How to Check You Are Being Paid Correctly in Australia

You've just received your first Australian payslip and you're not sure if the numbers add up. Or maybe you think your boss is paying you less than agreed. Checking you are being paid correctly in Australia is one of the most important money moves you can make as a student - and it's easier than you think once you know what to look for.

This is general information only, not personal financial or tax advice. Afrovo is not a licensed financial adviser. For your specific pay question, contact Fair Work or check the official sources linked below.

Understand the National Minimum Wage

The first step to checking you are being paid correctly is knowing the legal minimum. As of 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage in Australia is AUD $26.44 per hour. If you're employed, your employer must not pay you below this rate, with very few exceptions.

Your pay rate is set by your industry's award (a legal document) or by agreement with your employer. Many student jobs - cafe work, retail, delivery, tutoring - are covered by different awards, and some may have higher rates than the minimum. If you're not sure which award applies to you, ask your manager or search the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

Student Visa Work-Hour Limits and Pay

While you study, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during your course term. This means you cannot work unlimited hours just to earn more money - your hours are capped by your visa conditions. During scheduled course breaks, you can work unlimited hours.

Understanding this limit helps you check your pay is realistic. If you worked only 20 hours in a fortnight at the minimum wage, you should earn roughly AUD $528.80 before tax (20 hours × $26.44). If your payslip shows far less without clear deductions, something may be wrong.

Get Your Payslip and Read It Line by Line

Every time you are paid, your employer must give you a payslip - either printed or electronic. This is a legal requirement. Your payslip should show:

• •Your gross pay (total before tax and deductions)
• •Tax withheld
• •Superannuation contributed
• •Any allowances, penalties or deductions
• •Your net pay (what you actually receive)

If your employer refuses to provide a payslip, that's a red flag. Contact Fair Work immediately.

Break Down Each Line

Gross pay: Multiply your hourly rate by the hours worked. Does it match? For example: 20 hours × $26.44 = $528.80. If you worked 20 hours but your gross is $400, ask why.

Tax withheld: The ATO requires employers to withhold tax from your pay. The amount depends on your gross income and whether you've provided a Tax File Number (TFN). If you haven't given your employer a TFN within 28 days of starting work, they must withhold extra tax. Once you provide your TFN, withholding usually drops. This can feel like a pay cut, but it's not - it's a temporary tax adjustment.

Superannuation: Your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings into your superannuation. This is not deducted from your pay; it's extra money they must pay on top of your wage. Check that 12% has been added.

Deductions: Ask what any deduction is for. Legitimate deductions include tax, superannuation contributions you've chosen, union fees, or court-ordered amounts. Illegal deductions include uniforms, breakages, or cash shortages (unless you caused deliberate loss). If a deduction looks wrong, ask your manager in writing.

Calculate What You Should Have Earned

Make a simple spreadsheet or note with:

1. 1.Hours you worked each week (check the roster or your records)
2. 2.Your hourly rate
3. 3.Multiply hours by rate to get gross pay
4. 4.Estimate tax (roughly 10-20% of gross if you've given your TFN; more if you haven't)
5. 5.Add 12% superannuation on top
6. 6.Check your actual payslip against this calculation

For example:

• •Hours: 15 per week × 2 weeks = 30 hours
• •Rate: $26.44 per hour
• •Gross: 30 × $26.44 = $793.20
• •Tax (estimate 15%): $119
• •Nett before super: $674.20
• •Superannuation (12% of gross): $95.18
• •Expected nett to your account: around $674.20

If your actual nett is much lower and you can't see why, it's time to investigate.

Check Your Bank Statement

Verify the money actually arrived. Compare the amount on your payslip to the deposit in your bank account. Sometimes there's a one or two-day delay, so check a few days after pay day.

If the payslip says you should have received $674 but your account only shows $600, ask your employer immediately. It's possible they made an error, or they withheld an undisclosed amount.

Ask Your Employer First

Before jumping to conclusions, ask your manager politely. Say something like: "I've worked 30 hours this week at $26.44 per hour, so I expected to earn $793 gross. My payslip shows $750. Can you explain the difference?"

Often it's an honest mistake - they miscalculated hours, forgot to clock you in correctly, or made a data entry error. Many employers will correct it immediately. Keep the email or text message exchange as proof.

Report Underpayment

If your employer won't explain the shortfall or refuses to fix it, you have legal options.

Contact Fair Work

Fair Work is the independent agency that enforces workplace laws in Australia. You can:

• •Call them free on 13 13 94 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, Australian Eastern Time)
• •Use their online chat or complaint form
• •Visit a Fair Work office in person (locations listed on their site)

They will investigate for free and can order your employer to pay you back wages plus interest. They also protect you from retaliation (your employer cannot fire you or cut your hours for reporting underpayment).

Keep Records

Before you contact Fair Work, collect:

• •All your payslips (digital or printed)
• •Screenshots of your bank deposits
• •Work rosters showing the hours you worked
• •Text messages, emails or notes of conversations with your manager about pay
• •Your employment contract or offer letter

The more evidence you have, the stronger your case.

Watch Out for Common Scams and Tricks

Some employers try to disguise underpayment. Be alert to:

• •"Casual rates are lower" - they're not. Casual workers earn a higher hourly rate (not lower) to offset no paid leave. The rate must still meet the award.
• •"You owe us for training" - illegal. Training costs are the employer's responsibility.
• •"We'll deduct breakages from your pay" - illegal unless you caused deliberate loss.
• •"Cash in hand, no payslip" - illegal. You must get a payslip and tax records.
• •"Agree to a lower rate in your first month" - wages cannot be reduced below the award just because you're new.

If your employer suggests any of these, you are being underpaid. Report it to Fair Work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I'm on a student visa and worried I might get in trouble for reporting my boss. Will I be deported?

A: No. Fair Work protects all workers, including international students. Reporting underpayment will not affect your visa status. Your visa conditions allow you to work; your employer must still pay you correctly. If anything, working illegally (e.g. more than your visa allows) is the visa risk - not reporting wage theft.

Q: My payslip shows tax withheld, but I earn below $18,200. Shouldn't I pay no tax?

A: The resident tax-free threshold is AUD $18,200. If your total income for the financial year (1 July to 30 June) stays below $18,200, you won't owe tax. However, your employer still withholds tax from each pay as a precaution. When you lodge your tax return by 31 October, the ATO will refund any tax you didn't owe. Keep working - that refund is coming.

Q: Can my employer reduce my pay if I make a mistake at work?

A: No. Your pay cannot be reduced as a penalty for mistakes or poor performance, except in very limited cases (e.g. if you caused deliberate loss and your award allows it). If your boss says they're cutting your pay to punish you, that's illegal. Ask them to explain the deduction in writing on your next payslip.

Q: I'm paid cash and no payslip. Is that normal?

A: No. By law, you must receive a payslip for every payment, and your employer must keep records. If they're paying you cash with no payslip, they are breaking the law and you have no proof of income for tax, visa or future job applications. Ask for a payslip immediately, in writing. If they refuse, contact Fair Work.

Your Next Steps

Checking you are being paid correctly is not hard - it just takes a few minutes of maths and honesty. Start today: pull your last payslip, work out what you should have earned, and compare it to what you actually received. If it doesn't match, ask your manager. If they won't explain or fix it, Fair Work is free and on your side.

For more on managing your student money in Australia, visit our student finance hub. And remember: you deserve to be paid fairly for your work, no matter your visa status.