How much do I need to earn to reach my target take-home pay in Australia?
Enter a target net income and this tool calculates the gross salary you need to earn after income tax, Medicare levy, HELP repayments, and salary sacrifice for 2025-26 and 2026-27. Compare two target amounts side by side to see how the required gross scales with your goal.
The calculator uses a binary-search algorithm that converges within $1 of tolerance — the same engine powering all other Pay scenarios on this site.
How the reverse calculation works
- Binary search: The engine picks a midpoint gross, evaluates it using the same forward tax engine, then halves the search range toward the correct answer. It repeats until the calculated net is within $1 of your target — typically 30–50 iterations.
- HELP & salary sacrifice honoured: If you toggle HELP debt on or enter a salary sacrifice amount, each iteration of the search re-applies the full forward calculation including those adjustments, so the final gross reflects the true cost of reaching your target net.
- 2025-26 and 2026-27 rates: Switch the tax year in either scenario editor to compare how the Stage 3 rate adjustments and threshold changes affect the gross you need. The difference is most visible in the $120k–$180k net range where bracket boundaries shift.
Frequently asked questions
How does the reverse salary calculator work?
A binary-search algorithm narrows in on the gross salary that produces your exact target net. It applies 2025-26 ATO tax brackets, Medicare levy, optional HELP repayment thresholds, and any salary sacrifice you enter. The loop converges once the result is within $1 of your target.
Does it account for HELP/HECS repayments?
Yes. Toggle HELP debt on in either scenario and the marginal repayment thresholds for 2025-26 are included. Because HELP is income-contingent the required gross climbs non-linearly as your target net crosses each repayment threshold — the comparison side-by-side makes this visible.
Can I compare two different target incomes at once?
Yes — baseline and alternate run in parallel. The defaults are $100k and $150k net. Edit either target, switch to 2026-27 rates, add salary sacrifice, or change residency status independently. The delta card at the top shows the gross difference between the two goals.
What tax year does this use?
The calculator defaults to 2025-26 ATO rates. You can switch to 2026-27 in each scenario editor. The 2026-27 low-income tax offset and bracket thresholds differ slightly from 2025-26, so the required gross may change when you switch years.