A Head of Architecture earning the median salary of A$234K in Australia takes home approximately $158,150/year ($13,179/month) after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, using 2026-27 rates.
2026 median salary for each level in Australia, and what it leaves after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy. Australian resident individual, no HECS-HELP. 2026-27 rates.
| Level | Gross / year | Take-home / year | Per month | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $180,000 | $128,730$10,728/mo | $10,728 | 28.5% |
| Mid-levelHeadline median | $234,000 | $158,150$13,179/mo | $13,179 | 32.4% |
| Senior | $297,000 | $191,540$15,962/mo | $15,962 | 35.5% |
| Lead / Principal | $378,000 | $234,470$19,539/mo | $19,539 | 38.0% |
The biggest pay step is Senior to Lead / Principal: $81,000 more a year before tax, of which $42,930 reaches take-home. 47% of that raise goes to Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, against an average 36% on the Senior salary, because the extra pay is taxed at the top of your bands rather than spread across all of them.
For Mid-level roles, the middle half of Head of Architecture salaries in Australia run from $221,000 to $247,000 a year, which is $151,260 to $165,040 after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy.
The table above uses the Head of Architecture median. Enter your own gross salary below for a precise figure.
2026-27 tax year
Tax-free up to $18,200. 15% to $45,000. 30% to $135,000. 37% to $190,000. 45% above. Plus 2% Medicare Levy.
Common salaries:
Estimated annual take-home pay
$158,150
Per fortnight
$6,083
Per month
$13,179
Per week
$3,041
Effective tax rate
32.4%
Employer superannuation (on top, not deducted)
$28,080/year
Under the Super Guarantee, your employer must pay an extra 12.0% of your ordinary time earnings into your super fund on top of your salary. This is not subtracted from your take-home pay above: it's a separate, additional payment your employer makes on your behalf toward retirement.
How your $234,000 annual salary is split
$158,150
67.6%
$71,170
30.4%
$4,680
2.0%
| Gross salary | $234,000 |
| Income Tax | -$71,170 |
| Medicare Levy (2%) | -$4,680 |
| Total deductions | -$75,850 |
| Net take-home (annual) | $158,150 |
Calculations use 2026-27 Australian resident tax brackets and the 2% Medicare Levy, applying the low-income threshold as a simple cutoff rather than modelling the exact phase-in band. Fortnightly results annualise your entered pay across 26 pay periods; actual PAYG withholding can differ because payroll uses the current ATO withholding tables and your tax-file details. Superannuation Guarantee is shown as an employer contribution on top of salary and is not subtracted from take-home pay. The optional HECS/HELP amount is an annualised estimate. This does not account for the Medicare Levy Surcharge, private health insurance rebates, or other offsets. For precise advice consult a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Permanent median
$234,000
$158,150 take-home
Contract median
$1,610/day
≈ $354,200 gross a year
At a median $1,610/day, contract work grosses about $354,200 a year over 220 billable days, 51% more than the $234,000 permanent median. That premium has to pay for what an employer would otherwise cover: paid holiday and sick days, pension contributions, and the gaps between contracts.
Contract and permanent benchmarks come from separate samples, so treat the gap as a guide rather than a like-for-like quote. See Head of Architecture contract rates and contractor take-home →
A Head of Architecture earning the median salary of A$234K in Australia takes home approximately $158,150 per year ($13,179 per month) after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, using 2026-27 ATO resident rates.
On a median Head of Architecture salary of A$234K, the effective tax rate (Income Tax and Medicare Levy combined) is 32.4%, leaving $158,150 as take-home pay.
On a A$234K salary, a Head of Architecture pays approximately $71,170 in Income Tax per year under 2026-27 resident brackets (tax-free to $18,200, then 15%, 30%, 37%, and 45%).
On a A$234K salary, the Medicare Levy is approximately $4,680 per year at the standard 2% rate (above the low-income threshold).
No. The Superannuation Guarantee (12% for 2026-27) is an employer contribution paid on top of gross salary and is not deducted from the employee take-home figures on this page.
A senior Head of Architecture in Australia earns a median $297,000 a year and takes home approximately $191,540 ($15,962 per month) after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, an effective rate of 35.5%.
A junior Head of Architecture in Australia earns a median $180,000 a year and takes home approximately $128,730 ($10,728 per month) after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, an effective rate of 28.5%.
The biggest pay step is Senior to Lead / Principal: $81,000 more a year before tax, of which $42,930 reaches take-home. 47% of that raise goes to Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, against an average 36% on the Senior salary, because the extra pay is taxed at the top of your bands rather than spread across all of them.
At a median $1,610/day, contract work grosses about $354,200 a year over 220 billable days, 51% more than the $234,000 permanent median. That premium has to pay for what an employer would otherwise cover: paid holiday and sick days, pension contributions, and the gaps between contracts. Contract and permanent benchmarks come from separate samples, so treat the gap as a guide.
Head of Architecture Salary Benchmarks
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