Annual Leave Calculator Australia 2026 Fair Work updated
Accurate annual leave accrual, loading, payout & tax estimator. Built for 38-hour week, part-time, casual conversion and pro-rata rules. Trusted by NSW, VIC, QLD workers.
Annual Leave & Payout Calculator (2026)
Calculate annual leave hours, days, payout with loading & tax estimate. Based on Fair Work standard: 4 weeks per year (152 hours for 38‑hour week).
How is annual leave calculated in Australia? (2026 rules)
Under the Fair Work Act, full-time and part-time employees accrue 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year (pro-rata for part-time). For a 38‑hour week, that equals 152 hours annually. The formula: ordinary weekly hours × 4 = annual leave hours per year. So if you work 30 hours/week, you accrue 120 hours/year. Annual leave loading (usually 17.5%) applies to most awards when leave is taken.
Use our annual leave calculator Australia above to instantly see your accrual and payout. Whether you're in NSW, Victoria, Queensland or WA, the principles remain consistent.
✍️ Step‑by‑step: how to calculate annual leave accrual
Check employment contract (e.g., 38h, 20h).
Weekly hours × 4 = total hours per year.
Divide hours by 7.6 (standard day).
Divide yearly hours by 26.09.
📊 Annual leave accrual rates: common work patterns (2026)
| Weekly hours | Annual leave hours per year | Annual leave days (7.6h day) | Accrual per month (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 (full‑time) | 152 | 20 days | 12.66 hrs |
| 30 (part‑time) | 120 | 15.8 days | 10 hrs |
| 24 (part‑time) | 96 | 12.6 days | 8 hrs |
| 20 (part‑time) | 80 | 10.5 days | 6.66 hrs |
| 15 (part‑time) | 60 | 7.9 days | 5 hrs |
💰 Annual leave loading calculator & payout explained
Annual leave loading (17.5%) is extra pay on top of base rate when taking paid annual leave, unless your agreement excludes it. For payouts (when employment ends or cashing out), loading may apply depending on award. Our integrated calculator shows exact loading amount and net payout after tax – perfect for unused annual leave tax scenarios. Unused annual leave payout tax is calculated at your marginal rate, but remember Medicare Levy could add 2%.
📝 How to calculate annual leave for part-time employees (pro-rata)
Part‑time entitlement is strictly pro‑rata: if a full‑timer gets 152 hours (38h × 4), a part‑timer working 20 hours weekly gets 80 hours annually. This part‑time annual leave calculator method ensures fairness under the NES. For even more accuracy, the accrual rate per hour worked = 0.076923 hours per hour (152 ÷ (38×52)).
🧾 Checklist: common mistakes when calculating annual leave
- ❌ Using calendar days instead of working days for accrual.
- ❌ Forgetting to include 17.5% loading on leave taken (if award applies).
- ❌ Not adjusting for public holidays when calculating hours for part‑time staff.
- ❌ Miscalculating unused annual leave tax payout — always consider marginal rate.
- ✅ Use our annual leave payout calculator ATO‑style above to avoid surprises.
🏆 Annual leave calculator 38-hour week vs 40-hour week Australia
Standard Australian full‑time is 38 hours. If your contract states 40 hours (unusual but possible under some enterprise agreements), annual leave hours = 40×4 = 160 hours per year. Our calculator adapts to any weekly hours, making it the most flexible annual leave calculator 38 hour week Australia tool.
Frequently asked questions
Multiply 38 hours by 4 weeks = 152 hours per year. Divide by 7.6 to get 20 days of annual leave.
Annual leave loading (17.5%) is extra payment on top of base pay when taking annual leave. Most modern awards include it, but some enterprise agreements differ.
Unused annual leave payout is taxed as ordinary income at your marginal tax rate. Use our tax calculator to estimate net payout.
Yes, the National Employment Standards apply across all states. The calculator reflects Fair Work rules for the whole of Australia.
Part-time employees accrue annual leave on a pro-rata basis: (ordinary weekly hours ÷ 38) × 152 hours per year. Simpler: weekly hours × 4.
Superannuation guarantee is not payable on unused annual leave paid out on termination. On leave taken, super is paid on base + loading.