Using the SEEK Salary Calculator to Compare Award Rates and the National Minimum Wage

What is the SEEK salary calculator?

The SEEK salary calculator is a free online tool that estimates your take-home pay from a given gross salary. It factors in income tax, the Medicare levy, and the 12% super guarantee (from 1 July 2026). You enter a yearly, monthly, fortnightly, or weekly figure, and it shows a breakdown of taxable income, total taxes, superannuation, and net pay. For example, a base salary of $84,000 gives a take-home of $65,528, taxes of $18,472, and super of $10,080 (total package $94,080).

While the calculator is useful for quick estimates, it doesn't directly incorporate modern award rates or enterprise agreements. That's where the angle of 'awards versus the national minimum wage' comes in. By understanding where your award rate sits relative to the national minimum, you can use the SEEK calculator to see what you'd actually take home.

Awards vs the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week. Annualised, that's $52,255, which gives a Salary Index of 48.2 (where 100 is full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352). In contrast, modern award rates are generally higher. For instance, the Retail Award (General Retail Industry Award 2020) for a Level 1 adult employee is around $27–$29 per hour depending on the state and any recent increases. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database shows that after the 4.75% increase from the 2026 Annual Wage Review, many award classifications now sit well above the national minimum.

To see where your award rate falls on the index, divide your annualised gross wage by $108,352 and multiply by 100. For example, a full-time retail worker on $60,000 a year has an index of 55.4. A professional on $90,000 has an index of 83.1. The industries page shows that Retail Trade has an average index of 75.9, while Professional, Scientific and Technical Services is 114.7.

Using the SEEK calculator with award rates

Here's a practical example. Suppose you're a hospitality worker covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award. Your classification (e.g., Food and Beverage Attendant Level 1) might have a minimum hourly rate of $28.50 after the 2026 increase. If you work 38 hours a week, your weekly gross is $1,083, annualised to $56,316. Enter that into the SEEK calculator. The result will show your take-home pay, taxes, and super. You can then compare that to the national minimum wage scenario: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 weekly, $52,255 annual, which gives a take-home of roughly $41,500 (using the 2026-27 tax rates from the on-site reference).

This comparison highlights why knowing your award rate matters. The SEEK calculator doesn't tell you what you should be paid – you need to check your award first via the Fair Work Ombudsman's PACT tool or the Fair Work Commission's database. Once you have that figure, the calculator helps you understand your net income.

Tax and super considerations

The SEEK calculator uses the 2025-26 tax rates (16% bracket up to $45,000), but the 2026-27 rates (from the on-site reference) are slightly different: 15% up to $45,000, then 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above. The Medicare levy is 2% in both years. Super is 12% from 1 July 2026, with a maximum contribution base of $270,830. The calculator includes super in the total salary package but shows it separately.

When comparing award rates to the national minimum, remember that super is paid on top of your base salary. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour attracts 12% super, making the total cost to the employer $29.61 per hour. Award rates also attract super, so the total package is higher.

State and industry benchmarks

The Salary Index provides context. The national line is $108,352 per year. States vary: NSW is 101.2, Victoria 98, Queensland 97.9, South Australia 94.6, Western Australia 106.9, Tasmania 88.6, Northern Territory 95.2, and ACT 109.9. Industries also differ: Mining is 154.7, Accommodation and Food Services is 72.5, Health Care and Social Assistance is 97.8. Your award rate may be above or below these averages depending on your classification.

Final thoughts

The SEEK salary calculator is a handy tool for estimating take-home pay, but it's only as good as the salary you enter. To use it effectively in the context of awards versus the national minimum wage, first verify your minimum entitlement through the Fair Work Ombudsman or Fair Work Commission. Then plug that number in. The result gives you a realistic picture of your net income, taxes, and super. For more on how pay compares nationally, see the pay guides and how the index works.