic and states its limits.Master's Tip: when quoting a hire cost to a board or budget committee, always show the salary and each oncost component separately. A bare salary number understates the true cost by 15–30% depending on your industry.
11.5% for 2024-25 (paid in addition to salary). The rate rises to 12.0% from 1 July 2025 and stays at 12.0% ongoing.
No. Payroll tax only applies if your total Australian wages exceed your state threshold — around $1.2M per year in VIC and NSW. Small and medium businesses below this threshold pay $0 payroll tax.
Leave loading is a 17.5% loading on ordinary pay during annual leave, required under many awards. For salaried employees on individual agreements, check whether it applies.
A rough guide: base salary plus 15–25% in oncosts for most professional roles below the payroll tax threshold. Roles above the threshold, or in high-risk industries, can cost 25–40% above salary.
By law, super is paid on top of salary (unless the employment contract states super-inclusive, which is rare). Always confirm the basis before making an offer.