What Should Appear on a Payslip in Australia?

When should you receive your payslip?

Under the Fair Work framework, employers generally must provide employees with a payslip within one working day of paying them.

A payslip can be provided electronically or in hard copy. Electronic payslips must contain the same required information as paper payslips.

If you have not received your payslip, start by checking your payroll portal or email. If it is still missing, contact your employer or payroll team and ask for a copy.

Official information: Fair Work Ombudsman: Pay slips.

1. Employer and employee details

A payslip must include identifying information, including:

• The employer's name.
• The employer's Australian Business Number (ABN), if applicable.
• The employee's name.
• The pay period.
• The date of payment.

These details help you identify who paid you and which period the payslip covers.

If you work for multiple employers, check that you are looking at the correct payslip before comparing amounts.

2. Gross pay and net pay

Two important figures are your gross pay and net pay.

Gross pay is your earnings before deductions.

Net pay is the amount you receive after applicable deductions.

Your payslip should show the gross and net amounts for the pay period. Depending on your employment arrangements, the calculation may involve ordinary hours, salary, overtime, allowances, bonuses or other payments.

Do not assume that the amount deposited into your bank account must equal your gross pay. Instead, compare the gross amount, deductions and net amount to understand how the final payment was calculated.

If the figures do not appear to reconcile, ask payroll to explain the calculation.

3. Pay rate and hours worked

If you are paid by the hour, your payslip must generally show:

• Your ordinary hourly pay rate.
• The number of hours paid at that rate.
• The total amount paid at that rate.

If you are paid an annual salary, the payslip must include the relevant salary-rate information required by the regulations, including the annual rate of pay.

These details are useful when checking whether the payslip reflects the hours you worked and the pay rate that applied during the period.

For example, if you worked 20 ordinary hours at $30 per hour, the ordinary-pay component would be $600 before any additional payments or deductions.

This is a simple illustration, not a complete payroll calculation.

4. Penalty rates, casual loading, allowances and bonuses

Depending on your role and the payments you received, your payslip must include relevant separately identifiable payments.

These can include:

• Casual loading.
• Overtime or penalty rates.
• Monetary allowances.
• Bonuses.
• Incentive-based payments.
• Other separately identifiable entitlements paid.

This information can be particularly important if you work evenings, weekends, public holidays or variable shifts.

The correct rate depends on the applicable award or enterprise agreement, your classification, the work performed and the circumstances. A payslip should not be treated as a complete legal assessment of whether every entitlement has been paid correctly.

If you are unsure which award or classification applies, consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or seek appropriate advice.

5. Deductions from your pay

Your payslip should identify deductions made from your pay, including the amount and relevant details required by the rules.

Depending on the arrangement, deductions may relate to tax, salary sacrifice or other authorised amounts.

Not every deduction is automatically lawful. Whether a deduction is permitted depends on the relevant legal requirements and circumstances.

If you do not recognise a deduction, ask payroll what it relates to and request the basis for it. Keep a copy of the response with your payslip.

6. Superannuation information

Where your employer is required to make super contributions for you, your payslip must include the required information about contributions made or intended to be made for the pay period, including the relevant amount and super fund details.

However, it is important to distinguish between super information shown on a payslip and a contribution that has actually reached your super fund.

Payday Super commenced on 1 July 2026. Under the new arrangements, employers generally need to pay super on payday, with contributions reaching the fund within seven business days, subject to exceptions.

To check a contribution:

1. Review the super information on your payslip.
2. Check your super fund's transaction history.
3. Compare the relevant pay period and contribution details.
4. Allow for the applicable payment and processing timeframe.
5. Contact your fund or employer if a difference remains unexplained.

For current information, read the Fair Work Ombudsman's Payday Super guide.

7. Are leave balances required on payslips?

Leave balances are often useful to see, but they are not generally required to appear on every payslip under the Fair Work payslip rules.

Employers do have record-keeping obligations concerning leave for employees who are entitled to it, and employees can ask about their leave balances.

If your payslip includes annual leave or personal leave information, check whether the balances look consistent with your records. If they are missing or confusing, ask your employer how you can access the current balance.

8. Payslip checklist: what should you review?

Use this checklist when you receive your next payslip.

• Correct employer and employee details.
• Correct pay period and payment date.
• Gross pay and net pay shown.
• Pay rate and hours shown where required.
• Relevant penalty rates, casual loading, allowances or bonuses included.
• Deductions identified and understood.
• Super contribution information included where required.
• Figures consistent with your roster, timesheet and employment terms.
• Super contribution checked against your fund record when appropriate.

This checklist helps you identify information to review. It does not, by itself, establish that your pay is legally correct.

9. What if your payslip is missing or looks incorrect?

If your payslip is missing or contains information you do not understand, take a practical approach.

First, compare your records. Check your roster, timesheet, contract and bank payment against the payslip.

Second, ask payroll for clarification. Identify the specific date, amount or line item you want explained.

Third, keep a written record. Save the payslip, your question and the response.

Finally, seek guidance if the issue remains unresolved. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides information about payslips, pay and workplace entitlements.

A discrepancy can arise for different reasons. Check the facts before assuming that an error or breach has occurred.