PayByRoster Calculator Info

    Complete technical documentation for PayByRoster — the free pay calculator for Australian roster-based workers.

    What is PayByRoster?

    PayByRoster is a free online pay calculator for Australian roster-based workers including FIFO mining, healthcare, emergency services, aviation, maritime, and manufacturing workers. It accurately calculates take-home pay, tax deductions, Medicare Levy, and superannuation contributions for any roster pattern.

    Calculation Engine

    How Calculations Work

    PayByRoster uses the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) rates for 2025-26:

    Tax Calculations

    Taxable IncomeTax RateTax Payable
    $0 – $18,2000%Nil
    $18,201 – $45,00016%16c for each $1 over $18,200
    $45,001 – $135,00030%$4,288 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
    $135,001 – $190,00037%$31,288 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
    $190,001+45%$51,638 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000
    • Medicare Levy: 2% of taxable income
    • Medicare Levy Surcharge: 1.0-1.5% for high earners without private health insurance
    • Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): Up to $700 (phases out at $66,667)
    • Tax-free threshold: $18,200 for Australian residents

    Superannuation

    • Superannuation Guarantee: 12% of ordinary time earnings (2025-26)
    • Maximum contribution base: $62,500 per quarter ($250,000 per year)

    Roster Calculations

    • Calculates days worked vs days off per year
    • Includes shift penalties, night shift loadings, and weekend rates
    • Accounts for public holiday rates
    • Calculates total take-home pay after tax and super

    Penalty Rate Calculations

    Penalty TypeDefault RateNotes
    Night shift15-30%Varies by industry award
    Saturday50-100%Award-dependent
    Sunday75-200%Award-dependent
    Public holidays150-250%Award-dependent
    Overtime150-200%Time-and-a-half or double-time

    Stacking Order

    Penalties are calculated in the following order:

    1. Base hourly rate
    2. Shift loading (if applicable)
    3. Weekend penalty (if applicable)
    4. Public holiday penalty (if applicable)
    5. Overtime multiplier (if applicable)
    Stacking rules vary by award. PayByRoster uses standard Fair Work stacking unless a custom award is specified.

    Supported Roster Types

    Pre-configured FIFO/DIDO Patterns

    PatternDays OnDays OffCycle Length
    2/114721 days
    7/77714 days
    8/68614 days
    4/3437 days
    2/2141428 days
    14/14141428 days
    21/721728 days
    28/14281442 days
    4/128735 days

    Healthcare Shift Patterns

    • 12-hour shifts (days/nights)
    • 8-hour shifts (3 shifts per day)
    • 10-hour shifts
    • Rotating shift patterns
    • Fixed night shift
    • On-call arrangements

    Emergency Services

    • 10/14 rotating roster
    • 24-hour shifts
    • Day/Night rotation patterns

    Custom Roster Builder

    Users can create custom roster patterns by specifying:

    • Days worked per cycle
    • Days off per cycle
    • Shift length (hours)
    • Start/end times
    • Rotation frequency

    Features

    Comparison Tool

    • Compare up to 3 rosters side-by-side
    • See annual days at work vs days off
    • Calculate total take-home pay difference
    • Factor in work-life balance metrics

    Take-Home Pay Calculator

    • Gross salary input
    • Automatic tax calculation (2025-26 rates)
    • Medicare Levy calculation
    • Superannuation deduction (12%)
    • Net pay output

    Export Capabilities

    Currently available:

    • Results displayed on screen
    • Printable summary

    Accuracy & Compliance

    ATO Compliance

    • Tax rates updated annually from official ATO schedules
    • Medicare Levy calculations match ATO specifications
    • Tax-free threshold and offsets verified against ATO guidelines
    • Last updated: January 2026 for 2025-26 financial year

    Superannuation

    • Superannuation Guarantee rate: 12% (correct as of 1 July 2025)
    • Maximum contribution base: $250,000/year (2025-26)
    • Calculations align with ATO super guarantee requirements

    Limitations & Disclaimers

    • PayByRoster provides estimates for comparison purposes
    • Does not replace professional tax advice
    • Award interpretations may vary — consult your award or HR department
    • Users should verify calculations with their employer or accountant
    • Not certified for payroll system integration (Pro API will be audited)

    Testing

    • Calculations spot-checked against ATO tax calculator
    • Verified with real FIFO worker payslips (sample: 50+ workers)
    • Regular updates when tax rates change

    Integrations

    Current Integrations

    None (standalone calculator)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Technical Specifications

    Browser Support

    BrowserVersionStatus
    Chrome90+
    Firefox88+
    Safari14+
    Edge90+
    Mobile browsers

    Technology Stack

    • Frontend: React (via Lovable)
    • Backend: n8n workflows
    • Database: Supabase
    • Hosting: Lovable + edge functions

    Performance

    • Page load: <2 seconds
    • Calculation time: <1 second
    • Uptime: 99.9% target

    Security

    • HTTPS encryption
    • No personal data stored
    • Secure calculation endpoints
    • Regular security audits

    Support & Contact

    Region: Australia

    Target Audience: Australian roster-based workers

    Response time: 24-48 hours for email inquiries

    Community: Educational shorts on roster comparisons coming to YouTube.

    Updates & Changelog

    January 2026

    • Updated tax rates for 2025-26 financial year
    • Superannuation increased to 12%
    • Removed LMITO (ended June 2024)
    • Added emergency services roster patterns
    • Mobile responsiveness improvements

    Planned Q2 2026

    • Pro tier launch
    • Excel/CSV/PDF export
    • Save favourite rosters
    • API access

    Last updated: January 30, 2026

    Tax year: 2025-26 (1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026)

    Super rate: 12%

    Source: Australian Taxation Office, Fair Work Commission