A Head of Testing / Program Test Manager earning the median salary of A$189K in Australia takes home approximately $134,220/year ($11,185/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 | $144,000 | $106,770$8,898/mo | $8,898 | 25.9% |
| Mid-levelHeadline median | $189,000 | $134,220$11,185/mo | $11,185 | 29.0% |
| Senior | $239,000 | $160,800$13,400/mo | $13,400 | 32.7% |
| Lead / Principal | $306,000 | $196,310$16,359/mo | $16,359 | 35.8% |
The biggest pay step is Senior to Lead / Principal: $67,000 more a year before tax, of which $35,510 reaches take-home. 47% of that raise goes to Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, against an average 33% 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 Testing / Program Test Manager salaries in Australia run from $179,000 to $200,000 a year, which is $128,120 to $140,130 after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy.
The table above uses the Head of Testing / Program Test Manager 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
$134,220
Per fortnight
$5,162
Per month
$11,185
Per week
$2,581
Effective tax rate
29.0%
Employer superannuation (on top, not deducted)
$22,680/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 $189,000 annual salary is split
$134,220
71.0%
$51,000
27.0%
$3,780
2.0%
| Gross salary | $189,000 |
| Income Tax | -$51,000 |
| Medicare Levy (2%) | -$3,780 |
| Total deductions | -$54,780 |
| Net take-home (annual) | $134,220 |
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
$189,000
$134,220 take-home
Contract median
$1,380/day
≈ $303,600 gross a year
At a median $1,380/day, contract work grosses about $303,600 a year over 220 billable days, 61% more than the $189,000 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 Testing / Program Test Manager contract rates and contractor take-home →
A Head of Testing / Program Test Manager earning the median salary of A$189K in Australia takes home approximately $134,220 per year ($11,185 per month) after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, using 2026-27 ATO resident rates.
On a median Head of Testing / Program Test Manager salary of A$189K, the effective tax rate (Income Tax and Medicare Levy combined) is 29.0%, leaving $134,220 as take-home pay.
On a A$189K salary, a Head of Testing / Program Test Manager pays approximately $51,000 in Income Tax per year under 2026-27 resident brackets (tax-free to $18,200, then 15%, 30%, 37%, and 45%).
On a A$189K salary, the Medicare Levy is approximately $3,780 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 Testing / Program Test Manager in Australia earns a median $239,000 a year and takes home approximately $160,800 ($13,400 per month) after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, an effective rate of 32.7%.
A junior Head of Testing / Program Test Manager in Australia earns a median $144,000 a year and takes home approximately $106,770 ($8,898 per month) after Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, an effective rate of 25.9%.
The biggest pay step is Senior to Lead / Principal: $67,000 more a year before tax, of which $35,510 reaches take-home. 47% of that raise goes to Income Tax and the Medicare Levy, against an average 33% 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 $1,380/day, contract work grosses about $303,600 a year over 220 billable days, 61% more than the $189,000 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.
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