Contractor vs Permanent Employee in Australia: The Real 2026-27 Trade-Off
A A$120,000 permanent salary nets A$91,080 a year, plus a A$14,400 employer Super Guarantee contribution on top, A$105,480 in total value. Match that as a sole-trader contractor and you need roughly A$710/day, which nets A$114,212 in cash, or A$99,812 once you self-fund the equivalent 12% super yourself. Here's the full breakdown of super, HECS/HELP, the Medicare Levy, and the leave and redundancy protection an Australian contractor gives up, with worked numbers at two salary levels.