Receptionist hire cost calculator

Hiring someone to answer the phone is a big call for a small practice. And the wage is only the start. There's super on top, leave loading if the award has it, payroll tax if your practice is already over your state's threshold, and the weeks the desk sits empty while they're on leave. This calculator adds those up from the wage you enter. The super rate comes from the ATO and the leave rules from Fair Work, both linked. Then put in the AI receptionist usage you expect, using the prices on our pricing page, and you'll see the two yearly costs side by side. Your numbers. Your call.

The receptionist

Wage entered as Annual Hourly

Financial year

Super guarantee rate: 12% Source

Annual leave: 4 weeks Source

Add 17.5% annual leave loading?

Check the award or agreement

Already paying payroll tax?

State (for payroll tax link only)

Other yearly costs ($ a year: workers comp premium, desk, software, recruitment)

Cost to cover the phone during leave ($ a week)

The AI receptionist

Look up current plans on our pricing page

Monthly plan fee ($ a month, ex GST)

Voice minutes you expect each month (minutes)

Price per minute ($ a minute, ex GST)

Per-call charges ($ a call)

Calls a month (calls)

One-off costs ($)

Enter the receptionist's wage to see the yearly cost.

How this works

Base wage (or the hourly rate times the hours a week times 52), plus super at the ATO rate, plus leave loading if ticked (17.5% of 4 weeks' base pay), plus payroll tax at your rate if ticked (on the base wage and loading, and on super too if you count it as wages), plus any other yearly costs and 4 weeks of leave cover.

AI side: the plan fee times 12, plus the minutes times the price a minute times 12, plus the calls a month times the charge a call times 12, plus the one-off costs divided by the number of years you spread them over. The two yearly totals are shown side by side with the difference. AI prices are compared ex GST.

Sources: ATO, super guarantee (updated 17 Apr 2026: 12% for 2025-26 and 2026-27); Fair Work, annual leave (4 weeks under the National Employment Standards); Fair Work, calculating annual leave loading; business.gov.au, payroll tax; Revenue NSW, what is payroll tax.

Frequently asked questions

What super rate does it use?

12%. That's the ATO's super guarantee rate from 1 July 2025, and it stays 12% for 2026-27. Pick the financial year and the rate follows the ATO table.

Is leave loading always 17.5%?

No. Fair Work says that under a number of awards the employee gets the higher of a 17.5% loading or their usual weekend penalty rates. Check the award or agreement that covers your receptionist before you tick the box.

Why is payroll tax off unless I tick it?

Payroll tax is a state or territory tax that applies once your total Australian wages pass your state's threshold. Thresholds and rates differ by state, so tick it only if your practice already pays it, and enter your own rate.

General information only, not tax, legal or financial advice.