One country, one income tax.
Looking for a pay calculator for NSW, Victoria, Queensland — or for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth? Good news: Australian income tax is 100% federal, so your take-home pay is identical in every state. Here's what actually changes, and what doesn't.
Your take-home pay, state by state
The same salary produces the same net pay everywhere. Income tax, the Medicare levy, HECS/HELP and the 12% Super Guarantee are all set federally.
| State / territory | Main city | State income tax | Take-home on $90,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) | Sydney | None | $70,680 |
| Victoria (VIC) | Melbourne | None | $70,680 |
| Queensland (QLD) | Brisbane | None | $70,680 |
| Western Australia (WA) | Perth | None | $70,680 |
| South Australia (SA) | Adelaide | None | $70,680 |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Hobart | None | $70,680 |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | Canberra | None | $70,680 |
| Northern Territory (NT) | Darwin | None | $70,680 |
Run your own salary through the pay calculator — the result applies wherever you live in Australia.
What actually differs between states
While the income tax on your salary never changes with your postcode, four things genuinely do vary by state or territory:
1. Public holidays and penalty rates
Each state gazettes its own public holidays — Victoria has AFL Grand Final Friday, WA celebrates Western Australia Day, and so on. If you're covered by an award, working those days earns public holiday penalty rates, so shift and casual workers can genuinely earn more in one state than another. Model this with the hourly & shift pay calculator.
2. Payroll tax — paid by your employer, not you
Every state levies payroll tax on employers whose total wage bill exceeds a threshold (rates roughly 4–6.85%, thresholds from about $700,000 in Victoria to $2 million in the ACT). It's a cost to the business — it never comes out of your salary and doesn't affect your payslip.
3. Long service leave
Long service leave is state legislation: in NSW it's generally 2 months after 10 years, Victoria accrues from 7 years, and portable schemes exist for some industries in Queensland and the ACT. It changes your entitlements, not your tax.
4. Cost of living
The big one. The same $70,680 net pay stretches very differently in Sydney versus Adelaide or Hobart — median rents in Sydney are the highest in the country. When comparing job offers across cities, compare the same take-home figure against local housing costs.
Popular searches, answered by one calculator
Whatever you searched for — salary calculator Sydney, pay calculator NSW, wage calculator QLD — the maths is the same federal maths.
Frequently asked questions
Is take-home pay different in NSW, Victoria or Queensland?
No. Australia has no state income tax — income tax, the Medicare levy and HECS/HELP repayments are all set federally by the ATO. A $90,000 salary produces exactly the same take-home pay in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra or Darwin.
Why do people search for a pay calculator for their state?
Usually out of habit from countries like the US, where state income taxes change net pay. In Australia the differences between states are in living costs, payroll tax paid by employers, public holidays that trigger penalty rates, and long service leave rules — not in the income tax you pay.
Does payroll tax reduce my salary?
No. Payroll tax is a state tax paid by employers on their total wage bill once it passes a threshold — for example about $1.2 million in NSW. It never appears on your payslip and does not reduce your take-home pay.
Do public holidays change my pay by state?
They can. Each state and territory gazettes its own public holidays, and award-covered workers earn public holiday penalty rates on those days. So a hospitality or retail worker can earn more in a state with an extra public holiday — model it with the hourly & shift calculator.
Which city has the highest real take-home pay?
Take-home pay on the same salary is identical everywhere in Australia, so the real difference is the cost of living — especially rent. The same net pay typically stretches further in Adelaide, Hobart or regional areas than in Sydney, where housing costs are the country's highest.