Free Real Estate Payslip Generator (Australia)

Base salary + commission · Fair Work compliant fields · Instant PDF download

Fair Work compliant fieldsBase + commission line itemsRetainer & draw supportFree preview — no signupPDF from $4.99

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This real estate payslip generator creates a Fair Work compliant commission payslip for real estate agents, property managers and agency support staff in Australia, with support for base salary, commission and draw arrangements. Enter your pay details above, preview the result on screen, and download a print-ready PDF once every figure is correct. Free to preview. PDF from $4.99. No account required.

Real estate pay is rarely a flat salary. Agents typically earn a mix of base retainer and commission on settled sales, while property managers and admin staff are usually paid a fixed salary under the Real Estate Industry Award. Getting the base-versus-commission split right on a payslip matters for tax, superannuation and proof-of-income purposes alike.

Quick answer: A compliant real estate payslip needs the employer's name and ABN, the agent's name, the pay period, base salary and commission shown as separate line items, deductions, and superannuation contribution details including the fund name.

Understanding Real Estate Payroll in Australia

Under the Fair Work Regulations 2009, every employer must issue a payslip within one working day of pay day. For employee agents and property managers, the required fields are the same as any other employee:

Required fieldWhat it must show
Employer's name & ABNFull legal or registered business name, plus ABN if the employer has one
Employee's nameFull name as it appears on employment records
Pay period & payment dateStart and end date of the period, plus the date paid
Gross and net payBase retainer plus commission earned for the period, before and after deductions
Commission breakdownAmount and how it was calculated for the period, shown separately from base pay
SuperannuationContribution amount and the name of the fund

For the full mandatory field list, see Payslip Requirements Australia 2026.

Base Salary vs Commission Structures

The right payslip structure depends on how the agent or staff member is actually paid. These are the four most common structures in Australian real estate:

StructureHow it worksTypical role
Base salary / retainer onlyFixed pay regardless of sales, common for property managers and admin/support staff on the Real Estate Industry Award.Property managers, admin staff
Commission onlyPay is entirely tied to settled sales, common for experienced sales agents on a commission-only agreement.Senior sales agents
Base plus commissionA lower base retainer plus commission on sales above a threshold — the most common structure for junior to mid-level sales agents.Sales agents, junior agents
Draw against commissionA regular advance against future commission, reconciled once a sale settles. Needs clear payslip disclosure of the draw balance.New agents building a pipeline

PAYG and Superannuation for Real Estate Agents

For employee agents, PAYG tax is withheld on total gross pay — base plus commission — for each period, and Superannuation Guarantee at 11.5% generally applies to ordinary time earnings, which usually includes commission tied to ordinary work. Agents genuinely engaged as independent contractors under their own ABN manage their own PAYG instalments and are not owed the same employer superannuation contribution — see the ATO's guidance on super contributions for the specific tests that apply.

Commission Examples

Worked examples below illustrate how a base-plus-commission payslip is typically structured. Actual commission rates and splits vary by agency agreement.

Junior sales agent — base plus commission

$800/week base retainer, plus 10% of the agency's commission on one $8,000 sale settled that fortnight ($800) = $2,400 gross for the fortnight, before tax.

Senior agent — commission only

No base retainer. Two settled sales generate $6,500 and $4,200 in agent commission for the month = $10,700 gross for the month, before tax.

Property manager — fixed salary

Annual salary of $62,000 paid fortnightly = $2,384.62 gross per fortnight, before tax and any salary-sacrificed super.

Figures are illustrative only. Actual commission splits, thresholds and draw arrangements depend on the individual agency agreement.

Common Payroll Mistakes on Real Estate Payslips

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Commission paid before settlement

Commission is generally earned once a sale settles, not when a contract is signed. Paying commission on exchange rather than settlement, without a clear agreement, can create disputes if a sale later falls through.

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Draw balance not disclosed

Agents paid a draw against future commission need to see the outstanding draw balance on their payslip. Without it, it is difficult to know how much commission has actually been earned versus advanced.

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GST on commission handled incorrectly

For agents operating as contractors under their own ABN and registered for GST, commission invoices need GST added separately. This should not be confused with an employee payslip, which does not include GST.

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Superannuation not paid on commission

Superannuation Guarantee generally applies to ordinary time earnings, which includes most commission tied to ordinary work for employees. Some employers incorrectly treat commission as exempt from super — this should be confirmed against current ATO guidance for each specific arrangement.

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Employee vs contractor status unclear

Some real estate agents are genuine employees; others operate as contractors under their own ABN, particularly senior commission-only agents. The wrong classification affects payslip obligations, superannuation, and tax withholding.

Using a Real Estate Payslip as Proof of Income

Because commission income can be seasonal, lenders and agents typically want 12–24 months of income history rather than a single strong month. Pairing recent payslips with a tax return or Notice of Assessment gives a more reliable picture of average earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions — Real Estate Payslip Generator

Is this real estate payslip generator free?
Yes. You can enter your details, preview the payslip on screen, and check every figure at no cost. Downloading the finished PDF starts from $4.99. No account or subscription is required.
How is real estate commission calculated?
Commission structures vary by agency but commonly involve a percentage of the agency's commission on a settled sale, sometimes on a sliding scale that increases once an agent exceeds a sales threshold for the period. The exact split between agency and agent is set out in the employment or contractor agreement, not by a single national standard.
Are real estate agents employees or contractors in Australia?
Both arrangements exist. Some agents, particularly junior and property management staff, are employees covered by the Real Estate Industry Award. Experienced sales agents are often engaged as contractors under their own ABN with a commission-only agreement. The distinction affects whether a standard payslip or an ABN-based income record applies — see the Fair Work Ombudsman's guidance on independent contractors for the factors involved.
Is superannuation paid on real estate commission?
Superannuation Guarantee generally applies to ordinary time earnings for employees, which usually includes commission tied to ordinary work. For agents genuinely engaged as independent contractors under their own ABN, standard employer super obligations generally do not apply in the same way, though contractors should still plan for their own retirement savings.
Can I use a commission payslip as proof of income for a home loan?
Yes, but lenders typically average commission income over one to two years rather than relying on a single strong month, since real estate income can be seasonal and variable. Bringing 12–24 months of payslips or commission statements alongside a tax return gives a more complete picture.
What is a draw against commission?
A draw is a regular advance paid to an agent against commission they are expected to earn in future. Once a sale settles and commission is calculated, the draw already paid is deducted from what is owed. The outstanding draw balance should be clearly shown on the payslip so the agent can track it.

Generate Your Real Estate Payslip Now

A compliant real estate payslip needs the agency's ABN, structured pay period dates, base salary and commission shown separately, and superannuation details. OfficeDraft builds all of it in under three minutes. Free to preview. PDF from $4.99. No signup required.

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Methodology: This page was researched using the payslip standards in the Fair Work Regulations 2009, the Fair Work Ombudsman's contractor guidance, and superannuation guidance from the Australian Taxation Office. Content reviewed by the OfficeDraft Payroll Research Team.

Disclaimer: This content is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Commission structures, employment classification and superannuation obligations depend on individual agency agreements. For advice specific to your situation, consult a registered tax agent or the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Author: OfficeDraft Payroll Research Team · Reviewed by: Registered BAS Agent · Last updated: July 2026