Your payslip shows how your pay was worked out: what you earned, the tax taken out, any other deductions and the super your employer paid. Here's what each part means, what must legally be on it, and how to check it's right.
An example payslip
A full-time employee paid $40.00 an hour fortnightly, with some overtime and an allowance, on their 7th pay of the 2026–27 financial year.
| This pay | Year to date | |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours (76 h × $40.00) | $3,040.00 | $21,280.00 |
| Overtime (4 h × 1.5) | $240.00 | $1,680.00 |
| Tool allowance | $20.00 | $140.00 |
| Gross pay | $3,300.00 | $23,100.00 |
| PAYG tax withheld | −$694.00 | −$4,858.00 |
| Union fees | −$25.00 | −$175.00 |
| Net pay | $2,581.00 | $18,067.00 |
| Super guarantee (12% of ordinary pay) | $364.80 | $2,553.60 |
| Annual leave accrued | 5.85 h | 40.92 h |
The tax is the ATO's 2026–27 withholding amount for a fortnightly pay of $3,300.00 with the tax-free threshold claimed. Check your own with the tax withheld calculator.
Each line explained
- Ordinary hours and rate. Your normal hours at your base rate. If you're paid by the hour, your payslip must show the rate and the hours worked at it.
- Overtime, penalty rates and loadings. Extra pay for working beyond your ordinary hours, on weekends or public holidays, or as a casual (casual loading). Each must be listed separately.
- Allowances and bonuses. Payments for things like tools, travel or meals, and any bonus or commission. Most are taxed.
- Gross pay. Everything you earned this pay before tax and deductions.
- PAYG tax withheld. The income tax taken out of this pay, including the Medicare levy. It depends on whether you've claimed the tax-free threshold with this employer.
- Deductions. Amounts taken out after tax that you've agreed to, such as union fees or extra super. Salary sacrifice is taken out before tax, which lowers the tax withheld; see the salary sacrifice calculator.
- Net pay. What's actually paid into your bank account.
- Superannuation. The super guarantee (12%) is worked out on your ordinary time earnings, so overtime usually doesn't attract it. It's paid on top of your pay, not taken out of it.
- Year to date (YTD). Running totals since 1 July. Handy for checking you're on track and for your tax return.
- Leave balances. Many payslips show annual and personal leave. A full-time employee builds up 4 weeks of annual leave a year, about 5.85 hours a fortnight on a 38-hour week. Check yours with the annual leave calculator.
What must be on a payslip
Under the Fair Work Act, every payslip must include:
- your employer's name and ABN (if they have one), and your name
- the pay period and the date you were paid
- gross and net pay
- for hourly workers, the ordinary hourly rate, hours worked at that rate and the amount
- any loadings, allowances, bonuses, penalty rates or other separately identifiable payments
- each deduction, and the name or number of the fund or account it was paid into
- super contributions for the period, and the name or number of the super fund
Payslips must be given within one working day of payday, on paper or electronically. They must not mention family and domestic violence leave.
How to check your payslip
- Compare your hourly rate with your award or agreement, and with the minimum wage.
- Check the tax: put your gross pay into the tax withheld calculator. A difference of a dollar or two is rounding.
- Check super is at least 12% of your ordinary pay, and that it's turning up in your fund. You can see contributions in your fund's app or in myGov.
- At the end of the financial year, your YTD figures should match the income statement your employer reports to the ATO.
Want to know what you'll take home? The take-home pay calculator works it out from your salary or hourly rate.
Common questions
What does PAYG withheld mean on my payslip?
It's the income tax your employer has taken out of this pay and will send to the ATO for you. It includes the Medicare levy, and any study loan repayment if you told your employer you have one. It's an estimate: your actual tax is worked out when you lodge your return.
What does YTD mean on a payslip?
Year to date: the running total since 1 July, the start of the financial year. Your YTD gross and tax at 30 June should match your income statement in myGov.
When should I get my payslip?
Within one working day of being paid, even if you're on leave. It can be paper or electronic.
Does my payslip have to show my leave balance?
No. Showing annual, personal and long service leave balances is best practice but not required, though your employer must tell you your balance if you ask.
Is super included in my gross pay?
No. The super guarantee (12%) is paid on top of your pay into your super fund. Your payslip must show the amount and the fund it's paid into. From 1 July 2026, under Payday Super, employers must pay it with each pay cycle rather than quarterly.
What should I do if my payslip is wrong or I don't get one?
Raise it with your employer or payroll first. If it isn't fixed, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94. Not giving payslips, or giving false ones, is against the law.
Sources: Fair Work Ombudsman, Pay slips; ATO PAYG withholding schedules for 2026–27. General information, not legal or tax advice.