Contractor / ABN Income Estimator

Convert day rates or hourly rates into an annual income estimate, then layer in expenses, tax, GST pressure and self-funded super.

Net after tax + super

$115,430

$502 / day effective

Contractor Inputs

Financial Year

Tax rates and thresholds vary by year

Rate type

Daily contract rate

Use the headline daily rate before expenses and tax.

Billable days per week

Working weeks per year

Annual business expenses

Insurance, accounting, software, equipment, travel and similar business costs.

Contractor Inputs

Financial Year

Tax rates and thresholds vary by year

Rate type

Daily contract rate

Use the headline daily rate before expenses and tax.

Billable days per week

Working weeks per year

Annual business expenses

Insurance, accounting, software, equipment, travel and similar business costs.

Net after tax and super

$115,430

Gross business income after expenses: $206,500

Annual billings

$218,500

Income tax + Medicare

$66,290

Suggested super

$24,780

Net after tax

$140,210

GST registration warning

Projected income is above the $75,000 threshold, so you may need to register for GST and factor BAS reporting into your cash flow.

Tax and take-home breakdown

Business income after expenses: $206,500
Income tax: -$59,063
Medicare levy: -$4,130
Suggested super contribution: -$24,780
Effective daily rate after tax + super: $502
Effective hourly rate after tax + super: $66

Comparing contract income with salary offers

Billable time is the biggest lever

Contractors rarely bill every week of the year. Leave, downtime between contracts and non-billable admin work all reduce the annualised value of a headline day rate.

Expenses and super change the real comparison

Salaried roles often include paid leave, employer super and fewer direct expenses. Contractors need a higher headline rate to replicate the same after-tax and after-super position.

Simplified estimate only

This is not an accounting model. It does not include GST credits, company tax, trust structures, payroll tax, workers compensation or professional-indemnity complexity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is gross contractor income calculated here?

The calculator annualises your daily or hourly contract rate, multiplies it by billable time, and then subtracts the annual expenses you enter. That result is treated as the business income flowing into the tax estimate.

Does this include GST?

It does not add GST on top of your contract rate. Instead, it flags when projected income is above the $75,000 threshold so you can account for GST registration and BAS obligations separately.

Why does the calculator suggest super?

Employees receive employer super contributions automatically, but many contractors need to self-fund that themselves. The tool shows a suggested contribution at 11.5% of gross income so you can compare contract income with salaried packages more realistically.

Are the tax figures the same as for an employee?

The estimate reuses the site's PAYG-style personal tax engine for a quick benchmark. It does not model company structures, PSI rules, GST credits or business-specific deductions beyond the annual expense figure you enter.

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