Understanding your first payslip
Gross, net, tax, super and the lines that decide what actually reaches your account.
3 minute read · Last updated 5 October 2026
The lines that matter
Gross pay is your hours multiplied by your rate, before anything is taken out. Net pay is what lands in your account. Between them sit tax withheld and, usually, superannuation.
Awards set minimum pay rates for many jobs, and penalty rates apply to evenings, weekends and public holidays. If your hours are recorded wrong, you are being underpaid even if the arithmetic is correct.
Super is not a deduction
Superannuation is money your employer pays on top of your wage into a fund for your retirement. It is not taken from your pay. Check that a fund is named and that the contribution appears — if it does not, ask.
You can choose your own fund; if you do not, you will be given a default one. Keeping one fund rather than several keeps fees down.
If something looks wrong
Ask your employer first, in writing, and keep the reply. Your payslip must show your hours, your rate, your gross and net pay, and your super. If it is not fixed, the Fair Work Ombudsman can help — it is free.
Minimum rates, tax thresholds and the super percentage change, so confirm the current figures with the official sources rather than a fixed number in a guide.
The one thing to take away
Check that your hours, your rate and your super line are right — payslips are yours to query.
Official sources
Always check the official source. Rates, fees and rules change.