Paid Parental Leave calculator
What Parental Leave Pay is worth across the weeks you take, including the superannuation now paid on it and any employer top-up.
Covers 2026-27 · rates as at 2026-07-01
Total parental leave pay
Estimate$24,787
26 weeks at $953.35, plus 12% super
- Government-funded pay
- $24,787
- Super on PPL
- $2,974.00
- Employer top-up
- $0.00
| 26 weeks at the national minimum wage | $24,787 |
|---|---|
| Superannuation at 12% | $2,974.00 |
| Total received | $24,787 |
- Paid at the national minimum wage regardless of your salary, so the replacement rate falls as income rises — 26 weeks is $24,787 whether you earn $60,000 or $160,000.
- Superannuation is now paid on parental leave at 12%, which closes part of the retirement gap that time out of work creates.
It is paid at the national minimum wage whatever you earn, so 26 weeks is about $24,787 for a $60,000 earner and a $160,000 earner alike.
Do you qualify
How this is calculated
A flat rate, so the replacement falls with income
Parental Leave Pay is the national minimum wage — about $953.35 a week — regardless of salary. That replaces roughly 83% of a $60,000 income and about 31% of a $160,000 one.
pay = weeks × $953.35Superannuation is now paid on it
Contributions at 12% are paid on Parental Leave Pay, which closes part of the retirement gap that unpaid time out of work creates. On 26 weeks that is roughly $2,974 into super.
super = pay × 12%The income test is individual
Eligibility is tested on your own income against a $180,007 limit, with a family test available as an alternative. A high-earning partner does not by itself disqualify you.
Worked example: 26 weeks taken on a $95,000 salary
| Weeks | 26 |
|---|---|
| Income | $95,000 |
| Employer top-up | $0 |
| Weekly rate | $953.35 |
|---|---|
| Total pay | about $24,787 |
| Super at 12% | about $2,974 |
On $95,000 the government payment replaces about 27% of gross salary, which is why an employer top-up is usually the difference between taking the full leave and cutting it short.
What this assumes
- Meeting the work test and residency requirements.
- Paid at the national minimum wage rate.
- Weeks taken within the permitted period.
- No Dad and Partner Pay taken separately.
Where this commonly goes wrong
- Parental Leave Pay is taxable income, so the net amount is lower than the headline and can push a partial year of salary into a higher bracket.
- A portion of the entitlement is reserved for each parent and cannot be transferred, so a couple that plans for one parent to take everything loses those weeks.
- Taking leave at half pay through an employer does not extend the government weeks, which run on their own schedule.
Questions
How much is Paid Parental Leave?
The national minimum wage — about $953.35 a week — for up to 26 weeks, which is roughly $24,787 in total. The rate is the same whatever you earn, so the replacement rate falls as income rises.
Is superannuation paid on parental leave?
Yes, at 12%. On a full 26 weeks that is roughly $2,974 into your super, which addresses part of the long-term retirement gap that time out of the workforce creates.
What is the income limit?
$180,007 tested on your individual income, with a family income test available as an alternative. Being tested individually means a high-earning partner does not by itself make you ineligible.
Is Parental Leave Pay taxed?
Yes, it is taxable income and tax is withheld from it. Because it usually sits alongside part of a year of salary, the effective rate can be higher than expected when the return is lodged.
Can one parent take all the weeks?
No. A portion is reserved for each parent and cannot be transferred, so a couple planning for one parent to take the entire entitlement will lose the reserved weeks entirely.
Does an employer top-up affect my entitlement?
No. Employer-paid parental leave is separate from the government payment and can be taken alongside it, which is why the two are shown separately here.
Related tools
Sources
General estimate based on published ATO rates for the 2026-27. Not tax advice, and it does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Confirm your position with the ATO or a registered tax agent.
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