How to read your Australian payslip
Gross, tax withheld, net pay, super and year-to-date figures: what each line means and how they add up, with a full $90,000 example for 2026-27.
By Borja Pérez · Updated September 2026 · Figures are FY 2026-27
A payslip is short, but it’s easy to misread: the number you were promised is not the number that lands in your bank. Employers must give you a payslip after each payment, and once you know the handful of lines that matter, you can check in about a minute that you were paid and taxed correctly. Here’s what each part means for the 2026-27 year.
The lines that matter
- Gross pay. What you earned for the period before anything is taken out. If your salary is $90,000 and you’re paid fortnightly, this is $90,000 ÷ 26. It also includes overtime, allowances and penalty rates for the period.
- Tax withheld (PAYG). Income tax your employer takes out and sends to the ATO for you. It’s an estimate of your year’s tax spread across pay periods, worked out from ATO tables using the declaration you gave them when you started.
- Medicare levy. Most residents pay 2% of income. Often it’s bundled into the single tax withheld figure rather than shown separately, so don’t worry if your payslip has just one tax line.
- Other deductions. Study loan (HECS-HELP) repayments, salary sacrifice, union fees or novated lease payments. These appear as their own lines.
- Net pay. What’s deposited: gross minus tax and other deductions.
- Superannuation. The amount your employer pays into your fund. Crucially, this is on top of your wages, not taken out of them.
- Year-to-date (YTD). Running totals since 1 July for gross pay, tax withheld and super.
A worked example: $90,000, paid fortnightly
Take a resident on a $90,000 salary paid every two weeks (26 pay periods), no HECS debt and no salary sacrifice. Their tax for 2026-27 is $17,520 plus $1,800 Medicare levy, which leaves $70,680 for the year.
| Payslip line | Fortnight | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $3,461.54 | $90,000 ÷ 26 pay periods |
| Income tax withheld (PAYG) | −$673.85 | $17,520 tax for the year ÷ 26 |
| Medicare levy | −$69.23 | 2% of gross, $1,800 ÷ 26 |
| Net pay (deposited) | $2,718.46 | $70,680 ÷ 26 |
| Super (employer, on top) | $415.38 | 12% of gross, $10,800 ÷ 26 |
So the salary that sounded like $3,461 a fortnight puts $2,718 in the bank, and another $415 goes to super on top. Over the year that’s $70,680 in your account and $10,800 in your super. In monthly terms it’s about $5,890 net. See the take-home pay reference for other salaries.
Your actual payslip can differ by a few dollars: employers withhold using the ATO’s tax tables, which round and estimate, and it will differ more if you have a study loan, claim offsets or salary sacrifice.
Super: check it’s actually being paid
The super guarantee rate is 12%. Since 1 July 2026, under Payday Super, employers must pay it into your fund within 7 business days of paying you, rather than saving it up quarterly. That has two practical effects for you: your payslip’s super line should match a deposit in your fund soon after each pay, and a missing payment becomes visible much faster.
A good habit: once a quarter, log in to your super fund and check that contributions match the super shown on your payslips. If they don’t, ask your employer first and contact the ATO if it isn’t fixed.
If you salary sacrifice, that amount comes off your gross pay before tax and goes into super instead, so your net pay falls by less than the amount you sacrifice. See salary sacrifice explained for the numbers.
Year-to-date figures and your tax return
The YTD totals are what your employer reports to the ATO through Single Touch Payroll each time they pay you. By the end of the financial year your last payslip’s YTD gross and tax should match the income statement in your ATO online account, which is what your tax return is built on. If they don’t match, raise it with your employer before you lodge.
A quick check during the year: divide your YTD tax withheld by YTD gross. If your salary is $90,000, it should be near 21.5% ($17,520 tax plus $1,800 Medicare is $19,320, divided by $90,000). If it’s far higher, you may be on the wrong withholding declaration, for example having the tax-free threshold not claimed or a second job.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my take-home lower than I expected?
Because the salary in your contract is gross. Tax, the Medicare levy and any study loan repayment come out before you’re paid. Use the calculator to see the net figure for your salary.
Is super part of my salary?
It depends on your contract. Many jobs advertise a salary plus super, in which case the 12% is on top. A “package” or “total remuneration” figure often includes super, so your cash pay is lower. Check which one your contract uses.
Will my tax withheld be exactly my tax bill?
Not necessarily. Withholding is an estimate. Deductions, a second job or a study loan can leave you with a refund or a bill when you lodge your return.
This guide is general information about the 2026-27 year, not personal tax, payroll or financial advice. Payslips vary by employer and award, and withholding follows ATO tables. If something looks wrong, ask your employer or contact the ATO. Full workings are on our methodology page.