Australia Employee Cost Calculator (2026-27)
An Australian employee costs the salary plus 12% superannuation (paid every payday from 1 July 2026), workers' compensation of around 0.5% for office work, state payroll tax once total wages pass the state threshold, and hiring and equipment costs. A A$6,000-a-month administrator costs about A$88,400 a year.
· Calculated with AiStaffo
Employer costs in Australia
| Superannuation Guarantee | 12% of ordinary earnings, up to A$270,830 a year (2026-27) |
|---|---|
| Workers' compensation | Varies by state and job; default 0.5% for office work (editable) |
| Payroll tax | 4.75% to 6.75% by state, only once total wages pass the state threshold (A$1 million to A$2.5 million); default 0 |
| Paid leave | 20 days a year plus about 11 public holidays |
Worked example
An administrator on A$6,000 a month (A$72,000 a year): super A$8,640, workers' comp A$360, laptop and software about A$2,600, hiring spread over 3 years A$4,800. Total about A$88,400 a year, 1.23 times the salary.
What counts in the true cost of an employee
Salary is only the start. The calculator adds what the law makes the employer pay (social security, pension, unemployment insurance, end-of-service build-up), what the job needs (health insurance, visas, a laptop and software), and what staff turnover costs (advertising, interviews, training and lost output each time someone leaves, spread over the years an employee usually stays). Dividing by the days actually worked gives the cost of one productive hour.
The automation saving, explained
Most office roles are partly routine: typing data in, chasing replies, matching payments, compiling reports. The calculator takes the share of the role you set as routine and compares what that part costs with an AI worker doing it: a one-time build and a monthly fee (AiStaffo's starting price, editable under "Assumptions"). The person keeps the judgement work; the routine part stops costing a salary. Book a free automation audit and we will measure the routine share of your own roles.
Please note: rates are as checked on 21 October 2026 from official and reputable sources; amounts marked as defaults are typical estimates you can change. The automation figures are illustrations based on the assumptions shown, not a promise of savings; AiStaffo prices are set in a written quote. This is a planning guide, not tax or legal advice.
Sources
Questions people ask
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